Brake-drum stands

[GlenC]

The brake-drum stand base is an awesome idea, really like it. Went to the local Freightliner dealer to see about drums a few weeks ago... “don’t have any, don't get many and if we do, most are warranty replacement and need to be returned...”

Today I get a call from the service manager..."I have a couple drums for you" Woo-Hoo!! ... I'll be there in 10 minutes!


I have a question for some of you who have made and use them. Is there any merit in welding 3 feet or pads on the edge of the drum so it always sits solid? Definitely going the rout of FryMe's with the casters, well done!

Glen

 

[southalabama]

Definitely gonna follow this thread.

I've got several break drum stands saved in my garage ideas folder.

 

[GlenC]

Definitely gonna follow this thread.

I've got several break drum stands saved in my garage ideas folder.

Great minds think alike!! I just set up a brake stand folder in my welding projects folder...

 

[R6 Racer]

I asked a local truck shop about a couple & they wanted $30.00 a piece for them. I have no clue if they are being fair, trying to stiff me or just want me to go away.

Any ideas anyone?

Steve

 

[csp]

They shouldn't be charging more than scrap value.

That's where they are going if you don't buy them.

 

[48RON54]

I asked a local truck shop about a couple & they wanted $30.00 a piece for them. I have no clue if they are being fair, trying to stiff me or just want me to go away.

Any ideas anyone?

Steve

Probably assumes you will just go recycle them for scrap.........If it is as bad up there as it is here, I get dozens of people a month wanting me to give away scrap so they can go recycle it.

 

[larry_g]

Is there any merit in welding 3 feet or pads on the edge of the drum so it always sits solid? Definitely going the rout of FryMe's with the casters, well done!

Glen

I tried the three feet on the bottom for stability and it proved to me a detriment. The three feet are effectively making a triangle and the reduced size of the base making it more tippy. I would not recommend it. I have a few stands made on brake drums and find that if they rock I can move them just a bit and they will stabilize just fine. I also find that moving is no big issue, just tip to balance point and then roll on the edge of the drum, no dolly wheels required. If you have ever rolled a gas cylinder or a 55 gallon drum then you know what to expect.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Shootingblanks]

My Wilton vise on a telescopic stand that I made using a truck brake drum.

 

[fordbroncodave]

not sure if this will tie into the subject but I saw at a service station in the boondocks a stand that was mobile that used a small man hole cover type base.

the stand consisted of this:

large metal disc on the footprint, 3ft piece of driveshaft, 2 15" steel rims hanging from the top, the 2 rims touched at the top on top of the pipe and overhanged on both sides and welded at all 3 contact points.

it was used to string up air hose with air chucks on the end of them

 

[southalabama]

We have an iron works in town that casts large cogs. I've seen a few used as stands. I'm still trying to get someone who works there to score me one. I know some get melted back down so not sure how much actual scrap there is.

There is also a Quincey compressor plant 50miles down the road in bay minette al. I've asked around trying to see if they sold out of the factory or had local employee discounts. Haven't gotten a definitive answer.

 

[stage20]

msot shops have some sort of scale, or bring one. if they want scrap price.... which is fair, you can usually base it off 9-11 cents a pound

 

[56vette461]

Probably assumes you will just go recycle them for scrap.........If it is as bad up there as it is here, I get dozens of people a month wanting me to give away scrap so they can go recycle it.

Ain't California great. They even walk into the shop wanting to go thru the "trash metal". The local job shop supplier has signs saying they now charge for everything that leaves the place. If it weighs less than 300 lbs it is kept on shelves or pallets in the rear of their yard.

 

[yaidunno]

If you can find a few sets, Model A axle tubes make for fantastic uprights. Certainly more visually appealing then a tube and a plate, but both will get the job done just fine. I would take larrys advice regarding his findings with the 3 feet. The flywheel i used on mine just rest on the floor and it is quite stable.

 

[MB&K'sdaddy]

I asked a local truck shop about a couple & they wanted $30.00 a piece for them. I have no clue if they are being fair, trying to stiff me or just want me to go away.

Any ideas anyone?

Steve

Sounds to me like they are stiffing you. We sell them to local scrap yard at work they weight 100# and normally bring $5 apiece


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[great white tj]

Here ya go....I all so have my grinder on one and a 12speed drill press.on one.. I have never paid more than $5.00 for one, the first two where Free I told the guy I was teaching my self to weld.... you can roll these or you can weld some wheels on also..

 

[48RON54]

Ain't California great. They even walk into the shop wanting to go thru the "trash metal". The local job shop supplier has signs saying they now charge for everything that leaves the place. If it weighs less than 300 lbs it is kept on shelves or pallets in the rear of their yard.

It's a real PITA and they are some of the rudest people I've ever met. I am the manager of a small shop and usually they show up when I'm on the phone and everyone else is gone. They of course make themselves completely at home wandering through the warehouse looking for scrap. I try to be polite but when I'm on my second or third guy in a week that is taking a free tour of the warehouse I start to get a bit short tempered.

 

[great white tj]

Geln, I don't think you will need feet on these, if the floor is way off just shim up one side. I don't think you will ever have anything on one of these kind fo stands that you will beeeeet the hell out of. I have seen some that can go 200lbs or more thats just a little over kill. I just use the drum and a pice of 3/16" or 1/4" plate on the drum and then just about anything thats 1 3/4" or up to 4" tube for your post and then some plate and what ever you put on top.

 

[great white tj]

In this pict. you can see the drill press and the grinder on the drums.

 

[zkling]

I've used old steel car wheels to make a few stands. Not as clean looking as the drums but a bit easier to come by in my experience. What I like is that they can be weighted down fairly easily as the offset recess of the wheel provides a trough for heavy items.

 

[GlenC]

Geln, I don't think you will need feet on these, if the floor is way off just shim up one side. I don't think you will ever have anything on one of these kind fo stands that you will beeeeet the hell out of. I have seen some that can go 200lbs or more thats just a little over kill. I just use the drum and a pice of 3/16" or 1/4" plate on the drum and then just about anything thats 1 3/4" or up to 4" tube for your post and then some plate and what ever you put on top.

That's the current direction I'm heading...

Looks like I shouldn't try welding to the drum... (I did put a small MIG bead on the drum and tried to knock it off with a chisel...didn't come loose) Guess I can tack on the mounts for wheels. Posts will depend on the "used" steel I find at the local yard... $.55/lb

I may make one into a small (24" dia) welding/work table. The rear drums are supposed to be 112lb and the front drums 80lb. The fronts might be good for my cutoff saws (Dewalt Multi-Cutter and Makita Abrasive). The rears for the table and vise.

Glen

 

[gearhead1]

I use car rims since they are readily available to me. I have never put on three feet and have never had an issue.

For those that want to go this route, I weld whatever vertical in place, then put a plastic shopping bag in the bottom to cover any gaps and fill with concrete. I use bent rims, I just have so the bent side is up and the flat side is on the ground.

 

[Canadian Charlie]

I have my grinder on one, solid as a rock

 

[alpinewhite]

I just had rear brakes on my RV replaced. I asked for the old drums. I'm looking for more ideas.

 

[drivesitfar]

I bought this one with my Baldor buffer that my client made and it works great. i also have an old gear from an old machine on the bottom of my Avitar which is a tin-knocker's anvil. both stand steady as long as the ground is fairly level and roll great. i like Great White's idea of putting a couple wheels on the brake drum.

in case you might want to mount them to a plate with a trailer hitch type mount to attach to your workbench you might want to look at the thread in my signature. also anybody else can take a look or add a post to that thread if they have seen or use something that they like.

 

[alpinewhite]

I'd like to see more, please.

 

[Fyrme]

.........I have a question for some of you who have made and use them. Is there any merit in welding 3 feet or pads on the edge of the drum so it always sits solid? Definitely going the rout of FryMe's with the casters, well done!

Glen

Thanks Glen. As Larry says below, You would decrease the surface contact of the drum by adding feet. That's why I mounted them the way I did.

I tried the three feet on the bottom for stability and it proved to me a detriment. The three feet are effectively making a triangle and the reduced size of the base making it more tippy. I would not recommend it. I have a few stands made on brake drums and find that if they rock I can move them just a bit and they will stabilize just fine. I also find that moving is no big issue, just tip to balance point and then roll on the edge of the drum, no dolly wheels required. If you have ever rolled a gas cylinder or a 55 gallon drum then you know what to expect.

lg
no neat sig line

Gotta disagree here. A gas cylinder and drum are round and symmetrical from top to bottom. A odd shaped vise or grinder mounted on top of a 8"dia pipe with a 14" dia drum base is everything but symmetrical, and is a pita to 'roll' using the tip and roll method imo. I refer to mine as tip and push so not to be confused

That's the current direction I'm heading...

Looks like I shouldn't try welding to the drum... (I did put a small MIG bead on the drum and tried to knock it off with a chisel...didn't come loose) Guess I can tack on the mounts for wheels. Posts will depend on the "used" steel I find at the local yard... $.55/lb

I may make one into a small (24" dia) welding/work table. The rear drums are supposed to be 112lb and the front drums 80lb. The fronts might be good for my cutoff saws (Dewalt Multi-Cutter and Makita Abrasive). The rears for the table and vise.

Glen

If you welded mild carbon steel to a cast drum using steel wire and a MIG, it WILL break. I know this from experience the hard way. Mine was welded using TIG using Inconel rod as a filler with proper preheat and post heat. Been holding strong now for 2+ years. If you don't have the capabilities to do this, I'd recommend bolting on what ever needs attached.

 

[GlenC]

The first one is working great!

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[Fyrme]

 

[stinkity stoink]

Here is one that I made. I don't have a ton of space to have these all over ,but do have a ton of things I wanted to put on it.
I was at a metal shaping class and saw one like this. It is basically like a bicycle seat post I made that will clamp down around the 1" stock that gets put in it.
So I put a bunch of post dollys, my Beverly shear and a bunch of other things on a 1" post and switch them out as needed. I have since added another side to it so I can have 2 tools at one time on it.

 

[bobx]

 

[mopar65]

I am lucky I own my own semi..well that's not so lucky but I use my old brake drums for all kinds of stands.i even have one for the base of a end table in my mancave.when I get home I will take some pictures.

 

[BD1]

Here's some ideas on the Weldingweb site .
http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?428671-I-ll-show-you-mine-you-show-me-yours

 

[lastgoodusername]

i am in central NC and i have several brake drums if anyone is in the area. Johnny

 

[toplessHO]

heres a couple of my grinder stand using my old OEM split rim and tire from my 72 3/4 ton Chevy. I made one for our apprenticeship welding shop about 35 yrs ago and cut a couple holes in it and filled tire with concrete. Thats still in use today. The plate on top doubles as a quick mount for vise if I need one for outside grinding etc.

 

[188slo50]

Nice recycling, never would of thought about using truck drums. Going to add this to the garage idea list.