Building a Mobile Bench

[Rbcsci]

Things are coming together on the 2" receiver idea. I'm planning to have 2 on the front and 2 on each side. The side receivers might hold an extension wing for my chop saw or some other implement...

 

[Rbcsci]

I feel like I spent all last night drilling half inch holes.


I took advantage of today's warm weather to do a little prep with my favorite angle grinder for some welding.

 

[tarmy]

Watch out for heat distortion of that top when you lay in those welds…move around and check things as you go.

 

[Rbcsci]

Watch out for heat distortion of that top when you lay in those welds…move around and check things as you go.

Agreed. It’s 12 ga steel, but I’m trying to jump around with spot welds.

 

[Rbcsci]

So I welded on a bunch of 1/2” nuts so that I can secure things tightly into the 2” receivers. I figure bolts on 2 sides should clamp things in adequately.

 

[Rbcsci]

Not the world’s prettiest welds, but I believe they are secure…

 

[Rbcsci]

The receivers are securely fastened to the table top, but I plan to brace them to the table frame with 1.5”x.25” angle iron once the table top is installed. I feel like it will be bomb-proof at that point.

 

[Rbcsci]

If you can’t be a good welder, at least be good with a grinder. There are still a few pin holes, but the face welds are purely cosmetic. I welded the back side of the lip as well. I may make another pass at these to hit those tiny holes.

 

[gearhead1]

Good work! You’re not welding an ASME pressure vessel, it’ll be fine. Cool project.

 

[Rbcsci]

This thing is starting to get quite heavy.

 

[Rbcsci]

Back on all 4 wheels and starting to take shape. Now I’m trying to come up with a slide out shelf for my 150 lb rotary table.

 

[Hammer1963]

Nice build! I am currently in the process of two very similar projects. I always get too busy to take the time to document them. Glad to see you are doing so. Especially the unfortunate parts. They serve as a good reminder of our limitations as well as our fortunate abilities

Being my clumsy self, I wish I could say that I have not experienced being impaled by twisted wire (including the face) ..... but I have. I wish I could say that I have never had a grinding wheel/brush wrapped up in my clothing, but I have. I wish I could say that I have learned not to do those sorts of things, but I haven't. If I could manage to get through one build, one project of any kind without bodily injury or some sort of collateral damage, I would be elated. I don't believe that's ever going to happen.

On a positive note, isn't nice to be able to look back at those scars and stupid moments and be able to say: yeah, that's me. That's my trademark.

 

[Rbcsci]

This is what happens when you just wing it and you don’t start with a plan. I decided to use expanded steel grate for the bottom to store various bits, but when I cut it to size, it became painfully clear that it was not going in there with all the other brackets and such welded in place. I ended up cutting it in 2 pieces, and it was still a challenge to get them in there.



A little welding and a few support bars and it will be good, but I wish I had put it in first. I also wish I had left a way to remove the toolbox easily. Painting this thing is going to be a chore when I have to mask the box because it doesn’t come out.

 

[Rbcsci]

Next, I’m adding some places to store clamps and grinders. I put 2 flat bars on the front to hang some clamps from. I hung them 4“ below the frame so that I can access the locking bolts in my 2” receivers and also so that I can clamp things to the table top.

 

[Rbcsci]

Next up is a rack for my angle grinders. I didn’t want them to hang outside of the cart, so I bent some flat stock to make an offset rack.





Then it was off to the milling machine for some slots…





A little booger-welding and I think I’m in good shape.

 

[jbrentd]

Nice work so far on the bench. I am planning to make one too once I get my garage finished.