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Building my ultimate Lista work bench

frankush

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Glad they showed, but sorry to hear about the damage. Idiots at the factory should have tossed the keys in the drawer. Is the bad drawer warped from front to back? It's possible the drawer glide on the front of the cabinet is not in its slot or is damaged. You bought a fully functional piece of cabinetry with some possible dents and dings. Expect no less. Keep us posted. I'm looking forward to see the completed project.
 
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LXCam

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Glad they showed, but sorry to hear about the damage. Idiots at the factory should have tossed the keys in the drawer. Is the bad drawer warped from front to back? It's possible the drawer glide on the front of the cabinet is not in its slot or is damaged. You bought a fully functional piece of cabinetry with some possible dents and dings. Expect no less. Keep us posted. I'm looking forward to see the completed project.

The drawer slide is bent like some lard *** stood on the corner with it fully extended. Nothing I can't tweek. And Joe is sending me out a replacement lock so all is good.


OK GUYS, lets get down to business. I'm stumped on my final configuration and I'm in need of some serious group prodding to get me off my *** and moving forwards. :Mr.T:

Like I mentioned in my first post I have a stainless top I had built for a different area many years back, long ago I moved it to another location and it's just not being used to it's potential and I happen to have a 1/8" steel top I can use in it's place. BTW in case it gets asked, that steel top is not long enough to use over the three Lista cabinets I bought, so that's out the door and it just wouldn't look as cool as the SS unit.

So here's the top. Please bare in mind it's 126.5" long. Absolutely the perfect length for one more 28.5" wide cabinet. But buying another from MH isn't in the cards right now.

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So I went back to my mad skills with excel and whipped out a couple more drawings for your consideration. Also please note the base frame will be 3" X 4" X 3/8" angle iron. I'm framing it on the 4" vertical edge and facing the inside out. This way if need be I can use a jack under the lip to pick it up for any reason.

Option 1: Cut down the top and allow a inch or so of overhang of the three cabinets I have now. Just so ya knows, this goes against my grain cutting up a perfectly good top.

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Option 2: Build the base frame to accommodate another 28.5" wide cabinet and leave it open until the days comes I find the right deal. Obviously I'd build a support for the end of the top and cover the base but it'd look funny because of how I'm recessing the base frame, regardless something I could live with for the time being.

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Option 3: Build the base frame for the three cabinets I have now like in option 1 but leave the top full length. Then build a vertical filler panel for the back and the side that bolts together. Then use that space for a mobile cart parking stall. The reason leaving the infill pieces bolted is so when I do move the beast, there's no chance of damage to the panels.

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Now let me really add something to the mix. After I decided to buy one more cabinet, but wasn't pleased with the shipping quote, I happened upon a vidmar mobile cabinet for a price that would piss a few guys off. So there was no way I could pass it up. As it turns out, it's 30" wide which screws me using it with what I'm doing. I could case both sides of my top with a 1.5" wide solid piece (sheet metal of course) to it lengthens my top a total of 3"s more then use this as my mobile cart after moving the fixed and swivel wheels around.

I also thought about doing the same thing with the top and tossing this on the frame, but because it just doesn't match the Lista's, decided against that idea. BTW, it will be getting painted the same color as the Lista's no matter what if I keep it.

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LXCam

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If it won't work without a serious headache, I would resell it and put the money towards what you need/want.

If you're talking about the cart ya I agree. But it's finding the right cabinet that's the issue. The other thing I forgot to mention about the Vidmar cart is the drawers are not sized correctly for a mobile tool cart, everything about them is wrong and wasted space. But I do have other uses for them, so it's by no means a loss.
 

akdiesel

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LXCam

I have a small overhang over the front of my cabinets. It worked out great since the drawers are a full open design and allowed me to install some led strip lighting to shine down in the drawers when open for a better visual of what I need.
As for the length. I also have the very close same length (127"). I purchased two 12 gauge bench tops from Grainger and cut one to size and welded the two together as best I could to minimize warping. Hardly noticeable but to help with the rust and cleanliness I also had it powder coated to a hammered gray color. The finish is very durable. I don't hammer directly on it but there are heavy metal items on it continuously with no chips or abrasions.
I Would also go with the open area between the two of the cabinets for a comfortable seating area. The middle seems to be the best place to tasks like this and most drawers are accessible from the middle as best as possible.
 
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LXCam

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I've checked out your thread a couple of times D and don't remember seeing that cabinet, I'll go look for it. As for splitting this I have no desire to do that for a couple reasons. One I don't a space for a chair for this area as I have another bench I do my sit down work at. Also I'm building this thing in a manor that would hopefully make theft of the entire unit damn flipping difficult if not impossible without much time, effort and equipment (there's a reason for this that doesn't much matter why).

Also the depth is fine, my top is 32" deep, so it will have some overhang as well. The lights are a cool idea, that might be worth doing.

I've given considerable thought to building my own cabinet or hinged door one that matches the Lista units and that's an option as well. I just didn't feel like drawing it up, lol. Ya know had MH been able to add the cabinet I wanted just a couple days after placing this order to my original shipping quote, we wouldn't be having this discussion. It kills me I was told it's too late, this could screw up your order when my **** didn't ship for over two more weeks. How flipping hard would it have been.
 
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36truck

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Option 3 leave a space there till the right cabinet comes along. Use the vidmar cabinet as a portable or sell it for money to put to the right cabinet.
 
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LXCam

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I found a guy a 100 miles away with two of the 22" wide 28" deep 7 drawer carts that match my boxes. If I can get my schedule worked out where I can go pick one up this week I've decided to do option 3 but set the top up with a little overhang on the sides.

Thanks for the input guys, much appreciated!, Cam
 

Strouty

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Hopefully that cabinet will work for you. I know what it is like trying to get the finishing touches on a project.

Looks good and again your excel skills amaze! :bowdown:
 

jeepinerdeep

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I found a guy a 100 miles away with two of the 22" wide 28" deep 7 drawer carts that match my boxes. If I can get my schedule worked out where I can go pick one up this week I've decided to do option 3 but set the top up with a little overhang on the sides.

Thanks for the input guys, much appreciated!, Cam



This project is starting to snowball ! :thumbup::rocker:
 
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LXCam

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So I got off my *** this morning and went for a drive. Picked up myself the last piece of the puzzle as well as a genuine surprise. So the dude opens up his garage and low and behold there's 4 Wilton 600N vises laying about. Well now what kind of person would I be if I broke up such a perfect friendship and left one of those 600's without his buddy cabinet to keep him company?

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The collection

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And the new toy. I've been wanting one of these for far too long. It wasn't a deal but more then fair considering it's in damn near perfect shape. This will find it's home on my welding bench, but I might then move my other Wilton to this bench.

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LXCam

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Went today and picked up the base frame material. 10lbs a ft :thumbup:

I'm hoping I can find some time this weekend to get the base built. But Saturdays shot already damn the bad luck.

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And for you guys that have never been to a Industrial Metal Supply joint, this place is a metal worshipers *********. :bounce:

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akdiesel

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LXCam

That is going to very stout. You said you had to build it strong enough due to your location.
It ***** we have to go out of our way to prevent things from happening, but it does make for some impressive stuff.
Oh, and the shop pics gave me a really good night sleep.
 
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LXCam

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Well hot damn I finally made some headway today.

Getting to use one of my most prized tools always makes projects like this a breeze.

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I can't tell you the last time I squared her up....

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But this ole girl never lets me down :)

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Now I must admit it goes against my gain to not miter the corner at a 45. But considering it'll never get noticed and the fact the saw was within .015 of perfect I just couldn't bring myself to move it. So I notched it instead. Hope you guys will forgive me, lol

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All jigged up and ready to burn.

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And it figures I'd run out of gas before I was 100% with the frame. Also I'm going to do something a bit more with setting up the feet. I just can't bring myself to only welding the nut to the frame, I'm going to do some kind of architectural wrap around it with flat bar so it looks kind of trick.....or so I hope.

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TimeWarpF100

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This is going to be one very nice toolbox setup!

Years ago I suckered for the Dura brand. Junk from the beginning. Pricey and many issues. Not at all like advertised. Damaged, issues they never did take care of.

Looking forward to see yours finally installed and put to work.
 
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LXCam

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Thanks !

Well I got some time today to start on the mounts for the feet. Got all the metal cut up and one corner done.

Just so it looks all the same even if you'll never seen this again ya gotta start with a jig right?.

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A little heat

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Ready to melt

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I'm going to shoulder the stud and thin the nut just enough so it's go flush with the bottom of the frame.

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Not much thread engagement on this, but it's got a solid inch of adjustment and will remain stout.

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Hoping I can get the last of it welded up before the game and spray it sometime next week.
 
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LXCam

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Thanks again guys that's much appreciated. So the last couple of weeks have seen more then it's fair share of obstacles slowing the roll on my little project. First and foremost out first grandchild was born last weekend so it's been none stop baby gawking going on. Also between close out of the construction project I've been on for the last 4.5 years and trying to transition to something else or going a whole new direction has been interesting and time consuming.'

But hey, nuff scuses. Between last night and today I've made some more headway. I noticed I left out a few steps that for some kind of go without saying and others may not get it. So I'm gonna include them just for kicks. All that's left right now is a little clean up, drill and tap a few holes and the bottom must just get some paint splashed on it tonight.

The rod couplers I used for the feet. I relieved them for the outside weld so it didn't impact the surround.

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Glued so it ain't moving :)

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After doing my practice corner I set it up so I could get a better angle laying the bead. Not so cut up this time.

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The center foot, it would have been cool to jog it the way I did the corner but there isn't enough space.

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Layout for the fill piece.

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LXCam

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Welp, I was on fire today. Got everything welded, cleaned and made a jig for tapping some holes in the front rail for a locking system. Got her primed, reached for my 1/2 pint gun and BLAM!........no gun, nowhere, nuttin, nadda. Obviously beamed into space by Scotty. And I didn't have enough acetone to clean my big gun :(

Looks like tomorrow I need to head of to HF and see what they got cause I want this thing done by tomorrow night.

Anyhow I wish I had considered this before I welded the frame. I'm not sure exactly what I'll be doing but I know I'll need a anchor point on the base for a bar lock system. So to make things easy on myself, made a drilling jig so the holes are dead on for all three locations.

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And worked my way up to size in two steps.

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Then tapped with a 3/8 X 24, man I really like that GW ratcheting tap handle.

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At least she's primed and even though this picture looks not so good everything turned out ok.

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Damn shame none of this will ever be seen again.

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LXCam

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Awesome, very creative.

Wheres the tap handle from again? That looks cool.


Thanks bull That's out of a gear wrench kit I got a while back. It's really nice quality for what it cost. I paid like $70 from woot for the large metric kit, but have never seen it that low since then. Luv the damn thing.
 
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LXCam

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How are the taps? Decent quality?

I'd rate them as a solid high medium. Waaaay better then any of the other big kits that are affordable and ya I've bought a few. For what these cost on sale you can't go wrong. And for the few times you need something top dollar just purchase that individually and at least you have some nice holders. Much better quality them anything I've used from Irwin lately.

Just got back from picking up a new gun and supplies. So it's time to smurf the joint.
 
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LXCam

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Thanks Boost.

So direct from HF, and for those times when one POS is not enough I picked up their twin pack.

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Hooked up this trick little regulator I got a few months back. BTW, this worked great!. I'm glad I got three of them when they could be had for ten bucks. If anything the swivel was worth the price of admission.

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And the bottom of the bottom is checked off. Tonight I'll flip it and start on the cabinet install tomorrow.

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Strouty

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Looks good, I always heard that the purple HF guns were really good, but not sure what actually makes it a purple one. I was going to buy one, but then I scored a few decent older ones at an auction with some other stuff.
 
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LXCam

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Looks good, I always heard that the purple HF guns were really good, but not sure what actually makes it a purple one. I was going to buy one, but then I scored a few decent older ones at an auction with some other stuff.

I have to say other then spending an hour just pre-cleaning the darn thing it worked great. I have no complaints. Matter of fact I'm actually glad I needed to buy a new one cause my other small gun really didn't shoot all that nice. If anyone buys these I highly suggest you completely disassemble and clean, clean, clean. Man was there some serious **** in it. :dunno:
 
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