Heavy workbench build

[SwamperAK]

Finally built my new work bench/fab table. I picked up the plate as surplus a few years back, and finally had the time to turn it into a table.

Here's some details:
-1" thick 4x8 Hardox 500 top
-6" pipe legs
-5" channel sub frame
-32" high
-1600 lbs
-Wilton C3 (another 200 lbs!)

Still need to burn holes to bolt down the vise, and radius the corners a bit. I will probably add some large triangular gussets between the legs and subframe at a later date, but I needed it for a few projects, so it will be put to work as-is for now.

This will be a general pupose work bench and welding table. I have used many benches in welding and heavy equipment shops in my career, and this style bench is what works best for me - simple, sturdy, and heavy.

For the work I want to do with this table, I need versatility:
-No grid holes for clamps; maybe I'll be tearing down a transmission and don't want small parts falling through.
-Low enough for heavy hammering and manuevering large parts.
-Simple enough to be modified as needed; I often weld jigs or stands to a bench for unique jobs.
-Strong enough to support extremely heavy machine components.
-Enough mass to resist moving when used for holding parts during assembly/disassembly.

Here's some things you typically won't see on workbenches used daily in heavy equipment shops:
-Receiver tubes for vises - too much slop, and puts the vise too far from table.
-Holes all over the top for clamps and jigs - fine for a specialty fab shop, but for a general purpose bench, I prefer to tack the project down if needed.
-Caster wheels. Having your bench start rolling while torquing or prying on something is incredibly frustrating.

 

[jack stand]

Go big or go home!
Your not playing
Do you have the metal fairy living next door or just find that along the road. I won't ask what that 1" sheet costs.
Very nice.

 

[Shiftless]

That should be quite adequate even for GJ standards.

May I add that your chose of user vise, a Wilton C3, deserves a special compliment. IMHO, the Wilton C series is just about the best choice for an all purpose vise bar none, One other possible substitute would be a Reed combo. The Reed 4C is legendary.

(I have much more modest needs and my user is a Wilton C1 weighing in at a mere 70 pounds)

 

[SwamperAK]

That should be quite adequate even for GJ standards.

May I add that your chose of user vise, a Wilton C3, deserves a special compliment. IMHO, the Wilton C series is just about the best choice for an all purpose vise bar none, One other possible substitute would be a Reed combo. The Reed 4C is legendary.

(I have much more modest needs and my user is a Wilton C1 weighing in at a mere 70 pounds)

Thanks! Yes, the C-series is about the best you can find for something that will get used and abused. This particular one spent a decade on the bumper of a service truck, before finally seizing from a lack of maintenance, and getting tossed! I was able to rescue it from the dumpster, and with a bit of work and just a few bucks for a new spindle collar, get it back in service.

 

[Shiftless]

I was able to rescue it from the dumpster, and with a bit of work and just a few bucks for a new spindle collar, get it back in service.

Wow! An almost free Wilton C3 ???
Let me award you the coveted GJ compliment…”You ****!”

 

[MoonRise]

Simple, sturdy, heavy = good properties for a workbench

And a nice classic dark grey paint, nice as well.

And maybe add a few hundred more pounds of steel to the bench, just to get it up to a full ton of workbench. Just because.

IIRC, @dr_clyde made a workbench up in the ton range as well. Not with a Hardox500 top slab though IIRC.

 

[OccupantRJ]

You think that will be heavy enough for you? Mine is 1/2” by 4x8 and serves me similar to what you need, as a tear down table and welding table. I installed salvaged drawer sets under it for various metal working tools. The center table is a 1/4” steel pullout mobile table about 32x30 and comes in very handy for additional work surface and storage for metal drops.

 

[SwamperAK]

And a nice classic dark grey paint, nice as well.

And maybe add a few hundred more pounds of steel to the bench, just to get it up to a full ton of workbench. Just because.

I might paint the C3 in the same dark grey.

I thought about a lower shelf, but they just collect junk (at least for me). I will add some heavy gussets, and some feet to the bottom of the legs, but I'm not sure that it will break a ton!

 

[SwamperAK]

You think that will be heavy enough for you? Mine is 1/2” by 4x8 and serves me similar to what you need, as a tear down table and welding table. I installed salvaged drawer sets under it for various metal working tools. The center table is a 1/4” steel pullout mobile table about 32x30 and comes in very handy for additional work surface and storage for metal drops.

Nice bench! I like the docking station for your mobile work table!

 

[flicker]

here is one i built for a customer . 20' long .

 

[Wamsutta]

I've never heard of Hardox 500; is it metal?

 

[strength_and_power]

I've never heard of Hardox 500; is it metal?

It’s similar to AR500 ( Abrasion Resistant) but welds and forms with far less issues than AR500.

 

[LopezBart]

I've never heard of Hardox 500; is it metal?

Hardox® 500

From abrasion-resistant wear plate to cut-to-length sheet, tubes, pipes and round bars, Hardox® steel answers all your wear challenges. Here’s your guide to the wide range of Hardox® products.

www.ssab.com

 

[Wamsutta]

It’s similar to AR500 ( Abrasion Resistant) but welds and forms with far less issues than AR500.

I'm not even going to ask what something like that would cost. I paid $175 for a 24 x 48 x 3/8 mild steel plate.

 

[MoonRise]

I've never heard of Hardox 500; is it metal?

Gee, if only there were some way to find out something about this mystery 'thing'?

As said, it's an abrasion-resistant steel alloy. Hi Bart and Strength.

Quick google search on "hardox500"

Hardox® 500

From abrasion-resistant wear plate to cut-to-length sheet, tubes, pipes and round bars, Hardox® steel answers all your wear challenges. Here’s your guide to the wide range of Hardox® products.

www.ssab.com

Your guide to Hardox® wear steel products

From abrasion-resistant wear plate to cut-to-length sheet, tubes, pipes and round bars, Hardox® steel answers all your wear challenges. Here’s your guide to the wide range of Hardox® products.

www.ssab.com

Discover the Hardox® product range

Explore Hardox® wear steels, the hardest and toughest abrasion-resistant steels for extreme wear challenges, and find out how it maximizes uptime, performance and productivity.

www.ssab.com

It is considered weldable and bendable (ooof! Bending Hardox, that takes some oomph!).

 

[Ultradog MN]

Finally built my new work bench/fab table. I picked up the plate as surplus a few years back, and finally had the time to turn it into a table.

Here's some details:
-1" thick 4x8 Hardox 500 top
-6" pipe legs
-5" channel sub frame
-32" high
-1600 lbs
-Wilton C3 (another 200 lbs!)

Still need to burn holes to bolt down the vise, and radius the corners a bit. I will probably add some large triangular gussets between the legs and subframe at a later date, but I needed it for a few projects, so it will be put to work as-is for now.

This will be a general pupose work bench and welding table. I have used many benches in welding and heavy equipment shops in my career, and this style bench is what works best for me - simple, sturdy, and heavy.

For the work I want to do with this table, I need versatility:
-No grid holes for clamps; maybe I'll be tearing down a transmission and don't want small parts falling through.
-Low enough for heavy hammering and manuevering large parts.
-Simple enough to be modified as needed; I often weld jigs or stands to a bench for unique jobs.
-Strong enough to support extremely heavy machine components.
-Enough mass to resist moving when used for holding parts during assembly/disassembly.

Here's some things you typically won't see on workbenches used daily in heavy equipment shops:
-Receiver tubes for vises - too much slop, and puts the vise too far from table.
-Holes all over the top for clamps and jigs - fine for a specialty fab shop, but for a general purpose bench, I prefer to tack the project down if needed.
-Caster wheels. Having your bench start rolling while torquing or prying on something is incredibly frustrating.

Excellent!
Ain't nothing like weight, heft and girth!
A couple of things you might consider:
Put casters under it so you so you can move it but use some big bolts that you can screw down as feet to lock it in place when you don't want it to move.
And having some holes drilled and tapped into the top are real handy for clamping things down.
Note the holes in the top and casters with bolts on mine.
I recently picked up a Wilton C3 but will build a new stand for it - also with casters/ bolt feet. Am kinda tired of a vise on my main table.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I have two bench vises and a pipe vise on my table. I tapped the hold down bolt holes into the table so they can be removed in seconds with a battery impact if the need arises.

 

[SwamperAK]

Excellent!
Ain't nothing like weight, heft and girth!
A couple of things you might consider:
Put casters under it so you so you can move it but use some big bolts that you can screw down as feet to lock it in place when you don't want it to move.
And having some holes drilled and tapped into the top are real handy for clamping things down.
Note the holes in the top and casters with bolts on mine.

Thanks!

I hate casters on workbenches. I'll move this thing around with my skid steer as needed. I think most people who build these heavy benches already have equipment or cranes to move them. The folks who lack the equipment are building much lighter tables.

Unfortunately, drilling and tapping Hardox isn't worth the effort. I will burn holes if I ever need one for something, and just plan on tacking jigs and clamps down as needed. I've built a lot of weld-on screw clamps over the years for wear metal jobs on mining equipment, and have used benches just like this one for big jobs that required welding heavy braces to the top for supporting the project.

 

[simnil]

Hardox 500, You won't be drilling any holes in that just for fun!!

I'm also member of the solid table top club, mine is 50mm thick, (2"-ish), and 2x1 m. Weight somewhere between 800 and 1000kg. Stays put regardless of what I'm manhandling in the vice!

 

[36truck]

I bought 2 5X5 work tales for $150 at an auction years ago. They had a 1" top with 4" h- beam for legs & under support. They were only 2 feet tall so one of them I added 12" to the legs to get it to 36" for a nice work bench. Made a guy mad at me at the auction He quit bidding thinking I would sell him one of them. I told him no I have use for both.