+2. My CNC plasma would make short work of that. It would be less effort to move it to a shop and pay to have it done than it would to be there all day with a jigsaw.
I can even draw the file for you for free if you just give me some dimensions. That way you can hand them a file they just have to load.
Or if you come to SoCal, I'll cut it for you on my table, but it's probably not worth the trip for what it would cost locally.
Hey thanks alot for the offer if I was closer I would forsure hit you up on the offer
Holes saw and a jigsaw/grinder with cutting disk, would take some time and effort, but could be done
You could use an Oxy-acetylene torch, you could chain drill it and clean it up with a grinder, or you could take an 0.045 wheel and cut out the slots and drill the end holes.
I think I'd go with holesaws and a VS jigsaw. Drill each end and then use the jigsaw to connect them. It will take a while but the edge will be serviceable without grinding.
I vote cutoff wheel and drill/holesaw.
The cutoff wheel is very accurate and you'll be able to make nice straight lines.
My guess is it will take 8, 4.5": wheels and about an hour of grinding to make it happen. Take it outside if you can as there will be a LOT of grinding dust.
^^^^
That's what I was thinking but not sure If the time and effort would be worth it or how steady my hand with a grinder is to make the line come out straight.
Can you rent a plasma cutter anywhere? I think if I had that kind of nice welding table I'd be ready to step up to a PC.
I have been looking at getting a Plasma cutter on Craigslist for a while but ever since my portaband saw and Swag off road mount for it I have stalled cause I can do lots of little projects pretty quick at a fraction of the cost.
This. You can also clamp some guides for the jigsaw as well to help keep things looking tidy.
While your at it you might as well build something to catch the slag from the grinder exhaust ports. This will help keep the bench (and your garage) soo much cleaner.
never thought about the Exhaust port idea I'll have to search around the site to see what one looks like.
If you can't remove the top from the base, then aMag-base drill-press (gives you a great excuse to go buy one!) to drill the holes, then I'd use it to drill a smaller hole for each line in the middle since that image shows the lines having a nice radius at the end which will be way easier to do with a drill-bit than with almost anything else. Then maybe make a sliding jig for a plasma cutter (to hold it 90* to the table so you don't have angled sides to the lines) clamp a straight-edge to the table and slide the plasma cutter jig butted up to the straight-edge to get nice straight clean lines.
Always looking for an excuse to get a new tool! I have seen people rent the Mag drill-press to drill the entire complete top to make your own stronghand fab table at a fraction of the cost... very time consuming but worth it for someone who is a Fabricators for a living.
Fab table and only one post suggests using a torch. The lay out would take longer then cutting it out. Of course you would need to know how to use a torch. But are you not trying to do fab work, so learning to use a torch seems like a reasonable thing to do. I'm not saying that plasma or what ever else you may choose to use won't work. But I will mention that in 35 years of fab work, I still have never used a plasma cutter. The hand cutting I've seen with plasma accept for on sheet metals is no better than a torch. Practice with your torch and cut your table slots later.
I am always trying to learn a new trick which I was I ask the experienced folks like yourself how its done.
Your table still looks good! Some of the umpteen thousand dollar tables just have holes? (torch) if you must.
I like the one with wood too.
Thanks!
When I was young, dumb, and dirt poor, I'd go to the pawn shop and buy the cheapest circular saw I could get and put a metal cutting disc on it and cut metal with that. It might be worth considering if you don't have a torch. They won't last long, but it was cheaper than buying torches with money I didn't have.
If you have a torch, drill the holes first, then use tubing, channel or something you can use as a guide to make the cuts. It shouldn't be too rough if you have it set right.
A grinder with a metal cutting disc (thinner than a grinding disc) is another option.
I have seen a few folks on here use a wood circular saw with a metal blade attached with some damn nice results... I know there is a RPM difference etc... but for a cheap method to make some cuts its pretty effective.
I don't care for the X, drill a hole if you need to but its so rare I cant clamp at edges I wouldn't make anything else unless I had to, just a place for dirt and tools/pieces to fall thru.
I have seen your posts and you do a lot of fabricating so I know you know your stuff... I have some deep clamps that seem to keep stuff pretty straight and as I learn to weld, and more importantly tack weld to anticipate the distortion and movement of the metal as it heats and cools I wont need so many clamps... but it sure does seems pretty nice to be able to clamp projects in the center.
^^^^^This is the way to go for many reasons, find a machine shop could cost you 100 + but will be worth it. Truer cut for the slots and the alignment of the X will be as it should. Suggesting, using cutoff disc and grinding wheels is a pipe dream on 3/8 .
Why spend $100+ when I can put that $100 towards a new tool of a torch or Plasma
hahaha well I guess I'm glad I didn't get the 1/2 plate that I really wanted
I just built mine with the horizontal bar dropped down so i can clamp across the table with any big clamps.
nice table and design
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Thanks for all the input... I wanted to make sure there wasn't an easier way with the tools I have on hand... There are a few improvements I wanted to make to this table anyways, like a table height adjustable sliding shelf for the cold cut saw (see Duker's awesome table build) and a few other Swiss army knife type additions... might be easier to get the X on a 3/8 plate already laser cut and make it attach to the table with the receiver hitch... the home hobbyist can never have too many work surfaces
