OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
Yes, we have the energizer bunny, we’ll have in years past. Haven’t seen those commercials for a while. I suppose I’m like that in some regards. If it keeps the blood flowing anyway!
Above 1200 Sq/FT LilScorpion’s Fab Space
- Thread starter lilscorpion
- Start date
Wokspaces above 1200 squarefeet.
OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
After work i decided it was time to install a few upgrades to my fireball dragon wagon welding table. Most ends of projects start with a delivery from McMaster. Seems like I get one weekly now.
This is a storage rack that is designed to keep the welding table accessories readily available but also Tucker out of the way. Winch purchase I’ve found that keeping the clamps in a drawer is inconvenient and as a result I tend to leave them on the table which takes up a lot of space. Designed the rack in cad and cut it out of 3/16.
The concept was vetted last week so this post is purely install. All cutting, fab, and powder coating has already been done.
The grey things are inserts that allow me to customize the storage options in the future. The hole spacing of this setup matches the table - 3/4” holes in a 2x2-inch pattern. The clamps need more than 3/16” of depth to stand up correctly so two inserts sandwich the rack creating almost .600 of thickness when including the rivnut head.
The clamps sit in the rack very well amd will be very easy to grab.
The rack is tucked out of the way enough so that I’ll be able to use the end of the table without kneeing the clamps as I do
Upgrade 2 - I use a lot of pneumatic fab tools. Most are now kept on my tooling wall. Even tho the wad is almost within reach of the table I tend to not put the tools back between fab tasks, I set the on the table or stand them up in one of the dog holes. It works but inevitably I’m having to move them around as I fixture, unfixture, or weld. Decided I’d try make a tool caddy to help keep things organized.
It clamps to the table thru 3/4” dog holes on the side skirt. With the heads of the rivnuts, the surfaces sits about .065 below the table surface so long parts can still overhang the end of the table (and caddy if/when emptied) easily.
Grommets fit into .800 holes cut into the top which allow air tools to stand up nicely but are easily accessible and removable.
Voila! Tool caddy. All the extra holds and rivenuts enable future upgrades to hold custom tool racks and adapters for things like clamps and such. I’ll add as I go and see need. For now my tools will stay off the table surface.
This is a storage rack that is designed to keep the welding table accessories readily available but also Tucker out of the way. Winch purchase I’ve found that keeping the clamps in a drawer is inconvenient and as a result I tend to leave them on the table which takes up a lot of space. Designed the rack in cad and cut it out of 3/16.
The concept was vetted last week so this post is purely install. All cutting, fab, and powder coating has already been done.
The grey things are inserts that allow me to customize the storage options in the future. The hole spacing of this setup matches the table - 3/4” holes in a 2x2-inch pattern. The clamps need more than 3/16” of depth to stand up correctly so two inserts sandwich the rack creating almost .600 of thickness when including the rivnut head.
The clamps sit in the rack very well amd will be very easy to grab.
The rack is tucked out of the way enough so that I’ll be able to use the end of the table without kneeing the clamps as I do
Upgrade 2 - I use a lot of pneumatic fab tools. Most are now kept on my tooling wall. Even tho the wad is almost within reach of the table I tend to not put the tools back between fab tasks, I set the on the table or stand them up in one of the dog holes. It works but inevitably I’m having to move them around as I fixture, unfixture, or weld. Decided I’d try make a tool caddy to help keep things organized.
It clamps to the table thru 3/4” dog holes on the side skirt. With the heads of the rivnuts, the surfaces sits about .065 below the table surface so long parts can still overhang the end of the table (and caddy if/when emptied) easily.
Grommets fit into .800 holes cut into the top which allow air tools to stand up nicely but are easily accessible and removable.
Voila! Tool caddy. All the extra holds and rivenuts enable future upgrades to hold custom tool racks and adapters for things like clamps and such. I’ll add as I go and see need. For now my tools will stay off the table surface.
OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
I like it and the utilization of space is prime
Last edited:
signcrafter
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 9, 2012
- Messages
- 12,589
Any chance you have a link to the grommets you are using? I threw together this air tool storage years ago using a 2x10 and it works pretty decent. I just drilled some holes for the air couplers to sit in but would be nice to have a little snugger fit. Need to make a new organizer for the new shop and the grommets are a great idea. Thanks for sharing.After work i decided it was time to install a few upgrades to my fireball dragon wagon welding table. Most ends of projects start with a delivery from McMaster. Seems like I get one weekly now.
This is a storage rack that is designed to keep the welding table accessories readily available but also Tucker out of the way. Winch purchase I’ve found that keeping the clamps in a drawer is inconvenient and as a result I tend to leave them on the table which takes up a lot of space. Designed the rack in cad and cut it out of 3/16.
The concept was vetted last week so this post is purely install. All cutting, fab, and powder coating has already been done.
The grey things are inserts that allow me to customize the storage options in the future. The hole spacing of this setup matches the table - 3/4” holes in a 2x2-inch pattern. The clamps need more than 3/16” of depth to stand up correctly so two inserts sandwich the rack creating almost .600 of thickness when including the rivnut head.
The clamps sit in the rack very well amd will be very easy to grab.
The rack is tucked out of the way enough so that I’ll be able to use the end of the table without kneeing the clamps as I do
Upgrade 2 - I use a lot of pneumatic fab tools. Most are now kept on my tooling wall. Even tho the wad is almost within reach of the table I tend to not put the tools back between fab tasks, I set the on the table or stand them up in one of the dog holes. It works but inevitably I’m having to move them around as I fixture, unfixture, or weld. Decided I’d try make a tool caddy to help keep things organized.
It clamps to the table thru 3/4” dog holes on the side skirt. With the heads of the rivnuts, the surfaces sits about .065 below the table surface so long parts can still overhang the end of the table (and caddy if/when emptied) easily.
Grommets fit into .800 holes cut into the top which allow air tools to stand up nicely but are easily accessible and removable.
Voila! Tool caddy. All the extra holds and rivenuts enable future upgrades to hold custom tool racks and adapters for things like clamps and such. I’ll add as I go and see need. For now my tools will stay off the table surface.
OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
Sure, don’t mind at all. 1/2” ID is key, there’s many different OD’s which may help make retrofitting your setup easier.Any chance you have a link to the grommets you are using? I threw together this air tool storage years ago using a 2x10 and it works pretty decent. I just drilled some holes for the air couplers to sit in but would be nice to have a little snugger fit. Need to make a new organizer for the new shop and the grommets are a great idea. Thanks for sharing.
Buna-N Rubber Grommet for 13/16" Hole Diameter and 1/8" Material Thickness, 1/2" ID
https://www.mcmaster.com/product/9307K27
Last edited:
signcrafter
Well-known member
- Joined
- May 9, 2012
- Messages
- 12,589
Thanks for the link.
OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
You’d think I’d be sponsored at this point. Or running stickers with some kinda kickback on views. Sadly no, I’m just damn good at installing rivnuts. May go pro in 2027.
OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
Another project in the pile to share - for all of my build cycles the most common challenge is managing the parts as they move between sub-processes.
I have an extreme duty shop cart which was one of six I built about 20-some years ago for my business which I use frequently. You’d be surprised to know I never coated it and it’s still bare metal. The dryness of Colorado weather is the only reason this is possible. I originally designed the powder coating oven specifically to be able to coat this beast but now that it’s done I’m not sure it will fit. Oh well.
The cart is a beast but with all “shelves” being configured as trays (concave), it’s not really ideal for sheet goods (cabinetry) or stacks of plasma cut parts that are wider or longer than the trays. I figured I need to have a plan I can use to build more easily if and when I need them in the future. This is the first of its kind but not to dissimilar to many you could find/buy. Since it’s about transporting components, I decided to make it with 4 layers and enable the shelves to be flipped into trays should I deem that a better configuration. The first go at it was close. Needed to make a few adjustments so the next one (or more) will fly together. Micro adjustments really.
After coating I tried to assembly and share it but ran out of hardware in the process ending the week stuck waiting for a McMaster re-stock.
After walking past it all week I was finally able to wrap it up this morning with only one thing left to design- the handle. I’ll do that this weekend.
As I snapped this pic I realized that my color preferences for the shop aren’t too dissimilar to Ironman. At some point I’ll want this same design in a slight smaller and lower format to use when working on cars. Maybe even half size would be cool. Another day tho
I have an extreme duty shop cart which was one of six I built about 20-some years ago for my business which I use frequently. You’d be surprised to know I never coated it and it’s still bare metal. The dryness of Colorado weather is the only reason this is possible. I originally designed the powder coating oven specifically to be able to coat this beast but now that it’s done I’m not sure it will fit. Oh well.
The cart is a beast but with all “shelves” being configured as trays (concave), it’s not really ideal for sheet goods (cabinetry) or stacks of plasma cut parts that are wider or longer than the trays. I figured I need to have a plan I can use to build more easily if and when I need them in the future. This is the first of its kind but not to dissimilar to many you could find/buy. Since it’s about transporting components, I decided to make it with 4 layers and enable the shelves to be flipped into trays should I deem that a better configuration. The first go at it was close. Needed to make a few adjustments so the next one (or more) will fly together. Micro adjustments really.
After coating I tried to assembly and share it but ran out of hardware in the process ending the week stuck waiting for a McMaster re-stock.
After walking past it all week I was finally able to wrap it up this morning with only one thing left to design- the handle. I’ll do that this weekend.
As I snapped this pic I realized that my color preferences for the shop aren’t too dissimilar to Ironman. At some point I’ll want this same design in a slight smaller and lower format to use when working on cars. Maybe even half size would be cool. Another day tho
OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
Got the weekend started with loading up the cart. Most of the pieces are doors for the kitchen. The top has some white maple (scraps) I’ll use for face frames as I get back into the cabinet build.
Organized disorganization but got my wood working fab table cleaned off and for that I’m grateful. And immediately Amazon delvered a kit I plan to use to seal the gaps on the barn doors.
Next I cleaned up the bench behind the lathe. I call it the tapping station at the moment. It’s the very last section of wall that does not yet have the rivnut organization panels.
I had made a ReadySaw stand that had been waiting to be coated and installed. Finally got to that.
I made two different versions - one that mounts to a 3/4” table like the Fireball Tools Dragon Wagon and one that mounts where my vises are. Idea was to be able ti use it inthenshopnor in the garage. In the shop if want to use it on the bench, the counter, or the Dragon Wagon.
Then I got back into the biggest last project needed to have the shop fully up and running - the powder coating booth. I built the base for the filter and blower motor box first.
Needed to cut spreaders next, got out the saw.
Here’s a hack - for repeatable cuts, don’t try to mess with measuring from the face of a tooth on the saw blade, instead figure out the offset once and measure from the end of the fence instead. I then write it on the first part and measure from the end instead for all subsequent parts. They end up perfectly the same with way less effort.
With the three spreaders, I fixtured and welded up the base.
Once cool, I turned it on end and cleaned off all the oil and grease.
Now to pull it all together. Brackets and lots of them make this like a bib boys erector set.
Each bracket has it location. Lots of drilling and more rivnuts.
Organized disorganization but got my wood working fab table cleaned off and for that I’m grateful. And immediately Amazon delvered a kit I plan to use to seal the gaps on the barn doors.
Next I cleaned up the bench behind the lathe. I call it the tapping station at the moment. It’s the very last section of wall that does not yet have the rivnut organization panels.
I had made a ReadySaw stand that had been waiting to be coated and installed. Finally got to that.
I made two different versions - one that mounts to a 3/4” table like the Fireball Tools Dragon Wagon and one that mounts where my vises are. Idea was to be able ti use it inthenshopnor in the garage. In the shop if want to use it on the bench, the counter, or the Dragon Wagon.
Then I got back into the biggest last project needed to have the shop fully up and running - the powder coating booth. I built the base for the filter and blower motor box first.
Needed to cut spreaders next, got out the saw.
Here’s a hack - for repeatable cuts, don’t try to mess with measuring from the face of a tooth on the saw blade, instead figure out the offset once and measure from the end of the fence instead. I then write it on the first part and measure from the end instead for all subsequent parts. They end up perfectly the same with way less effort.
With the three spreaders, I fixtured and welded up the base.
Once cool, I turned it on end and cleaned off all the oil and grease.
Now to pull it all together. Brackets and lots of them make this like a bib boys erector set.
Each bracket has it location. Lots of drilling and more rivnuts.
OP
lilscorpion
Well-known member
Believing or not it took me a day to make and install half of them.
The 4-way intersections are probably the coolest looking. The lower tabs create a shelf so each of the shelves can be lifted one at a time and set in place.
And finally time to put this thing together
To conserve precious shop space a last minute design change was to use the shop wall as one of the booths walls. This makes the booth itself impossible to move now but I’m not sure I’ll want to. If it’s really important it could be disassembled.
The lower plenum box in place.
While building things, I always find opportunities for improvements. Building the plenum box I decided that adding a tab to the vertical on this bracket would add significantly more strength.
It does make it quite a bit more difficult to install as I have to use 1/16” shims to account for three directions of rivnut heads.
All of the holes in these brackets are .190 holes cut on the plasma table. The work hardening of the material does make it a little hard on drillbits however, the precision is amazing. Every bolt hand threads in easily.
Two full long days of progress in chop tips that are around 100°. Toasty.
The 4-way intersections are probably the coolest looking. The lower tabs create a shelf so each of the shelves can be lifted one at a time and set in place.
And finally time to put this thing together
To conserve precious shop space a last minute design change was to use the shop wall as one of the booths walls. This makes the booth itself impossible to move now but I’m not sure I’ll want to. If it’s really important it could be disassembled.
The lower plenum box in place.
While building things, I always find opportunities for improvements. Building the plenum box I decided that adding a tab to the vertical on this bracket would add significantly more strength.
It does make it quite a bit more difficult to install as I have to use 1/16” shims to account for three directions of rivnut heads.
All of the holes in these brackets are .190 holes cut on the plasma table. The work hardening of the material does make it a little hard on drillbits however, the precision is amazing. Every bolt hand threads in easily.
Two full long days of progress in chop tips that are around 100°. Toasty.