My fab table build

[kazlx]

Takes a little time to figure out how to lift a 500lb+ piece of plate by yourself. Wanted to see how it would sit. I have about an 1/8" bow front to back.

Found this the other day that's going to make it on to a leg:

Obligatory bead shot:

 

[Boost Creep]

amazing looking table. keep up the good work! what kinds of things do you plan on building on it?

 

[Responder]

Awesome table. Looking forward to seeing more updates!

 

[PhantomEB]

I want that bottle opener!

 

[kazlx]

amazing looking table. keep up the good work! what kinds of things do you plan on building on it?

Pretty much anything I feel like, from furniture to bicycle frames to gates. I'm probably like most people on here and just get wild hairs to build random stuff.

Awesome table. Looking forward to seeing more updates!

Thanks! It's coming along. Not as fast as I'd like, but it is what it is. I probably keep too busy, so finding time for everything can be a pain.

I want that bottle opener!

I think I found it on Amazon. It looked cool, so I figured I'd try it out.

 

[Responder]

Any paint plans.......color?

 

[franksinatra]

Just checked the thread out. Great looking table.

 

[kazlx]

Any paint plans.......color?

Most likely black for the frame and just leaving the top unfinished. I have a mag drill coming on loan from a friend of a friend, just need to wait until he can bring it. I will use that to drill the mounting holes for the top. I need to get a few more pieces of steel from the yard this weekend.

 

[saceone]

Man that table is super nice!!!

Pardon my noobness but what are you gonna stick in the holes?

 

[kazlx]

Check this out. I had the holes cut at 0.625 just to have the ability to use their tooling. I do have a mill and a lathe though, so I plan on making some of my own.

http://stronghandtools.com/buildpro/

 

[waggie]

That's a great table. Looking good.

 

[Richard D]

I plan to do my take on Stronghand's $5,000 table. I may have missed it, but how much did the blanchard grinding cost?

 

[kazlx]

$240ish if I recall. I knew it would be some work to build my own. But I would rather build it slowly over time and add things I want rather than drop a couple large on the table. I have some other things in mind for use other than just a fab table.

 

[kald]

Can't you just use various long bolts to pull it down flat and then tack into place?

 

[TerryH]

So how exactly did you lift that chunk of plate by yourself?

 

[Micscience]

That is an awesome table. That looks like a dream for clamping metal parts onto the table surface. Good Luck...

 

[motorscot]

You might consider using used motor oil for the top treatment. My table is much more humble than yours (1/4" top), but I wiped it down with a heavy coat of used oil, let it sit for a few minutes, then wiped off.

Took several rags but it will not rust with regular use and cleans up quickly. Plus paint and other chems come up quickly as well.

Fantastic job!

 

[kazlx]

Can't you just use various long bolts to pull it down flat and then tack into place?

Prefer not to take the chance of warping it more, plus I can adjust it down the road if need be.

So how exactly did you lift that chunk of plate by yourself?

Took a little jockeying with an engine hoist, a jack, some blocks, a digging bar and a strategically placed pregnant wife for counterweight.

I thought it was going to be be easy to lift with the hoist, which it was once I got that far. The problem was the furniture dollies I had it set on were way too low to get get my jack or the legs of the hoist under. I had to basically work my way around blocking it up until I had room.

 

[bullnerd]

Nylon straps under opposing corners.

Looks awesome, nice job.

 

[Trey T]

Thats a serious table.

 

[kazlx]

Working on plumbing air to the table. Came up with a little bracket to mount the lines. Why own thousands of dollars of machine tools unless you are going to make $2 parts with them?

Also worked on the vise mounting, but don't have any pics yet.

 

[waggie]

Why own thousands of dollars of machine tools unless you are going to make $2 parts with them?

that's brilliant

I've been living by this motto:
Why buy a $2 part when you can spend thousands of dollars on machine tools so you can make it yourself.

 

[ngray]

Kinda late to help you now but a tip I teach my students whenever we make a table is to not weld the footpads onto the legs until almost last. When you put the foot pads on set the table right side up on the flattest surface you can find. If all the footpads touch all 4 legs, awesome. If not, rock it until you like it on two or 3 pads. Then weld all 4 of them filling in any gaps as needed. This method makes sure that all 4 of your feet will be planar and the table should be rock solid.

Oh my God. I will be stealing that for stands I'm building now. It's gems like these man!

 

[HTGTS350]

I did that a few times many years ago until I discovered that the "flat" area I was using was not quite as flat as it appeared.

 

[theredline]

Table is rugged enough to hold that white Porsche in the background up in the air! Nice job, your table is going to give you lots of great service!

 

[kazlx]

Making some way today. Mainly worked on organizing the garage, but managed to start the bolt holes to bolt the top down. My dad had this old school vertical drill jig contraption, so I used that and went to town. Drilled a pilot at 1/4" then went to 3/8". I think 3/8" will work. I will get them drilled and then countersink them. I bought some c channel the other day for stringers to bolt to. So I need to cut those to length.

My ghetto mag drill consisted of me standing on the sides and pushing down. It actually cut surprisingly well.

Also fabbed up a quick vise mount as part of the cleaning up process to get it off the floor.

 

[CarterKraft]

Great table, excellent design/build.

I look forward to seeing what tooling you make for it.

And a ghetto fab idea for drilling table layout holes is to use one of the $50 HF bench top drill press's. You can turn the head on the column 180* and lower it down to drill the table. The existing slots/holes in the base can be bolted to an existing hole to get you started. If no hole exist's the base could be clamped to the edge to get a start.

 

[5mall5nail5]

Awesome table man. I took the easy way out and bought a Miller Arc Station, but this is totally awesome, too!

 

[Richard D]

And a ghetto fab idea for drilling table layout holes is to use one of the $50 HF bench top drill press's. You can turn the head on the column 180* and lower it down to drill the table. The existing slots/holes in the base can be bolted to an existing hole to get you started. If no hole exist's the base could be clamped to the edge to get a start.

This is a great idea, I have one of those in the attic. I also have a mag drill...

 

[waggie]

Standing on the side?!?! Nothing beats standing on your welding table and hunkering down on a 40 year old drill. They sure don't make drills like they used to. Keep up the good work.

 

[kazlx]

Threw together a quick version of what I had in mind for clamping. Used a bar clamp that I got for free when I bought a big lot of tools a while ago. I cut the end off, turned down a shoulder on a piece of 1" CR steel to 0.623. Then I milled a slot in it with a 1/4" end mill and welded it in there. Would have been nicer to tig it in, but no tig right now .

I may bolt or pin the next one.







So, I ordered 6 of these to make. I love the buildpro stuff, but it's crazy expensive.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002RJCDFC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[waggie]

one down, 29 more to go.

 

[zmotorsports]

Very nice looking. Great job.

Mike.

 

[NASTYZEN]

I plan on doing something similar soon, but was going to drill and tap holes. Now that I've seen your clamping system. I have to consider it instead. Pretty slick set up.

 

[kazlx]

Thanks. I'm pretty stoked that it's coming together the way it looked in my head. I actually had the idea to build it this way before I had seen the Stronghand/Buildpro table. After seeing those, it clinched it and I did cut the holes at 5/8" so I can use their tooling. If I was doing this for a living, I could see buying their whole setup, but it's pricey. The tables aren't too bad, but the tooling kits are out there $$ wise. Using the holes to wedge everything in there is nice. I had considered tapped holes, but I think this works out much better.

 

[freedomgli]

Nice table. Lots of good ideas. Keep up the good work!

 

[Journaler]

Nice table. Lots of good ideas. Keep up the good work!

^^^ What he said. This thread just keeps getting better and better!

 

[HellaFab]

Very nice table.

I need to find a top for mine like you have for yours!

 

[kazlx]

Honestly, used is the way to go. I found the whole top and table for a fraction of the cost it would have been for new steel. I was able to get the grinding done and the holes cut and it was still cheaper.

 

[Richard D]

I don't understand what secures the clamps in the holes.