Need a solution for temporary tools on work bench

[skipnay]

Need a solution for temporary tools on work bench!!! Pictures added

I need help making some stuff more easily to be used on the bench but not on the work bench all the time. I bought 2.5" square tubing like what a truck hitch is made of. I also bought 2" square tubing to go in like a receiver. My problem lies in trying to weld the 2.5" square tubing to my bench. I have a 40"x12' work bench. I ran 2"x3" square tubing the length of the 12'. I have 2"x2" box tubing for cross bars. The 7/16 steel plate for the top sticks out about 4" in the front.

My problem is, what is the best way to weld the 2.5" x 2.5" to my work bench? Do I weld it to the 2'' x 2'' box tubing and cut 2.5" out of the 3''? My other choice was to weld the 2.5" to the bottom of the 2" x 3" box tubing. Lining the one side 2.5" x 2.5'' to the side of the 2" x 2" cross piece and then weld a couple 1/4", or 3/8" flat steel to the sides of each. The other side will have the same flat steel only be welded to the side of the 2" x 2" and to the top of the 2.5" x 2.5".

What idea's do you have? If it matters I will be using it for a woodward fab hand shear, eastwood bead roller, a vice, tubing notcher, and so on. I don't want these on the bench at all times. I already have one vise on the bench on one end.

 

[goodysgotacuda]

Any pictures available? It'd sure help get the idea across.

 

[skipnay]

Any pictures available? It'd sure help get the idea across.

Yeah let me make some drawings and then post them up tomorrow

 

[2oolhound]

One problem with the receiver hitch system is a lot of tools, vises included are designed to be mounted on top of a bench. With a receiver system they are mounted in front and below the surface. With many tools and the vise is a classic example the slide will hit the top of the bench unless it has a rotating base that is really high or you build a riser into the mount so the slide will go above the top of the bench.

In hind sight your 2" X 2" cross bars should have been your 2 1/2" female receivers and been cut through the 2" X 3" runners so they opened right under the 7/16th top plate pretty much. One of the beauties of working with steel is you can cut slots through the 2" X 3" tubing with a zip disc and weld in the receivers where you want them.

You should round up most of the things you'd like to set up on the receiver system and just hold them up to the front of the bench to get a feel for how it will work if you just weld the 2 1/2" below the existing frame work, it might be fine but I like them to be close to the top of the bench surface. You can put them up high at the ends of the bench at least.

 

[skipnay]

One problem with the receiver hitch system is a lot of tools, vises included are designed to be mounted on top of a bench. With a receiver system they are mounted in front and below the surface. With many tools and the vise is a classic example the slide will hit the top of the bench unless it has a rotating base that is really high or you build a riser into the mount so the slide will go above the top of the bench.

In hind sight your 2" X 2" cross bars should have been your 2 1/2" female receivers and been cut through the 2" X 3" runners so they opened right under the 7/16th top plate pretty much. One of the beauties of working with steel is you can cut slots through the 2" X 3" tubing with a zip disc and weld in the receivers where you want them.

You should round up most of the things you'd like to set up on the receiver system and just hold them up to the front of the bench to get a feel for how it will work if you just weld the 2 1/2" below the existing frame work, it might be fine but I like them to be close to the top of the bench surface. You can put them up high at the ends of the bench at least.

I actually have thought about doing one in the front and the other on the side. Especially since the back and the other side is up against a wall. I don't ever think I will be needing all 12' of my bench. I liked the idea of actually having the 2.5"x2.5" down further on one because the hand shear, bead roller, and the vise I could use the actual table to help hold the piece of material I'm working with just incase I don't have an extra hand. I run into that problem now with the one vise. I'm constantly looking for a piece of wood to prop the other end up.

 

[2oolhound]

Yeah, I really like the receiver hitch concept. I have one low one on my lathe frame where I keep a small grinder for sharpening bits (of coarse I get to sit down when doing that). I have about 10 or 12 receivers located throughout the shop on work benches, motorcycle lift, lathe stand and a wheeled pedestal made from a truck axel housing.

You may have gotten more response in the fabrication and techniques section. A lot of guys have adjustable height benches too.