To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

One Amazing Fabrication Table

larry_g

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 28, 2007
Messages
16,858
Location
oregon
.

I guess what I'm trying to say is... I don't believe there is a damned thing wrong with this table... or the time/commitment it took to build it.

If you look at the tow point he put on you will see that the hole is to close to the frame to install a shackle, IMHO.

As a maintenance guy I would not want that table. Way to much Rube Goldberg monkey motion to fail and or keep in good shape. He does nice work but does not adhere to the premise that something is perfect when there is nothing else to remove, or as others say "keep it simple".

lg
no neat sig line
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

Stuart in MN

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 8, 2005
Messages
22,974
Location
Minneapolis
This has probably already been posted, but I didn't see it... and couldn't help myself but to feature it this morning.

Yup, I posted it back in October. ;) https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=372607

My take on the table was that it's a showpiece to demonstrate his shop's design and fabrication skills and abilities. He's not likely to sell a bunch of them, but it shows what they are capable of.
 

bluebolt

Well-known member
Joined
Dec 28, 2008
Messages
5,434
Location
Benton LA
4 swivel wheels would make it easier to maneuver and position.

Maneuvering a large table like that with all swivels can be hard because it will want to steer itself. Best would be QUALITY casters with swivel locks for the best of both worlds. Lock two for the long push, unlock for precise positioning.
 

LegacyIndustrial

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Jun 7, 2010
Messages
7,993
Location
deerfield, IL
Few notables...

Great looking epoxy floor! Welding and Fabricating over it (for the I can't epoxy because I weld crowd :) ). Very good looking shop!

The specs on that table scream NASA, Aircraft Proto-typing or Nuclear Facility Parts MFG.
I can't believe they specified, designed and built that table "just because".

Any other Grassy-Knoll suspicions out there?
 

LegacyIndustrial

ALLIANCE MEMBER
Joined
Jun 7, 2010
Messages
7,993
Location
deerfield, IL
This guy has talent in multiple realms including business and advertising, and/or works well with others that do. The video gives away the basic design and numerous details of the build—clearly he's not too worried about that.

Though I don't have enough years left to reach this level of design+engineering +fabrication skill, this is humbling/inspiring as I put together a welding table. There are tons of tips here that can allow me to turn down the dial on my own OCD and git 'er done with 5% of the end product that he achieved.

I suspect he isn't worried about it because it's not his. I think this is table # 2.
#1 is at NASA or SpaceX.
 

Steve from Socal

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 27, 2009
Messages
3,490
Location
Hutchinson Ks.
I hate to break it to you guys that say this is some "areospace" black opp project, it is that guys idea of an areospace table. Not sure how many of you have actually been IN an airplane factory but, tooling and fixtures are not made on roll around tables made of stainless and aluminum. It is a home craftsman's *********.

Somewhere in this thread somebody mentioned aluminum and sponginess, aluminum and steel are not ideal for a precision table for several reasons. The most glaring being the different rates of expansion. As a weld surface stainless is a head scratcher, cast iron would be preferred. An aerospace company would not generally have a fixture table on wheels, if it had to move a forklift or overhead crane would do the lift. Things on wheels would be engine cradles that have to position under an airplane.

If you look on the mans web page it only shows HIS projects, anyone trying to show their work to clients would have some commissioned works in their portfolio. He draws everything free hand, that alone is a non starter. To the average Joe with no clue of manufacturing his shop my seem exotic, to a shop rat it is all hobby shop eye candy. I am not saying that his table is not nicely done and very well finished, it just isn't a practical or particularly ground breaking in design. I have had several machines with elevating platforms, chain drives and acme screws have been around a long time.

My welding table is nothing more than a lump of cast iron re-purposed from a floor mill in an aircraft factory. It is ground and has lots of slots, to move it I take my big forklift and pick it up. Sorry for the poor photos, the only ones I could find at the moment.

Steve
 

Attachments

  • 20141006_125646.jpg
    20141006_125646.jpg
    118.2 KB · Views: 194
  • IMG_3971a.jpg
    IMG_3971a.jpg
    145.7 KB · Views: 192
  • 20141126_103126.jpg
    20141126_103126.jpg
    114.2 KB · Views: 179

kazlx

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 30, 2012
Messages
2,851
Location
Tustin, CA
Yea. There’s a lot of pics on his website that makes no sense. That’s not a NASA or SpaceX table fellas...

It looks like a bunch of over the top pet projects. What’s up with the jetski Rascal?
 
Last edited:
OP
R

Ryan

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 26, 2006
Messages
5,690
Location
Texas/Hawaii
Yeah man. I don’t think anyone is claiming this table is practical. No one in their right mind would think that... it’s art... and way more interesting to look at than a cast iron table and a forklift.

To me, the utter lunacy of it is what makes it so damned cool. Well that... and the undeniable talent involved.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

bullnerd

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 17, 2012
Messages
5,690
Location
Jersey
Steve, that's your home shop in those pics?

I worked for Trumpf, machining copper mirrors for industrial lasers. They try VERY hard to have all their manufacturing areas look just like this guys shop, maybe even cleaner! Everything was white Lista!

My dad worked for RCA Astro for 40 yrs. Their shop....wait, I was never in their shop, they were building top secret govt. satellites! LOL! But the extra parts my dad brought home....looked just like this guys shop.
 

kazlx

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 30, 2012
Messages
2,851
Location
Tustin, CA
Yeah man. I don’t think anyone is claiming this table is practical. No one in their right mind would think that... it’s art... and way more interesting to look at than a cast iron table and a forklift.

To me, the utter lunacy of it is what makes it so damned cool. Well that... and the undeniable talent involved.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Definitely. I’m no way taking away from the dudes design or that he’s dedicated and talented, it’s just that if I had to guess, his operation isn’t what most people seem to think....
 
OP
R

Ryan

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 26, 2006
Messages
5,690
Location
Texas/Hawaii
Definitely. I’m no way taking away from the dudes design or that he’s dedicated and talented, it’s just that if I had to guess, his operation isn’t what most people seem to think....



I’m pretty sure this dude is like Iron Man’s prototype guy.. :)


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Steve from Socal

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 27, 2009
Messages
3,490
Location
Hutchinson Ks.
Yeah man. I don’t think anyone is claiming this table is practical. No one in their right mind would think that... it’s art... and way more interesting to look at than a cast iron table and a forklift.

To me, the utter lunacy of it is what makes it so damned cool. Well that... and the undeniable talent involved.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,

That cast iron table is a work of foundry art, not embellished in razzle dazzle or unnecessary detail. That piece actually two pieces are amazingly well done, they are designed to resist movement and remain square and flat. They are about 50 years old and still have these attributes. From the pattern maker and casting foundry to the finish machining they don't make em like this anymore. Not here anyway. It is as fabulous as it is simple.

The forklift, while it is in rat rod motif is again overlooked. That forklift has some amazing lines as forklifts go, very streamline modern. It is kind of ironic that somebody who likes early hot rods could ignore the likeness to 40's era auto bodies.

Steve
 
OP
R

Ryan

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 26, 2006
Messages
5,690
Location
Texas/Hawaii
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder,

That cast iron table is a work of foundry art, not embellished in razzle dazzle or unnecessary detail. That piece actually two pieces are amazingly well done, they are designed to resist movement and remain square and flat. They are about 50 years old and still have these attributes. From the pattern maker and casting foundry to the finish machining they don't make em like this anymore. Not here anyway. It is as fabulous as it is simple.

The forklift, while it is in rat rod motif is again overlooked. That forklift has some amazing lines as forklifts go, very streamline modern. It is kind of ironic that somebody who likes early hot rods could ignore the likeness to 40's era auto bodies.

Steve

You are very literal. I like that.

Yeah. That forklift is pretty cool actually. Gigantic, but cool.
 

Steve from Socal

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 27, 2009
Messages
3,490
Location
Hutchinson Ks.
Steve, that's your home shop in those pics?

I worked for Trumpf, machining copper mirrors for industrial lasers. They try VERY hard to have all their manufacturing areas look just like this guys shop, maybe even cleaner! Everything was white Lista!

My dad worked for RCA Astro for 40 yrs. Their shop....wait, I was never in their shop, they were building top secret govt. satellites! LOL! But the extra parts my dad brought home....looked just like this guys shop.

Those are pics of my shop while I was working on it, they are from several years ago. My welding table is piled high with farrings for my truck right now, the forklift is down with a split steering line.

I am not saying the guys shop is not clean and his gizmos work for him. The idea that he is some supper special fab shop to NASA or other high tech industries just doesn't seem plausible, not from what I've seen.

Clean and neat is one thing, the kind of equipment and the general design philosophy are purely whimsical not state of the art engineering.

Steve
 

ducksface

Banned
Joined
Oct 25, 2012
Messages
2,477
You cannot sway me from thinking of the execution no matter what the table is for.
The Chinese tools are testament to a craftsman and the bane of those who need the very best to produce any acceptable work.
The cleanliness is impressive.
The fact that it all comes from free hand drawings only adds to it all as artful and craftsman like and unrelying on the latest crutch.


You do the job at hand with the tools at hand.

The discouraged words I read reinforces my admiration of this impractical beautiful thing.
 
Last edited:
OP
R

Ryan

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Jan 26, 2006
Messages
5,690
Location
Texas/Hawaii
I agree with Steve.

I think he's kind of pulled me into his direction as well. I don't do really low tolerance work... or even high tolerance industrial stuff. I'm just a dude in a one man hobby shop really. So it makes sense that I would be distracted by all the shiny stuff. And I still am... But I totally get what Steve is saying.
 
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!

matt_i

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 14, 2008
Messages
10,714
Location
SE Michigan
I agree, this is engineering, craftsmanship and execution to perfection.

Not trying to tear the guy apart because there's a lot of detailed work in there but the choice of brass for wear material against the roller chain is obtuse thinking in my mind....

Bronze would have been a much better choice from an engineering point of view.

Thinking about this today, I was wondering why there's all of the "BOM" views with numbered circles pointing at the various parts of the assembly....seems like maybe it doubled as a project to "show capabilities to prospective customers"...who knows.
 

johnyg

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 11, 2015
Messages
319
Location
boca raton fl
You cannot sway me from thinking of the execution no matter what the table is for.
The Chinese tools are testament to a craftsman and the bane of those who need the very best to produce any acceptable work.
The cleanliness is impressive.
The fact that it all comes from free hand drawings only adds to it all as artful and craftsman like and unrelying on the latest crutch.


You do the job at hand with the tools at hand.

The discouraged words I read reinforces my admiration of this impractical beautiful thing.

a guy that can draw a plan and execute it with " cheap tools '' makes this more impressive. how can you argue with his attention to detail and organization....id love to have a beer with this guy !!!!
 

bullnerd

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 17, 2012
Messages
5,690
Location
Jersey
Steve, I thought that pic was from inside Home Depot! Damn, that thing is huge!

The guy in the vids does dress like an engineer, that's for sure.
 

kkroger

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 21, 2013
Messages
1,143
Have no fear I will probably be stealing his table IDEA one of these days. Doubt you will see an aluminum frame under mine and Jury is still out on how to raise and lower... but It will have a similar top design... I'll have to bid it with my waterjet guy.. I think he charges $65 per hour table time, if my CAD is workable for him.
 

IndyGarage

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 29, 2010
Messages
9,669
Location
Indy
It's funny... I know a few guys actually with this level of talent and most of them don't concern themselves with what others are doing at all. Meaning, I don't think they are competitive in the least. They are just obsessed with knowledge and making themselves better. I actually quite admire that.

I guess what I'm trying to say is... I don't believe there is a damned thing wrong with this table... or the time/commitment it took to build it.

There seems to be a fine line between doing something impressive and trying to impress - and that line is probably different for all of us.

Many years ago I had the privilege of working with a guy who was at the time known as one of the finest aero engineers in the world. I worked with him for an entire year, every day. What was shocking was I saw a level of humility and at the same time brainpower that I had never experienced before. The guy never belittled anyone; he never tried to outdo anyone; his communication style was the least impressive you ever saw - but the content was unbelievable.

I certainly didn't say there was anything wrong with the table.
 

fluid power

Well-known member
Joined
May 14, 2006
Messages
47
I have to respectfully disagree with Steve as I have experience with prototype shops doing work for the military and other government agencies.

As far as commissioned work on his website? What he is working on is property of his customers, they more than likely do not want their pictures, designs, etc. on HIS website.

I have a customer that does prototyping for an aircraft manufacturer. He is a one man shop, in his backyard that is less than impressive. He draws everything by hand, (he is in is 70's) His tools are old, (some cheap Chinese) (the drop saw is a crappy Enco unit) the shop is brightly lit but it looks like something from a hoarders episode. His government/military customers couldn't care less. He delivers results and most of the projects are ones that others couldn't figure out. Again, he is a prototyping shop. For what it's worth, he does have a website and pictures on it are stuff he built in his shop for himself!

I have another customer that runs a big machine shop. They have all the fancy pictures of weldments and do-dads they have machined or repaired on their website. They also do short machine runs for the military. These don't show up on the website. The shop did a job that required him to review the drawings with the government guy sitting in his office. He quoted the job off of the prints that he studied for a day and half, with the government guy there the entire time. Part of the agreement was that he was the only one allowed in the shop the day he machined the parts, the government supplied the material, the cutting fluid and cleaned his machine when he was finished. They took all the metal scrap and chips etc, as well as the cutting fluid. Think that part was photographed and allowed on his website? Again, this was a prototyped part.

Lastly, I have a customer that has a shop that looks exactly like this shop. He does vintage race car repair, mostly old Lotus or open wheel cars for the SCCA crowd, as well as odd ball machine jobs. Same set up with a mix of Chinese and USA made tools. It is very small, probably 1000 sq ft and it looks like a hospital operating room. He uses his elevated table to weld, do engine assembly, suspension assembly, tear downs, etc. His welding ability is second to none. The last time I was there he was assembling parts he machined for a prosthetic hand!

The point being, unless you know this guy, speculating on his ability, his customers, the types or quality of his machines or work is just absurd.

Don't judge a book by its cover.
 

Perrorojo

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 8, 2012
Messages
1,762
Location
Northern IN
Not trying to tear the guy apart because there's a lot of detailed work in there but the choice of brass for wear material against the roller chain is obtuse thinking in my mind....

Bronze would have been a much better choice from an engineering point of view.

Thinking about this today, I was wondering why there's all of the "BOM" views with numbered circles pointing at the various parts of the assembly....seems like maybe it doubled as a project to "show capabilities to prospective customers"...who knows.

I think they are just stops and there will be minimal wear if any. Gravity will keep the parts from wearing as the brass is fixed at the top of the shaft and there should be no load on the stop.
 

Steve from Socal

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 27, 2009
Messages
3,490
Location
Hutchinson Ks.
With respect to the above post,

I know guys that do government work on sensitive works as well. One that makes wing details from "customer supplied materials" where they weigh the scrap as well as clean it and take it.

That said, none of the guys I know do free hand drawing, wire stuff up with straight blade NEMA connectors or, make fixture tables out of two metals with different rates of expansion.

I may be a lowly airplane driver but, in a previous life I did work in the aerospace industry, even in the early 1980's we had to be "qualified" to do work for the DOD or prime contractors. Commercial clients could be even more stringent Boeing was as though as it got.

I am not sure there are no one man shops with access to some level of work for whomever, the likelihood that they are doing work for major airframe companies or government agencies prime contractors is based on their skill and equipment. When we did prototypes we got orders for 6 or a dozen not a single piece, that would be a first article.

Making a medical device I could see using manual machines depending on the work. I know folks that make replacement joints to spec for an individual, they are all done in a CNC environment.

You above example of the work done was NOT done on a RuFong mill in a shop without extensive metrology. Sorry, I have been involved in manufacturing a long time, first appearances DO matter and equipment capabilities ARE really important.

Ask yourself this, why would a major company or government agency have a guy with minimal equipment fab prototypes? Trade secrets or sensitive material, the guy built a table, not a wing hinge. I could see a company farm out fixtures to a shop, it happens everyday, a tool maker or engineer would send a cad file. The cocktail napkin jobs get sent to the maintenance department.

I am sticking by my opinion, the shop is a nice hobby shop.

Steve
 

ducksface

Banned
Joined
Oct 25, 2012
Messages
2,477
The shop is indeed a nice hobby shop.
There is no clue in his excellently produced video that he is Batman or claims to be Batman.
Steve is right.
It's a very juice hobby shop and he may or may not be involved in some clandestine things.

Who would care what he produces as a profession?

As far as the mixed metal:
Maybe it's a test of sorts to negate the infinitesimal thread of logic some hold on to as to expansion of metals being the only negation for the work.
Maybe it's a test he didn't bother to mention of whether the table top can hold the spec under a Differential.

The mixed metal is silly enough to have to have a reason for it.
He has access to material, he certainly knows better.
It has to be a bar bet or a purposeful experiment.

I can find no other reason for it.
Someone told him something and this is maybe just like the
I lube my c clamps thread.
If all you know about the copper coating is what someone told you about the copper coating why stay with only what you know, why not consider other aspects of the copper coating?

That aluminum just has to be a conceptual test.

Personally I think his single hand tightened screw to hold the legs from lateral movement just a lot inadequate and slightly wonky for such other great work. It's maybe the only thing I'll ever be able to out think this guy on.

But we are a committee and he is not.
We can committee his fine work in to oblivion.

I cannot become unimpressed with the work.

(old guys from Tucson may have known a fine man that worked on the original Jarvis heart. A one car garage with belt driven tools. But I will not let my one example distort the norm.)
 
Last edited:

Bigblue&Goldie

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 12, 2009
Messages
10,661
Location
AZ
My guess is the guy is OCD about his shop, it's contents, and the projects that come through it. With how congruent all the Snap On cabinets and other stuff appear, the shop was likely largely built at the same time. His interest level very well may be in his "shop and tools", and not necessarily what goes out the door. In other words, he might get his rocks off by the "interior design", similar to when you see a house that is so meticulous that you wonder how anybody actually lives in it. I would love to have a clean room like this for final assembly and prep work on race cars, but realistically I couldnt ever touch Mike's level of organization and cleanliness.

We all can sit here and speculate, but pictures are deceiving. I once posted a picture of a $14k gun cabinet my uncle made for a customer in his woodshop. While most guys were drooling, one guy piped up about how my uncles tools and shop weren't big enough for serious cabinet work. I got a good chuckle because earlier that week my uncle landed another $200k cabinet job!
 
Last edited:

metlmunchr

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 10, 2011
Messages
1,278
I'd say anyone who's even vaguely familiar with what it takes to operate a fabrication BUSINESS would instantly recognize the fact that this guy has essentially none of the equipment that's necessary for doing such work on a competitive basis.

I've been in the metal mangling business in one form or another for 45 years. My primary business is cnc and manual machining, but I also do some one off fabrication projects from time to time. For fab work I have a shear, box brake, leaf brake, press brake, mig, tig, and stick welders, powered and manual rolls, large and small bead rollers, drill press, beverly shear, hydraulic angle shear/notcher, horizontal band saw, vertical band saw, 15 ton turret punch, and an assortment of small metalworking tools, both manual and powered.

A couple things in the above list are handy, but you could get by without them in a fab shop. The rest are what I'd consider the bare essentials for doing the work at a price the customer is willing to pay.

Per this guy's website and videos, he's got a band saw, a jig saw, and a couple welding machines. Yet, he's soliciting work at $145/hr, which is roughly twice the current going rate. No wonder he's got time to spend endless hours making carts and over-complicated welding tables and keeping everything looking as if its new and unused.

And, FWIW, people in business don't use Rong Fu mills and such because they don't have the time to waste nibbling on stock at a snail's pace. Stuff like that is fine for home shops where time is immaterial, but you'd starve to death trying to make a living with it. Using equipment in a business that's not up to the task is no badge of honor or statement of skills. More like ignorance of what's required to do the job. The cost of that Rong Fu plus the $2500 wasted on a piece of stainless plate for a welding table top would've paid for a decent used Bridgeport that'll cut more metal in an hour than the Rong Fu will cut in half a day.
 

Precivilization

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 13, 2015
Messages
160
Location
Qatar
I have to respectfully disagree with Steve as I have experience with prototype shops doing work for the military and other government agencies.

As far as commissioned work on his website? What he is working on is property of his customers, they more than likely do not want their pictures, designs, etc. on HIS website.

I have a customer that does prototyping for an aircraft manufacturer. He is a one man shop, in his backyard that is less than impressive. He draws everything by hand, (he is in is 70's) His tools are old, (some cheap Chinese) (the drop saw is a crappy Enco unit) the shop is brightly lit but it looks like something from a hoarders episode. His government/military customers couldn't care less. He delivers results and most of the projects are ones that others couldn't figure out. Again, he is a prototyping shop. For what it's worth, he does have a website and pictures on it are stuff he built in his shop for himself!

I have another customer that runs a big machine shop. They have all the fancy pictures of weldments and do-dads they have machined or repaired on their website. They also do short machine runs for the military. These don't show up on the website. The shop did a job that required him to review the drawings with the government guy sitting in his office. He quoted the job off of the prints that he studied for a day and half, with the government guy there the entire time. Part of the agreement was that he was the only one allowed in the shop the day he machined the parts, the government supplied the material, the cutting fluid and cleaned his machine when he was finished. They took all the metal scrap and chips etc, as well as the cutting fluid. Think that part was photographed and allowed on his website? Again, this was a prototyped part.

Lastly, I have a customer that has a shop that looks exactly like this shop. He does vintage race car repair, mostly old Lotus or open wheel cars for the SCCA crowd, as well as odd ball machine jobs. Same set up with a mix of Chinese and USA made tools. It is very small, probably 1000 sq ft and it looks like a hospital operating room. He uses his elevated table to weld, do engine assembly, suspension assembly, tear downs, etc. His welding ability is second to none. The last time I was there he was assembling parts he machined for a prosthetic hand!

The point being, unless you know this guy, speculating on his ability, his customers, the types or quality of his machines or work is just absurd.

Don't judge a book by its cover.



Thank you.
 

nollij

Active member
Joined
Dec 3, 2015
Messages
26
My guess is the guy is OCD about his shop, it's contents, and the projects that come through it. With how congruent all the Snap On cabinets and other stuff appear, the shop was likely largely built at the same time. His interest level very well may be in his "shop and tools", and not necessarily what goes out the door. In other words, he might get his rocks off by the "interior design", similar to when you see a house that is so meticulous that you wonder how anybody actually lives in it. I would love to have a clean room like this for final assembly and prep work on race cars, but realistically I couldnt ever touch Mike's level of organization and cleanliness.

We all can sit here and speculate, but pictures are deceiving. I once posted a picture of a $14k gun cabinet my uncle made for a customer in his woodshop. While most guys were drooling, one guy piped up about how my uncles tools and shop weren't big enough for serious cabinet work. I got a good chuckle because earlier that week my uncle landed another $200k cabinet job!

You can see in the videos some snapshots of his shop before he got it all fancied up. This is definitely a case of someone being very particular and OCD about the look/feel about their garage. Which, seems to be in line with a lot of people on this board. Certainly don't see a problem with it.

I thought the fact that he spent the time to paint his Miller welders to match his shop while keeping it look very OEM was a nice touch.
 

kazlx

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 30, 2012
Messages
2,851
Location
Tustin, CA
Wood and metal are completely different animals. It is far easier to build high end wood stuff with basic tools than metal. There are just more tools that are mandatory.
 

sberry

Banned
Joined
Jun 18, 2005
Messages
35,747
Location
Brethren, Michigan
There is nothing wrong with it, its art, its what the guy wanted to make. Its certainly not above the work of a lot of decent fabricators. Its not that sophisticated. Looks like it could be built mostly with a sawzall and a drill. That is a bit of simplification but much of it is simply the time and will. Maybe even some luck of resourcefulness scoring materials.
 
Last edited:

matt_i

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 14, 2008
Messages
10,714
Location
SE Michigan
I think they are just stops and there will be minimal wear if any. Gravity will keep the parts from wearing as the brass is fixed at the top of the shaft and there should be no load on the stop.

I was thinking about the long chain guides which run most of the length of the 4 sides...As I recall he machined out of "square brass". Its a good elevation mechanism, the roller chain enforces equal rotation of the lifting screw, I just would have sourced bronze (although I doubt the bronze comes in square, have to machine it from round) or probably PEEK or garolite would be even better.

As mentioned there is a lot of coin in the materials.
 
Last edited:

tarmy

Well-known member
Joined
May 28, 2014
Messages
4,645
Location
Nor Cal
Awesome...but...

That is probably sitting in some rich guys garage...er...fancy automobile storage area...holding his wine and cheese display to show off for friends...

That table getting grinder dust, welding slag, beat up but flipping heavy ****, etc...would not end well with all the lower area and storage exposed...

It is a damn nice table and build though...:beer:
 

lostmymanual

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 18, 2017
Messages
80
Location
East/Central Kansas, USA
It's funny... I know a few guys actually with this level of talent and most of them don't concern themselves with what others are doing at all. Meaning, I don't think they are competitive in the least. They are just obsessed with knowledge and making themselves better. I actually quite admire that.

I guess what I'm trying to say is... I don't believe there is a damned thing wrong with this table... or the time/commitment it took to build it.

He likely has a perfectionist mentality. I do to a degree and have overthought quite a few things that led to features that aren't intirely nesessary but are pretty handy. I'm actually planning a retractile caster plan for my 1/2" bench with feet levelers as well. It will be much simpler than that design though for reliability sake under 2-Ton loads. I'm going to be doing quite a bit of machinework to get it there but it will turn out nice. I'm building to a safety factor of 2 so thats why I started with a set of solid 8" cast swivel caster for the retractile mobile base. Air over hydrualic lift is the plan. Hydraulics will have hand-pump backup power just encase i need to get it away from a compressor.

Incidentally, I also have the materials on hand to get it serving as a lift loader to get equipment in the back of my F350 while still having enough stability to be a full time welding and fab table that I can sledge hammer on. I have most of the materials, including the 1/2" 4x6 top (broke angles for aprons on each side for strength) I'm going to end up thread cutting and hardening the 2" OD leveling screws and mating nuts, I'm also fabbing up heavy duty swiveling leveling feet for the bottom I might cheat on the swivel feet socket and use hitch ball then machine the rest for the leveling plates for the legs. Dunno... So far I have 20+ft of 6 inch x .25 walled leg material.

THe Wifey
 
Last edited:
To avoid these ads, REGISTER NOW!
Top Bottom