Receiver rack to keep vises,grinders etc?

[FishingMan]

Where is everyone storing what was in the receiver on your welding bench? I have way too many vises,grinders,compact bender. To be on the bench at one time. Im thinking of building a rack with a bunch of receiver tubes to store the stuff. Just looking for ideas.Thanks guys

 

[JamesW]

Probably not the most elegant solution, but I welded receiver tubes to angle brackets and bolted them to the uprights of my HF hydraulic press. I don’t use it that often, so the legs double as the receiver tube rack.

 

[fartymarty]

Probably not the most elegant solution, but I welded receiver tubes to angle brackets and bolted them to the uprights of my HF hydraulic press. I don’t use it that often, so the legs double as the receiver tube rack.

Hmmm...that sounds like a most elegant solution (by TGJ standards) anything that can justify me getting a rarely used new tool (hydraulic press) for increasing storage sounds elegant enough. Could we get some photos?

 

[2oolhound]

I use light unistrut for my bayonets. For heavy things I use 2 female mounts on 12" centers. I had a dead space behind a door that was about 16" deep so I made a storage rack there.

I have 2 of these storage bars attached to uprights that can move up and down. The small female squares slide sideways so you can move them to pack things tightly.

Here is what the whole rack looks like (pic was taken before I added the 2nd cross bar above this one).

As well as this storage rack I've added female mounts all over the place. The high ones are just for quick storage in out of the way places (I have a tiny shop so no room to spare). The lower mounts get used at times too.

My bench itself has 12 mounts on 12" centers. Because the shop is only 8' wide the bench can only be 24" wide. You can see I keep 24" male extensions inside the bench mounts. When I need to work on long things or just have too much junk on the bench I slide out these extensions and clamp my work on them. I have aprox. 40 bayonet mounts all total in the shop.

 

[FishingMan]

2oolhound great setup. Can never have enough places to put stuff.I like the little mini table.

 

[kingchevy]

I put mine right under the welding table with receivers on each corner.

 

[FishingMan]

Too much stuff to jam under bench. Multiple size bullet vises. Coach makers vise. Chain vise. Compact bender. Block grinder. And growing. Thanks for ideas guys

 

[BD1]

A semi truck brake drum would make a great base. Bolt on plate and add upright to the rear with tubes to drop or slide in tools.

 

[JamesW]

I have aprox. 40 bayonet mounts all total in the shop.]

Sounds like your shop is one big Swiss Army knife!

 

[2oolhound]

^^^ I never thought of it that way but everything is shoehorned in there. Heres some pics of the extensions on the bench. Anything big needs those sticking out into the isle for support.

I also like them for jobs like this where I had to grind 3 plates that were cut out with a torch. Clamp 3 at a time with lots of room around them to grind all 3 in one go-round

 

[drivesitfar]

Tool: nice set up for all sorts of hitch mounted tools.

ALL: a few members posted up their hitch mounted tool trees and benches on this thread if you might want to get some more ideas:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252799&highlight=vise+stands

here's a few I grabbed pics of for future thought on how to get them in my small garage/shop space.

 

[86turbodsl]

You guys with heavy stuff on receivers must all have good backs. My back is hurting just looking at all that stuff.

 

[drivesitfar]

86: lift with your legs!! AND buy and use an inversion table cause they work if you use them 5 minutes a day.

 

[camaro77]

where are you guys buying the receiver tubes at for a good price

 

[drivesitfar]

Camaro: I think most of the guys just grab steel from their scrap piles and weld on a couple bolts to pick up the slack if any between the tubes.

I heard some of the guys buy some at Harbor Freight so you might see what they have in stock.

here's the vise and grinders thread link that might have a few more ideas and maybe you can ask some of the members via PM's in case they didn't see this thread.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=252799

 

[FishingMan]

Camaro . I go to a steel outlet to get it. Ill grab 6' of each the male and female to keep some on hand. Comes in handy.

 

[BD1]

where are you guys buying the receiver tubes at for a good price

For the tool use ones harbor freight use to be the lowest price. You can use the 20% off coupon too.

 

[86turbodsl]

86: lift with your legs!! AND buy and use an inversion table cause they work if you use them 5 minutes a day.

I do. But its still tough to move stuff that heavy around. I've been meaning to get an inversion table, but that also means 5 mins a day i lose too...

 

[2oolhound]

I came accross this trailer hitch mount display at princess auto and thought it had potential in the shop. It would be great on wheels.

 

[toplessHO]

what size is the tubing to make a hitch? I need about a ft of it.

 

[rtz]

Commercial version:

 

[2oolhound]

what size is the tubing to make a hitch? I need about a ft of it.

That depends on your needs. Most guys use 1/4" wall 2 1/2" OD female and 2" OD male tubing. You have to be careful to buy seamless otherwise it's a pita to slide the male part in. Some guys grind a slot to clear on the inside seam found on regular tubing. DOM tubing has no inner seam from welding in manufacture so it's best but costs more.

I used unistrut which is only 1/8" wall thickness but it's seamless. I got a bunch for free which is why I went with it. I don't do much real heavy work so it's plenty strong for my needs.

Here's some ideas on removing weld seam from regular tubing:

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=362202

 

[PhantomEB]

Once I get my garage all set up then I will worry about this. I think I will have room back between the bolt bin cupboard and the eventual 30t hydraulic press to do some sort of rack.

Until then the vice stays bolted to the welding table and the dual grinders stay bolted to the brake drum stand and mobile for when I need it.