Shop/Fab table build...

[Drtdino]

I wanted to share a build that my Dad and I did. Living 1200 miles apart (me:Chicago/Dad:Tampa) makes it some what difficult to do projects but he decided to fly up here just to work in the garage. Un-knowingly I had a project in mind. I wanted a table that would last my life time and then some. I decided on using 1/2 hardened steel for the work surface, 1/2 carbon plate for the shelf, 4x4 3/16" wall square tube for the legs, again 1/2 carbon plate for the feet, and to finish it off nicely I used 2x2 1/4" angle for the borders. If any one has any questions feel free to ask. And here it is from beginning to end...

I used my home made HF trailer to go pick up the 875#'s of material from Industrial Steel in Addison.. Awesome people!


One of the first cuts was the legs

 

[Drtdino]

First leg going in

The old man behind the hood...


We actually fabbed the shelf before welding in the legs as it made it easier to hoist it in place and weld it.

Two legs are welded out and you can see how we use the shelf to sort of square the legs

 

[Drtdino]

You have to pre-heat the hardened steel top before welding to get good penetration. we used a propane torch for approx. 5 minutes in each of the legs locations.


If anyone has seen a fuel rod assembly at a nuke plant this may look familiar..LOL...

All the legs are welded out

Milo the shop dog (not around while welding etc...)

330am and hungry (and probably buzzed), not going to cook outside while its 5 deg, when there is a perfectly good heated garage!!!


Some close ups.

 

[RivennHewn]

BBQ inside? No wonder you were feeling buzzed.

Dang nice table

 

[dittle fart around]

That ought to last a life time and a half
Post more pictures

 

[Drtdino]

I went to a local machinist and for $25 he drilled four 1 1/8th holes and radiused the corners of the feet. TOTALLY worth every cent!

Almost there...


Wondering why I drilled the holes. Well I welded one 1" nut onto each of the feet to use bolts to level out the table if I ever need to build some thing and want a level table to start out. I don't need casters because you can VERY easily move around the table with a floor jack.

See? kind of a jacking bolt of sort.


All finished. I am mounting a wilton vice and will be ordering a 8" Metabo DS200 bench grinder to it. The top dimensions are 72"x32" the height sits at 36"

 

[Drtdino]

BBQ inside? No wonder you were feeling buzzed.

Dang nice table

Actually we set it right outside the door and brought it in after we were done. LOL

 

[dr_clyde]

Very well done. Simple and sturdy. I'd be proud to have that in my shop.

 

[gilwest]

Nice! How much money you have in it? Are you going to paint or leave alone?

 

[Drtdino]

Very well done. Simple and sturdy. I'd be proud to have that in my shop.

Thanks, I really appreciate it...

 

[Drtdino]

Nice! How much money you have in it? Are you going to paint or leave alone?

I have about $900 in it. I sprayed it with wd-40 and I think I am going to apply that 3 or 4 times a year. But that actually brings up the biggest issue, how to get all that mill scale off and what do you paint the top with??? You cant if you want to tack stuff to it every so often.

 

[gilwest]

$900 is not bad for that level of table. I wouldn't paint the top so you can do exactly as you say, tack stuff to it once in a while. Angle grinder with a stiff cup brush will do wonders to take off the mill scale.

 

[RivennHewn]

Penetrol.

 

[Drtdino]

Penetrol.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001CSKEAU/?tag=atomicindus08-20
I am assuming you are referring to this product. Would you use this as a primer to go right over the mill scale?

 

[RivennHewn]

I started using Penetrol when my architect spec'd it for coating some cast iron that we had just media blasted.

I did some research on it, and they have a bunch of info at:


http://www.floodaustralia.net/products/anti_corrosion/penetrol-anti_rust.php

I've been using it on all my bare metal projects.

It does need to be recoated occasionally, depends on the environment.

 

[Drtdino]

I started using Penetrol when my architect spec'd it for coating some cast iron that we had just media blasted.

I did some research on it, and they have a bunch of info at:


http://www.floodaustralia.net/products/anti_corrosion/penetrol-anti_rust.php

I've been using it on all my bare metal projects.

It does need to be recoated occasionally, depends on the environment.

So if you use it by itself it will coat the metal? Or do you mix it with the primer?

 

[jeepinerdeep]

That's really sweet! You'll never have to worry about working on a bouncy flimsy sheet metal bench.

You put some nice thought in to the design and it shows. Looks sharp.

One thing I struggle with personally and think you might run in to the same thing. Every time I mount a grinder or vise to a bench, it is directly in the way of my next project. Would it maybe be a good idea to think about mounting a receiver tube or two under the bench so you can add or remove things like grinders and vises at will? Judging by your investment so far, I don't think it would be out of the question cost wise.

 

[RivennHewn]

So if you use it by itself it will coat the metal? Or do you mix it with the primer?

I use it straight out of the bottle.

Wipe it on with a rag and let it dry.

 

[TerryH]

Sweet table!!

 

[mike13u]

Nice, strong, table man. Congrats!

 

[Paticus]

The mill scale is nice to keep the rust off and also spatter doesn't stick as easy. BTW, awesome table

 

[Drtdino]

That's really sweet! You'll never have to worry about working on a bouncy flimsy sheet metal bench.

You put some nice thought in to the design and it shows. Looks sharp.

One thing I struggle with personally and think you might run in to the same thing. Every time I mount a grinder or vise to a bench, it is directly in the way of my next project. Would it maybe be a good idea to think about mounting a receiver tube or two under the bench so you can add or remove things like grinders and vises at will? Judging by your investment so far, I don't think it would be out of the question cost wise.

Thanks. The receiver idea is a good one. I am going to weld studs on for the grinder and vise, so I can always cut them off and grind it smooth if the location doesn't work.

 

[Seiler]

What a beast.

Awesome table. Is the top a higher carbon content steel or has it been heat treated to make it harder?

Thank you for sharing your build. I definitely plan to borrow a few of your ideas when I do mine.

Scott

 

[Drtdino]

What a beast.

Awesome table. Is the top a higher carbon content steel or has it been heat treated to make it harder?

Scott

It is heat treated.

 

[archirelic]

That is a BEAST of a table...wow. Do you have a thread/posts about any of the modifications you did to your HF trailer?

 

[Richard D]

Half inch plate for the shelf? Holy **** what will you be storing there?!?!? Now that is a heavy duty table.

One thing I am curious about, and I always wonder when I see such a set-up. I'm sure it is plenty stout, but is it worth it to have such huge legs, when it is all actually held up by the bolts?

 

[1/2 Cup]

That's one very well thought out and built table.
What would it weigh?
It makes mine look positively flimsy.

 

[Drtdino]

That is a BEAST of a table...wow. Do you have a thread/posts about any of the modifications you did to your HF trailer?

Here is the HF trailer build.
http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=863408

 

[Drtdino]

That's one very well thought out and built table.
What would it weigh?
It makes mine look positively flimsy.

It weighs around 875....

 

[Drtdino]

One thing I am curious about, and I always wonder when I see such a set-up. I'm sure it is plenty stout, but is it worth it to have such huge legs, when it is all actually held up by the bolts?

It is actually not held up by the bolts. They are only there to level out the table in the event that I would want to do a project that would require a level table. I have them backed off right now, the 6x9 1/2" feet are on the ground.

 

[Richard D]

I follow you. Even resting on the bolts, you could probably put a truck up on there no problem. On mine, I used 2" sch. 40, and welded 1 1/8" nuts inside. The whole weight of my table rests on 1 1/8" stud bolts. My concrete is unlevel and I need the adjust-ability.

 

[Drtdino]

Mounted my vice last night with grade 8 hardware. I actually welded 1/2"x1 1/2" bolts to the table and installed flat washes, lock washers and nuts. It came out really nice.

Oh and in a few weeks when I get the funds, I am purchasing this grinder.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[guttafixit]

I would put some of this stuff on it.
http://www.por15.com/SUPER-STARTER-KIT--Black_p_11.html

Real nice bench. Wish I could of dome something like that when my dad was alive. Great to do stuff with dads!