The DirtBound workshop!

[webdog]

I run a online business that sells jeep and 4x4 parts and I do a LOT of bumper building a custom work, unfortunately I was spending a good 1-2 hours a day cleaning my work space so I could work on projects I also was having trouble finding parts with everything scattered around.

So last Thursday I got fed up with it and decided it was time to rework the shop so I can have multiple work areas and have added storage for future inventory.

I spent a few hours looking online and found a few ideas, so a quick trip to Home Depot and $140 later I had the wood to build two new work tables with integrated storage.

I then spent all afternoon Friday building the two new work benches, one is 24" x 96" and the other is 36" x 96" both have two full shelves with 12" of height.

And here it is after organizing it.

New shipping area with computer for labels and boxes within arms reach, before the boxes where on the opposite side of the shop.

Rolling Tool cart and pan and box brake, the bender is on wheels to make it easy to move.

New work table in the center with welders on the end.

Storage for bumper parts and other inventory.

My favorite new toy!

A lot more floor space than before and everything has a spot to go now! YAY!

I put the new compressor in the back room and you can barely hear it when it is running.

 

[tinbender 66]

Re: The DirtBound work shop!

Looks great!! Man oh man, a burn table in a garage! I'd love to have that brake too. And a stomp shear. I'm a lifelong sheetmetal worker.

I used to work for an architetural s/m co. that one of the owners had a side business making big bumpers for trucks and jeeps and suv's. I did a lot of the prototyping on a press brake (the parts were cut on a plasma table) so I could tell him how bad he screwed up the CAD programming. He sold the bumper part of the biz to a place in Oregon and now just mostly does bead lock wheels for off road racers (TrailReady).

 

[webdog]

Re: The DirtBound work shop!

Looks great!! Man oh man, a burn table in a garage! I'd love to have that brake too. And a stomp shear. I'm a lifelong sheetmetal worker.

I used to work for an architetural s/m co. that one of the owners had a side business making big bumpers for trucks and jeeps and suv's. I did a lot of the prototyping on a press brake (the parts were cut on a plasma table) so I could tell him how bad he screwed up the CAD programming. He sold the bumper part of the biz to a place in Oregon and now just mostly does bead lock wheels for off road racers (TrailReady).

Thanks! Yes having the CNC plasma has been great! I built it using temporary gantry and side rails as the real linear rails just shipped a month after ordering. So once they arrive the machine is getting a tear down and complete paint job before it gets put back together. Not sure on the color yet, I might do yellow as my Jeep is yellow and I really like that color.

 

[Falcon67]

That looks real good. Nice layout for little cash! Nice equipment - I see my HF band saw in your pile. I have been grinding my teeth about getting one of the combo roller, brake, shear gizmos from them, or TS or Enco.

How is the bench top drill press working for you? I have a big Craftsman floor model and I have been seriously thinking about cutting the tower on the thing. I'm not in the new shiop yet, but every time a place the drill press in Visio I end up moving it. Maybe I should just put wheels on it!

 

[rickairmedic]

Falcon just put wheels on the back of the stand . You can do alot more with a floor model than you can with a little benchtop " trust me I have a little benchtop ".


Rick

 

[webdog]

That looks real good. Nice layout for little cash! Nice equipment - I see my HF band saw in your pile. I have been grinding my teeth about getting one of the combo roller, brake, shear gizmos from them, or TS or Enco.

How is the bench top drill press working for you? I have a big Craftsman floor model and I have been seriously thinking about cutting the tower on the thing. I'm not in the new shiop yet, but every time a place the drill press in Visio I end up moving it. Maybe I should just put wheels on it!

The HF band saw works pretty good, now I got it for $100 off CL. I would not pay retail. I do want to get a nice Jet unit as soon as i recover from buying all this new equipment.

I have not heard to good of things on the combo unit they have, the brake i got is a china unit but not a HF brand.

Oh don't get me started on the drill press, I hate that thing! It has no torque and locks up just when it starts to get a bite.

I want to get a floor standing variable speed Jet or wait for a CL find.

 

[rickairmedic]

Webdog not sure of what part of the country you are in but I know where theres a Rockwell Vari-speed comming up available soon . I guarantee it wont be cheap but I also know the owner and he has taken meticulous care of it .


Rick

 

[webdog]

I am in Los Angeles. My budget is blown for a few months, the CNC, Brake, and compressor all happened within one week. That knocked out my reserve cash!

 

[rickairmedic]

Ha I understand plus shipping this big bastage from Louisville to LA would probably cost as much as I am sure my freind will be asking its a big heavy monster .


Rick

 

[cnyeco1]

That's a cool brake. If you don't mind, will you tell where it came from and price? I am seriously looking for one and that is about the right size.

Thanks in advance.

 

[webdog]

That's a cool brake. If you don't mind, will you tell where it came from and price? I am seriously looking for one and that is about the right size.

Thanks in advance.

I got it from ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/350482249691?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_575wt_987

It is about 450 lbs and located in SoCal, so i picked it up. They said they can ship them anywhere though. Great unit for china made.

 

[flybefree]

Great shop...love the cutter...laughed when I read your comments on the drill press because I thought "wow, he is so good he can get that little drill to work magic for him"...maybe it ***** for more folks than just me!

 

[CrashTestDummy]

I got it from ebay http://www.ebay.com/itm/350482249691?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649#ht_575wt_987

It is about 450 lbs and located in SoCal, so i picked it up. They said they can ship them anywhere though. Great unit for china made.

That explains it. It's heavy! I wondered how well it would work with big pieces with it being on such a narrow table, especially with the wheels.

Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas

 

[Falcon67]

LOL - I'll leave the DP alone! My HF band saw was only about $140 with a coupon and it's saved me lots of labor. It's still off a little on the cut but I plan to build a combo table/cut platform/storage unit for it and maybe re-work the hinge a little. It's too close to the ground for a tall guy.

 

[kbs2244]

Looks good.
My only concern is the OSB sagging over time from the weight you are putting on it.
I have been known to slip 1.5x 1.5 angle under installed and sagging shelves.

 

[webdog]

Great shop...love the cutter...laughed when I read your comments on the drill press because I thought "wow, he is so good he can get that little drill to work magic for him"...maybe it ***** for more folks than just me!

Thanks. Yea that Drill Press almost got thrown to the curb during the clean up but then i realized I need it until I get its replacement.

That explains it. It's heavy! I wondered how well it would work with big pieces with it being on such a narrow table, especially with the wheels.

Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas

I was worried about it to but it has a counter weight to make it need less force and with all that weight it is not going anywhere. To roll it around takes a good bit of effort.

LOL - I'll leave the DP alone! My HF band saw was only about $140 with a coupon and it's saved me lots of labor. It's still off a little on the cut but I plan to build a combo table/cut platform/storage unit for it and maybe re-work the hinge a little. It's too close to the ground for a tall guy.

I have noticed on mine the black hinge pin is bent, probably from when my friend knocked it over . As soon as I get some cash ill probably replace it.

Looks good.
My only concern is the OSB sagging over time from the weight you are putting on it.
I have been known to slip 1.5x 1.5 angle under installed and sagging shelves.

I have cross bracing every 24", and on the main work table I have a sheet of 3/4" particle board on top of the 1/2" OSB.
Ill see how long it lasts but so far I can sit on it with less than 1/2" of down flex and that is about 220.

 

[theoldwizard1]

Where those plates cut on your table ? Man those look like really nice cuts, like on a water jet ?

Tell us some details about the table.

 

[webdog]

Where those plates cut on your table ? Man those look like really nice cuts, like on a water jet ?

Tell us some details about the table.

Yes they where. Right now I am using a borrowed Powermax 30, I plan to get a powermax 65 as soon as I can make some money off the table.

One of the problems I had been having is getting products out quickly, and I don't have a bunch of cash to buy large quantities of the parts to send out so the only option was to get a table in house.

After searching around I decided to build my own table. I think the final cost was around $2500.

As you can see it is using angle iron as the rails, this is because the Aluminum Linear rails had over a month lead time. UPS says tomorrow for them to be delivered, so some time this week the machine is getting a tear down and a nice coat of paint before installation of the aluminum rails.

Here are some photos of the build of the table: (the photos also show how bad the organization was! haha)


This table will have a 4x6' cutting are with water table, right now it will be used with the PowerMax 30, I plan to upgrade to a PowerMax 65 as soon as funds permit.

Photos of the progress and parts:

Floor is not nearly level so blocks and shims are required to level table.

 

[tinbender 66]

I didn't realize you built that whole thing. Wow! $2500 is nothing for a machine with those capibilities. Nice work. Great looking welds too.

 

[webdog]

I didn't realize you built that whole thing. Wow! $2500 is nothing for a machine with those capibilities. Nice work. Great looking welds too.

Yup took a little under a week to build, I got the new linear rails the other day so next week ill be taking the machine offline and giving it a nice paint job before installing the new rails.

I cant decide on the color though.

The new layout is working great, I have already finished one bumper and about 12 other orders have gone out. That is a great improvement over the weeks before.


I do want to convert our JD2 bender to a Air over Hydo with a vertical stand, that will happen in the next month or so.

 

[webdog]

Wow so 6 months later and I have re-done the layout again, and about to tear down a wall of cabinets to change it up even more!!

I have since upgraded the CNC to the aluminum rails, put a powermax 45 plasma on it and a new controller with automatic torch height control.

Built a 37" 40 ton Press Brake, and acquired a few new tools!

Here are some photos, my plan this weekend is to clear the side wall with the white shelving on it and move the CNC further against that wall and then build two heavy duty shelves along the wall over the CNC.

By doing this I will gain 27" of space and hopefully have a little more room to move around.

This table top has been replaced with a sheet of 3/8" steel.

 

[SiGmA_X]

Sweet garage sir. Love the tooling and storage.

 

[Spencyg]

Hopefully you have a couple huge fans to get rid of those plasma fumes when you're running the table. I used to have one in my shop and promptly got rid of it after I realized how bad it was for the shop air. They are cool tools, but as with most things, need to be used correctly and with the proper precautions. I'm about to build another table, but this one will use an O/A cutting torch instead.

 

[webdog]

Hopefully you have a couple huge fans to get rid of those plasma fumes when you're running the table. I used to have one in my shop and promptly got rid of it after I realized how bad it was for the shop air. They are cool tools, but as with most things, need to be used correctly and with the proper precautions. I'm about to build another table, but this one will use an O/A cutting torch instead.

It has a water table that cuts 90% of the smoke and sparks, then there is a fan on the back wall to blow out the remaining fumes.

I have been at a shop with one that did not have a water table and you could barely see 5 ft in front of you, with mine there is only a very slight haze in the ceiling of the garage. Infact when I weld I make more smoke then the plasma.

 

[webdog]

Here is my best selling bumper that uses the plasma and press brake.

Working on the prototype arm.

This winch bumper is what pushed me to make the CNC in the first place.

 

[fergus]

NIce work man. I like the fact that your bumpers aren't so totally overbuilt that they look funny on the vehicle...unlike a lot of other products on the market.

 

[darren.a.roberts]

Lovely work man...

 

[Bears Fan]

Dude those welds are awesome tell us a little more about the welder you are using, Nice use of the space you have!

 

[DesertRat64]

Your fab work is beautiful! I really like the plasma table setup, well done!
KD

 

[webdog]

NIce work man. I like the fact that your bumpers aren't so totally overbuilt that they look funny on the vehicle...unlike a lot of other products on the market.

Thanks, a lot of the products I design I will test on the trails and make sure it is "trail ready" I hate some bumpers out there.

Dude those welds are awesome tell us a little more about the welder you are using, Nice use of the space you have!

I use a miller 211 on 220v, with .035 Mig wire.

 

[fredbaly]

WebDog, Your small space is very well organized. I am dealing with a small space and want to get into more metal work. Keep up the great work

 

[ZTFab]

Nice shop webdog.

Any more pics or details on the press brake?

 

[webdog]

WebDog, Your small space is very well organized. I am dealing with a small space and want to get into more metal work. Keep up the great work

Thanks, it is a constant battle, as I buy new equipment the garage must be re done.

Nice shop webdog.

Any more pics or details on the press brake?

It is just made from some surplus I beams and a few bottle jacks, I bought the die from Swag off road.

I am planning to put full hydraulics on it since I am using it so much.

 

[webdog]

So I got the jeep drivable again today and started tearing into the garage.... I hope i did not get over my head as I must have it back up and running monday... Call me crazy!!!

Oh and I measured the garage, I thought it was 18 x 20 but it is only 16 x 19 ft!!!

I tore the wall of cabinets down and will remove the remaining hanging ones tomorrow, I will be replacing it with more wire mesh shelving on the wall.

The CNC will be pushed into the corner more and free up more floor space. I gained about 30" of space where the cabinets where.

Where the press brake is now I will put one of these new shelving units from home depot, I was going to build one but I can buy it cheaper...
It has a 2000 lb per shelf capacity, I plan use it for storing inventory. As my biggest issue now is storing pre made parts so they are ready to ship.

 

[jayrush13]

Nice work

Did the table come with the software ?

Where did you get the kit if you don't mind me asking

 

[webdog]

The table is powered by Mach3 software package, you first put the cad DXF into Sheetcam and layout the sheet and then save the TAP file to run on Mach.

You get sheetcam and mach in a bundle for a few hundred bucks.

The main kit was from Shop Droids, they give a build sheet of what to buy and then I changed it up a little.

 

[tinbender 66]

Those bumpers are really nice! Way nicer than the monstrosities I worked on at RSI/TrailReady/RoadArmor.

 

[el tanque prohibido]

I use a miller 211 on 220v, with .035 Mig wire.

Are you dragging or pushing? What kind of gas mix? Those welds look excellent.

 

[webdog]

I believe I mostly drag, it is a argon co2 mix. I have a good friend that is a Ferrari body guy, lets just say he made me get better by insulting my welding... He has not said to much negative stuff recently so I must be welding to his standards. haha

 

[el tanque prohibido]

Being that your welds are nice and flat, I suspected that you were dragging. You're probably using an oscillation movement to get those chevrons in the weld too.