The making of a table

[1/2 Cup]

There is nothing like having a stock of materials like that, you imagination is the only limit.

Regards

 

[Toxicscrew]

Recycled 1.5" square tube. Still trying to decide what it's going to become.

I need a stand for my 40" brake/shear/roll....

 

[RivennHewn]

1/2 cup,

I'm contemplating a welding/work table. Somewhere between yours, and a Harbor Freight welding table.

Sturdy enough for some light welding, miter saw/ table saw stand/ assembly table, and somehow incorporate all of the wonderful aspects of every welding table/workbench/vise stand/ on GJ.

Well, that may be asking a little too much.

Toxic,

I'll work up a shipping quote for ya.

 

[1/2 Cup]

1/2 cup,

I'm contemplating a welding/work table. Somewhere between yours, and a Harbor Freight welding table.

Sturdy enough for some light welding, miter saw/ table saw stand/ assembly table, and somehow incorporate all of the wonderful aspects of every welding table/workbench/vise stand/ on GJ.

Well, that may be asking a little too much.

Toxic,

I'll work up a shipping quote for ya.

No problem at all, I know that you are more than capable of achieving a great outcome that will suit your needs, looking forward to seeing how it turns out.

 

[RivennHewn]

I came home with some light gauge c-channel. It's the stuff you use in steel stud framing when you have tall studs, and need a stiffener mid-span between the floor and the ceiling. 1-1/2" X 1/2" 16 gauge.

I'm going to use it for the lower shelf of my next project: The mid-weight welding table.

Going for something between the massive beauties ya'll build, and a HF cheapie.

Haven't got it all figured out just yet, but you can't let that stop you. Right?

 

[1/2 Cup]

Nice, real nice.

Regards

 

[F-117HWK]

Is that the Jet 12" disc sander?

 

[RivennHewn]

Is that the Jet 12" disc sander?

Yes.

One of my favorite tools.

 

[RivennHewn]

Started this afternoon by removing the galvanizing from the C-channel were the welds will be.

Then on to layout of the holes/dimples.

The new DeWalt 1/2" bit left some ****** burrs, so I changed to a used Triumph, and it went much better.

The HF/CL bench top press paid it's way with the dimple dies. Funny story:

I did two dimples, very easy. On the 3rd hole, the press just would not dimple as all. I looked the press all over, checking for leaks or breaks. I made sure the valve was closed tight. I was just about to check the fluid level when I realized I had the female die upside down.

 

[F-117HWK]

Yes.

One of my favorite tools.

Thought so. I was so happy with that purchase and use it on most all of my metal projects now.

 

[RivennHewn]

A little progress on the lower shelf.

The 16 gauge I had wasn't big enough to cover the whole thing, so I added the expanded metal section.

Making due with what's on hand.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Coming along nicely.

Now that I have a press I can see the odd set of dies following me home at some point.

Regards

 

[RivennHewn]

Thanks 1/2 cup.

No match for your beautiful masterpiece for sure.

This one is going to be fairly utilitarian, and set up to be able to go mobile if I want to take it to a job site.

I'd like to be able to put it in the back of my truck by myself. The way my back is feeling today, that may not be the case.

As far as dies go, I started buying singles and now have a missed-matched set.

Should have placed an order thru Nastyzen!

 

[RivennHewn]

Started thinking about the stretcher layout/details.

Got the ends all mitered and de-galvanized, ready for welding.

Played around with dimple die layout and finally came up with what I like.

Now it's time to set up the DP and drill some holes.

 

[RivennHewn]

Messy business, making holes.

 

[RivennHewn]

PITA to clean and debur the inside of the channel. Die grinder and Roloc disk did the trick.

Completed parts.

 

[RivennHewn]

I had time to complete the welding on the upper stretcher/apron this afternoon.

On the lowest setting, I was still wanting to burn thru the material. I ended up just doing a series of spot welds on the outside, then running a bead up the inside corner - out of sight.

A little more clean up tomorrow, and it will be ready for paint.

Flux core, no gas. Any feedback on the welds would be greatly appreciated.

last pic is of my current welding table, Saw horses and C-channel.

It's actually fairly flat, and very easy to adjust or sizes or clamping.

 

[RivennHewn]

After dinner test fit:

 

[1/2 Cup]

Excellent job.

I have never used flux core but how you have tacked it up and stitched on the inside would have been exactly what I would have done. The inside tacks help a lot particularly on thinner gauge metal like that.

What's the plan for the top?

Regards

 

[CGT80]

The dimples look good. I hadn't ever thought about being able to do them myself, but I do have a HF press, so it looks like I would just need the dies.

On the flux core...............ditch that **** and go with solid wire and 75/25 gas. I have used flux core, but i hate it. As long as there isn't too much breeze where I need to weld, I use solid. It is much easier, faster, and cleaner to use solid.

I use stick welding even less than flux core, as it is has some of the same drawbacks of flux core. The machine I would run stick on is my TIG, so I run tig instead. If I need to weld thick or dirty material that would be a pain with tig, then I will use stick. Both have some good features but they don't usually outweigh the good parts about MIG and TIG.

 

[RivennHewn]

Plan? What's that?

Usually when I need something, it just lands in my lap.

Hoping a 200 lb plate of steel doesn't.

The only thing I've bought so far is the welding wire.

I guess my plan is to scrounge around 'til I find something suitable.

Plan 'B' would be plunk down some cash.


CGT80,

I usually always weld outside, and it always seems to be a little too breezy.

I have a tank, but I almost never drag it out.

 

[nine4gmc]

Sounds like my kind of plan

I lucked up and found a maple butcher block work table on CL when I was building my lathe bench, I bought it and used the top for my bench, then put a runny dink piece of wood back on the work table legs and resold it for what I initially paid making the butcher block top free.
You may also want to drop by your local restore and look for a solid core door, they make great tops and can be found cheap!

 

[RivennHewn]

Sounds like my kind of plan


I work off plans/to spec all day at work. It's kinda nice to come home and just freewheel on a project in the shop.

No plans, no customers, no deadlines. Kinda like therapy.

At least until your rip your new Mechanix gloves on your 12" disc sander.

(Minimal skin loss).

Between football games I did get a little shop time today, and cranked out some feet for the welding table legs and got the receiver hitch tube laid out and cut/fit.

Ready for some more welding tomorrow.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Therapy = Quality Shed Time

 

[RivennHewn]

Between football games I managed to drill and tap the hitch receiver tube for the set screws that will secure whatever I end up putting in there.

Then I drilled the C-channel for plug/spot welds to secure the tube to the frame.

In addition, I added a few internal supports to help keep the tube in place and from racking.

Should be enough for a "Welterweight" table.

 

[RivennHewn]

Finally got around to figuring out how I want to mount the legs to the apron.

As you can see in the 1st pic, the legs will be on the outside of the apron. Behind the legs, I drilled 8 holes per leg for spot/plug welds. In addition, I'll be able to get a full bead on the underside of the support bracket.

These legs are from a paper ream cutter. The cast iron head had broken, and a client ask me to haul it to the dump. I hauled it home.

Spent the rest of the evening stripping the paint off the legs. Nasty business, that stripp'n.

 

[RivennHewn]

Disappointing when you get home late, it's already almost dark, and it's too dang cold to play with metal.

Somehow I still managed to get the legs sanded, the feet welded on, and a couple of holes filled.

Fingers are too cold to type anymore.

 

[nine4gmc]

Coming along nicely, it's been dark here for 2hrs now... Too cold to play with metal too, I tried running some outlets in the shop earlier but it was in the 40's so I ended up working in the house again today... Cabin fever is setting in...

 

[1/2 Cup]

Great progress, I like your plug weld idea. I did that with the top of the fabrication bench to the angle frame.

Regards

 

[RivennHewn]

Nine,

Cabinet fever, it's real.

1/2 cup,

Still haven't figured out how I was going to attach my top. What size holes did you use?

I got my steel fabricator/erector sub working on getting me a piece for the top.

I'm starting to think I'll end up buying a new piece for the top, instead of salvaging someone else's piece of junk.

 

[RivennHewn]

Problem: Ugly welds visible thru the dimple die holes.

Solution: HF mini belt sander.

All fixed.

And, with the 20% coupon it was only $18

 

[1/2 Cup]

I used 1/2 inch holes and cranked the MIG right up, they turned out not to bad.

Bear in mind the top and angle are 5/16

Regards

 

[RivennHewn]

I spent last night setting everything up for weld up.

Placed some large C-channel on my workbench and HF welding table, and leveled them. Placed the table on the C-channel, and plumbed, squared and leveled everything. Clamped everything down tight.

I did one spot weld on each corner, rotating around the table until they were all done. 32 total. Then ran a bead across the bottoms.

As you can see there is two extra 5/16" holes per leg that I was going to plug weld. Then I found some 12" X 1/2" nails. I cut the heads off, equal to the thickness on the two layers of metal and welded them on from behind. Rivet-welds!

 

[RivennHewn]

Test pic with Google drive gdURL:

 

[1/2 Cup]

Consider your rivet weld idea STOLEN, fantastic..

 

[nine4gmc]

Consider your rivet weld idea STOLEN, fantastic..

This^!! Great job!!

 

[RivennHewn]

Stolen? No, 'Traded' seems more appropriate as I've "borrowed' from you all.

So tonights fun was more stripper.

I converted an old autoshop/garage into a restaurant awhile back.

I got to the project late, and all the good stuff was gone.

I did get to remove the cash drawer. One of those cool old ones that is spring loaded and pops out when you press the button.

Best of all is the little bell that dings when it opens to let everybody know the cash drawer is being opened.

It fits nicely on the end of the table.

 

[1/2 Cup]

Traded does seem appropriate, nice score on the draw.

Regards

 

[RivennHewn]

Just found another Etsy seller that I thought ya'll might find interesting.

Amazing craftsmanship on the toolbox.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/sbucy?ref=l2-shopheader-name

 

[RivennHewn]

FedEx tracking is telling me that my order from Twertsy will be here tomorrow!

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=275199

Good thing, as I'm in need. Pictured is the just the 1st round of compiling all my bits/drivers.