Tonight's CL Score!!!

[ovilla]

I've been wanting to build one of these for a very long time. Anyway I found it on CL for $50, so my buddy Greg and I took a little drive out to the country to pick it up tonight. Yes, it's really heavy. Like back the truck up and load it from there., heavy! Anyway, now looking for a vice for this monster pedestal.

 

[blair683]

Dang that thing looks heavy! What's the base made out of? A giant brake drum? I have always wanted one with an old heavy duty bench grinder mounted to it.

 

[ovilla]

Yes it's a semi brake drum with a 1/2" steel plate welded to it, and then a 6" diameter pipe. The top plate is 3/8" thick. Crazy overkill. I can stand up on the brake drum and lean back, quite a bit, before it starts moving on me.

 

[larry_g]

Looks some what familiar. This is mine with a 6" wilton

lg
no neat sig line

 

[blair683]

Why such big diameter pipe? I think they would look much better and function the same with a much smaller diameter pipe.

 

[ddawg16]

Why such big diameter pipe? I think they would look much better and function the same with a much smaller diameter pipe.

Because it fits the drum.....and it weights more

I think it looks fine....

Good score Ovilla......and good luck finding the right vice

 

[Jason280]

I just started making these myself, and its relatively easy. The drums typically weigh around 92-95lbs, and you can make them as heavy as you want from there.







I've considered welding the base plate to the drum, but like the look of the bolts better....its just a little more time consuming to actually drill out the holes. I've also started fabbing some out of smaller 8-lug drums/rotors, work great for tools that don't need as heavy a base (makes them much more portable)

 

[CNGsaves]

Nice score OP. GJer name Royce has built some fabulous vise bases. Use Advanced Search for his Username and vise . . . you'll be amazed.

 

[ZipSnafu]

Nice score OP. That should last you.

 

[larry_g]

Why such big diameter pipe? I think they would look much better and function the same with a much smaller diameter pipe.

Sometime you use what the scrap pile offers up. The larger pipe offers weight, stiffness, and weld surface. Things your not going to get from a pretty 3" pipe. When you have the weight of a backhoe arm clamped in the vise you need something to hold it up. Cute is not going to get the job done.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[John in OH]

Why such big diameter pipe? I think they would look much better and function the same with a much smaller diameter pipe.

Because the bigger the pipe the more concrete you can pour into it .... after you've filled the brake drum!

 

[Markfothebeast]

I decided to make one with 4x4 tube steel and 1.5" x 2" steel legs and anchor it in to the floor. Ran out of flux core wire and never finished it. It's much further along than shown.