Workbench ballasts

[Krokodil]

I just got this thought: Has anybody ever filled their steel structures with sand?

I want to build a workbench, but want to make it very heavy. One option is to use a big size tubing and simply fill it with sand before boxing up.

What do you think?

 

[PCO6]

I just got this thought: Has anybody ever filled their steel structures with sand?

I want to build a workbench, but want to make it very heavy. One option is to use a big size tubing and simply fill it with sand before boxing up.

What do you think?

Depending on the design, you might want to consider gravel instead of sand. We fill lacrosse nets with pea gravel to give them weight because we found that sand would find a away to leak out, even with nets that appeared to be properly / professionally welded

 

[Stuey]

What about cement? I've heard of people doing this when building small machine stands, but am not sure how they do it.

Although, I can appreciate that gravel would be less permanent than cement.

 

[Torque1st]

Caulk usually stops and sand leaks. Some people even use a few ounces of old thick latex paint inside around the seams.

 

[Krokodil]

I was thinking in the direction of course sea sand. It can also be removed unlike cement.

 

[RobSmith]

why not try lead shot ? It's damn heavy. or find a washer manufacturer and buy the punchings. They get pretty heavy too.

 

[Krokodil]

All good ideas, thanks.

 

[Shadowdog500]

I was thinking in the direction of course sea sand. It can also be removed unlike cement.

I made the mistake of sand blasting with sea sand once. Everything I blasted had accelerated rust. Lots of salt in that sand. If you pack your bench with it, dont be surprised if it rusts out.

Chris

 

[Shadowdog500]

duplicate post

 

[supazuk]

what about BB's they are cheap and at walmart

 

[iagsxr]

Just built this stand for my belt sander and filled the column with sandblasting sand.

My idea was twofold; I wanted the extra undercenter weight for stability, but mostly wanted the sand for vibration damping. Anytime you add mass it helps with vibration, but loose materials like sand or BBs don't resonate like a solid chunk.

Tonight I was thinking about how I'd go about building a bench for a lathe I'm looking at. Pretty sure I'll fill the legs on that with sand too.

 

[Krokodil]

Seems like the sand can work. I must just choose something that will not promote corrosion.

 

[rsanter]

for dampening vibrations in machines they often fill the tubes with sand and then a little oil. the oil will help prevent rust and will help with the dampening of vibrations because it impedes the sands movement

bob

 

[ddawg16]

for dampening vibrations in machines they often fill the tubes with sand and then a little oil. the oil will help prevent rust and will help with the dampening of vibrations because it impedes the sands movement

bob

I think that is your best bet.....

 

[v12man]

Krok - Try swimming pool filter sand or riversand as used for building in SA - neither of those will have salt in.

 

[sarel.wagner]

Seal the bottom with expanding foam first, it stops the sand from leaking. The foam is also used for dampening vibrations, it is useless as ballast tho

Rgrds

 

[anna_starr82]

Pea gravel would be ideal , it does the job and can easily be removed .
Leaks would also be prevented.

 

[sarel.wagner]

Kitty litter locally

Rgrds

 

[Mattlt]

About 30+ years ago my dad worked at a farm machinery manufacturing plant, making cultivators. They would place a mixture of concrete and taconite pellets in the main bar of the cultivator.

How about an old trick from the model railroad days - use the kitty litter, pea rock, etc, then hold it in place with a slightly watered-down white glue mixture.

Steel and concrete would be much more manly!

 

[q miester]

my table has 2"x 4" rectangle tubing filled with lead shot and it doesnt move or vibrate even while beating metal with a 8# sledgehammer but it is heavy

 

[Krokodil]

Thanks guys, I think I will go the river sand, kitty litter route.

 

[NUTTSGT]

How aboput some silica sand for sand blasting, it should be "dry"