Workshop Benches! - Making them. What do you have/wish for?!

[Bantum]

... The wheeled base/jack doesn't need to move anywhere near full extension. The movement won't need to be as much as in that photo. It's only to make the wheels contact/not contact the benches so the jacks will only need to move 100mm in height total ...

Ok, not a problem - However note that I'd only make one pair of wheels swivel ( preferably the front ones ) so when you lower it, you can make sure they don't hit anything + so you can still steer it too ... !

... If the 5mm plate won't be good enough to lift the bench I will need to address the strength and brace it somehow. I'm fairly confident it won't dent or warp in though and I'm trying to keep bracing minimal. If I have to double the plate thickness (I have 10mm plate) I'd rather do that than more bracing above as I want to save the space ...

I'd try with a bit of an experiment first to see how much weight you can put on it before it buckles, you'd be suprised that it doesn't take much to do ... Note : You should be able to easily incorporate the bracing into available space under the shelf ...

... The Toolmonger lift looks like a nice idea but at $500 for what I can do fairly easily for $5 doesn't really sit with me, as for the concept of it I like it, but the amount of extra engineering time to get a jack to work in that facility wouldn't be worth it in my book. If things start to look complicated, I'll simply do as suggested before and hide the mechanism under a flap ...

Was only ever ment to be used as an example, it would be easy enough to make a facsimile though ...

... There should be 0 wobble in the jacking process other than that I provide. ...

Ha - Don't forget that some other 'Nube' will have to be able to operate it at some stage ...

... 5mm plate underlay. Extreme overkill ...

Yerp - I'd say Extreme overkill there too, it doesn't need the underlay, just the frame is sufficient.

... I also have 40mm Jarrah too so I am considering using that for the benchtop also ...

Good choice, I'd go for that ...

... I plan on making the decision once the frames are fully welded up and I get an idea of how heavy they feel ...

I'd do a prototype first to work out any bugs before you go into 'production' - you could even do what I did and make a Maquette ( look it up if you don't know what it is ) this saves a lot of mucking about.

Anyway, good luck with it ...

Ciao, Bantum ...

[60766244]

Ok, not a problem - However note that I'd only make one pair of wheels swivel ( preferably the front ones ) so when you lower it, you can make sure they don't hit anything + so you can still steer it too ... !

Yeah, still not 100% sold on swivel wheels. I might have fixed ones for simplicity/reliability then just rock/jib the benches as required. I have some trolleys like this so I know it works alright, for the KISS method they're ace.

I'd try with a bit of an experiment first to see how much weight you can put on it before it buckles, you'd be suprised that it doesn't take much to do ... Note : You should be able to easily incorporate the bracing into available space under the shelf ...

Yeah I am thinking of welding two brackets of the angle iron in a V pattern to underside of the 5mm plate for more strengthening if I need too. I picked up all the 5mm today and there's so much steel about the family is wondering if I am only building 4 benches...

Was only ever ment to be used as an example, it would be easy enough to make a facsimile though ...

Seems to be straying from my time honoured KISS principals. Still quite sure it'll work as is.

Ha - Don't forget that some other 'Nube' will have to be able to operate it at some stage ...

Not while I'm alive they won't. I'm fairly protective of my workshop and shed. Nah whatever system I use it will be simple enough. I want it simple and replicate able so once I have a huge shed, (oneday!!!) I can build more identical, modular benches and expand my workspace as I get more tools. I may have a melancholy obsession with my shed.

Yerp - I'd say Extreme overkill there too, it doesn't need the underlay, just the frame is sufficient.

True, True, But it will mean a few things:
- The bench will be much more rigid.
- Clamping to the bench will be easier, mounting a vice to the benches will be stronger as will mounting the drill press, scroll saw and sanders.
- I will be able to remove the Jarrah if I ever have a large project I need to do more welding on and require another steel-top bench.
- It will also mean the Jarrah will become less of a structural component to the benches and more of a working surface.
- In 300 years if they ever need a new work surface then the bench won't mind! ;D

Good choice, I'd go for that ...

Mmmm so would I, unfortunately someone offered me some 30mm Jarrah of the same grade that's already thicknessed, biscuited and is the perfect sizes so I think I am to be using that since it takes a lot of cost and hard work off (tools, me and wallet).

I'd do a prototype first to work out any bugs before you go into 'production' - you could even do what I did and make a Maquette ( look it up if you don't know what it is ) this saves a lot of mucking about...

Haha I know what you're talking about buddy Yeah I sometimes do models of things but I prefer to really sweat it out in 3D on the computer, obsess over it for a thoughtnight (pun ) then just get stuck in and make it.

Simply waiting on a perfect quote on my 50mmx50mmx3mm steel and I am away and building!!

[60766244]

So...

Angle Grinder blew up.

If anyone needs a compact smoke machine, hit me up.

Bench project on hold until I get a new one...

[60766244]

Ever wanted to know what the inside of a cheap, broken, old angle grinder that blows more smoke than a drug den? Well now you have.


The benchtop I got done today before the grinder blew up in flames. It's 500mmx800mmx5mm. The Jarrah top will be bolted onto this and before that this will be welded onto the bench frames when I make them. Love that learned-it-by-a-website level welding?


And this is what conveniently timed 21st Birthday present money looks like.


Two 5" (125mm) Makita grinders - one for grinding, one for cutting. Lovely.

Three more benchtops to be made tomorrow!

[Silverbullet]

Those are pretty nice grinders to work with. Having 2 also makes life so much easier not having to swap between discs. How thick is that steel plate? you could have (if you had a working grinder ) ground a bevel on each edge to about 1-2mm away from the bottom, makes for alot more weld metal and strength. More possible distortion though...

[T.Farm.Brumby]

And this is what conveniently timed 21st Birthday present money looks like.


Two 5" (125mm) Makita grinders - one for grinding, one for cutting. Lovely.

Three more benchtops to be made tomorrow!

Lucky man! We got a set of the 18v ( I think ) Makita cordless gear a while ago, goes well, and yeah two is definitely the way to go.

My Birthday present for tomorrow is my rego being paid for me hahahah, best present ever.

[60766244]

Those are pretty nice grinders to work with. Having 2 also makes life so much easier not having to swap between discs. How thick is that steel plate? you could have (if you had a working grinder ) ground a bevel on each edge to about 1-2mm away from the bottom, makes for alot more weld metal and strength. More possible distortion though...

Cheers, they're my favourite ones to use. When I saw the price I just had to have two! That's exactly why I bought two - no more changing repeatedly between disks!
It's 5mm thick checker-plate steel. I'll try it on the next 3 bench tops I make to see if it makes it any easier or stronger.

Lucky man! We got a set of the 18v ( I think ) Makita cordless gear a while ago, goes well, and yeah two is definitely the way to go.

My Birthday present for tomorrow is my rego being paid for me hahahah, best present ever.

Those cordless grinders are absolutely brilliant for quick tasks. It's so excellent to be able to grab one and just jump straight into a job. One of those is on the list for some long way off in the future.

One thing I will say about our little Subi's is they've got cheap rego's. Love having a light vehicle!

[60766244]

Progress today!

Four steel tops made up. Snuck that lovely new welding mask in there too.


Who needs clamps and magnets when you can have kettlebells?

[Bantum]

Neat welding - Where did you score the checker plate from ?

[60766244]

Neat welding - Where did you score the checker plate from ?

A mate was given a shipping container to fill full of wood. In exchange for my labour helping fill it. I received the checker-plate and some of his Jarrah as payment. It was heavily coated in surface rust, but a Brumby-Brand flapper-wheel got rid of 99% of it.

"Neat welding" - Too kind. It's best not zoom in on it.


On a side note: I purchased the 50x50x3mm steel today. I went to Orcon steel and they wanted a vast sum of money, and said delivery would take a week or two.
I talked to my office lady at work (greenhouse companies order steel anyways) and she got a quote, from the same guy, at the same place at less than 40% of the initial price, plus they'll deliver the next day!!!
Lesson: If you need to buy steel, go to a company that would do business with a steel-co a lot, give the lady behind the desk some wine and save yourself a lot of money! (Or buy more steel. )

[tony]

if you are looking for good quality steel angle you can't go past old bedframes, they are made of the best quality steel available, just put your average 50 x 50 angle alongside a bedframe and see how much pressure they can take. the steel is very tough it's quite difficult to drill holes larger than about 1/4". I have had to use oxy or burn it through with the arc welder.
I have been using it for years i collect it from roadside collections. the main problem is the large frames have a lot of miscellaneous bits to cut off. the single frames are generally easier but often thinner.
my workbench is 20 years old and has been hammered burnt twisted and bent with no visible damage. also consider putting a small kitchen single basin sink in even if you have to hang a hose up to use it, it will be handy for washing greasy hands, cooling hot metal, etc..

[60766244]

if you are looking for good quality steel angle you can't go past old bedframes, they are made of the best quality steel available, just put your average 50 x 50 angle alongside a bedframe and see how much pressure they can take. the steel is very tough it's quite difficult to drill holes larger than about 1/4". I have had to use oxy or burn it through with the arc welder.
I have been using it for years i collect it from roadside collections. the main problem is the large frames have a lot of miscellaneous bits to cut off. the single frames are generally easier but often thinner.
my workbench is 20 years old and has been hammered burnt twisted and bent with no visible damage. also consider putting a small kitchen single basin sink in even if you have to hang a hose up to use it, it will be handy for washing greasy hands, cooling hot metal, etc..

Yeah I used to have a bedframe just like you're talking about. We turned it into a Quad-Bike trailer.

Most bedframes I see from kerbsides seem to be wooden. You must be pretty quick on nipping them up.

Cool idea however, I'll have to start keeping an eye out for them!

Any photos of your workbenches Tony? (Or anyone else for that matter. )

Thankfully it was less than $150 for all the steel. It's extremely strong as I found out today.

I don't need to make a sink-bench yet as the shed I am staying with has a large sink just outside the roller-door that gets used frequently.

Once I have these benches made and installed I might take some glamour shots of the shed.

[60766244]

So... PROGRESS TODAY!

Steel arrived at work and the boss said I could use his equipment to cut it all up! Roller-benches and a wet-saw make light work of even the toughest steel!

I cut up 60-70% of it today. All came in 7m lengths. Hopefully by tomorrow arvo all the last mitre cuts will be done and I can look at making a jig and begin welding up.
It came as a massive relief when I realized I definitely had ordered enough steel!

The boys at work think I'm a little nuts but are keen to see the results.

New design I cooked up yesterday too: Today I realized I'll need to make it 6mm smaller in width due to a minor redesign.

[60766244]

Can't use grinders at night so I sit here on the computer playing with designs instead.

"Oneday I will have myself a soundproofed workshop!" Heh


^ There's going to be 5 drawers to contain all the drill bits. Maybe a little over the top, but I do love a well ordered shop, and I hate looking for drill bits!


^ The spanner set will fit neatly in the drawers, I didn't draw in a set of cut out's because that would have taken all night. There will be space next to the smaller Imperial set to put in misc. larger spanners as I pick them up or any extra small ones, or unsual sorts of spanners.

Can't wait to get stuck in tomorrow!!

[60766244]

This is what $157 looks like converted into parts.

This is the slow-speed wet-saw I used looked like. Very slow cutting, but less noise, no heat sparks or burns. The blade wandered a little so it needed constant vigilance to keep it dead on track.


All the box-sections are welded up this arvo. Just need to put in the uprights and they'll start looking like benches.



Just comparing the bench-top steel with the top of the bench frame.


The uprights to go in some time this week!

[60766244]

Frames came together today!

Square and strong. Going to do some more welding and tidying up when I get some more welding rods and flapper disks.

The moveable wheel assemblies need to be made up in the next few days to make these benches more unique and functional.

A drilling template needs to be made up now so these benches can be bolted and unbolted according to need and projects.



The metal under-top which the Jarrah top will attach to.

Not sure whether to weld them to the frames and make it more rigid or bolt them down to make them removable if it's ever needed...

[Wooster]

Cant see that straining in any great hurry

[60766244]

Cant see that straining in any great hurry

They should last well beyond me, or my kiddies.

Because of how they're built, if I ever need more bench space I can make more modules, so these benches shouldn't go the way of being dated or obsolete.


Fair bit done today. Spent the morning driving around our suburbs because it is the season... The season for Kerb-side collection that is! Picked up 6 x 2mx20mmx20mmx1mm angle steel Might use it for making the drawers or shelving.

Spent some time cleaning up and adding more weld to joints to add prettiness, and, even more strength between those angle beams. Boring but altogether required work.

Also purchased the hinges for the doors on the benches, and some more 50mm wheels as well as some plywood.

I am going to use swivels wheel structures now as per previous suggestion. I've acquired some wheels I consider robust enough, but still compact that shouldn't be too fragile and can take 40kg each, so that should suit.

I also made up 2 of the 4 plates that the wheels are to attach to.



And made a template for drilling, then drilled out the first of the backboards for the benches.



From there I can clamp that backboard together then make multiples off that.




For drilling I used my old trust Makita drill with a nice slow fixed rotation, and the bottle (w/syringe) of ATF top up I still have sitting about the shed from when I used to have an Automatic Magna - it makes perfect fluid to drill into steel of all sorts.



Got all excited and mounted the frame on the bench to ensure the holes are lined up perfectly.



I can't wait till these benches are done. This messy shed is driving me insane! So many projects on the back burner until I get these out of the way.

[jims]

I've got some angle (in the form of an old bed frame) out the front of the house if you need more mate.

James

[60766244]

I've got some angle (in the form of an old bed frame) out the front of the house if you need more mate.

James

Heh Cheers!

I might swing around tomorrow arvo and have a look at it after work. It might just be the perfect steel to make the guide steel for the lifting system.