Damm!! I did bust the rule!!! So solly. Shall I post a pic of my plastic angle gauge? Will that get me back in the gates. LOL And really, I have used the plastic angle deally so many times. I swear by it :) Come on, really, Im a hack by nature. Cant help it, its in the blood. How bout the vast amounts of cardboard I use also? I love thin construction paper. Great for all types of templates. No really, Im as simple as they come.. JR

hehe. I think so.

ok its done for now.
 

I finaly got enough motivation from this thread to finish my bench.moved the cooler down under the bench and added another drawer for grinding wheels .the cooler is also in a drawer that pulls out for maintainence and also added some rod holders and a adjustabe fixture for holding up peices to be welded. I think it's done for now.:D
http://i643.photobucket.com/albums/u...ools/003-1.jpg
http://i643.photobucket.com/albums/u...ools/007-1.jpg

I love that bench!! It holds all the equipment.. Oh, and you have too much floor space!!! Want to rent some out??? Im jealous!!! JR

How Much for the Top Plate??
 

I have a chance to pick up locally two (used) very large 1 inch plates that are grid drilled and are 96"x54" and 96"x48" that I'm thinking of having cut up into smaller pieces.

Would $250 for a 4'x4' or 4'x3' drilled top be reasonable?

--JMarsa

Jason,

Are you asking is that a good price to have them cut?

Darren

No I was referring to the unit price for a drilled, cut top - $250 for a 4x3 top to use on a welding table.

--JMarsa

Not sure where you live at J - but I checked here in indy locally and the price for new 1/2 inch steel plate @ 4 foot by 4 foot is $250 - not including the additional costs to add the grid. Some folks here have found plate used at lower costs. I have been looking for some used 3/4 or 5/8 plate for my project and haven't had much luck yet....

Jim

I was looking for 1/2" too.

I got some quotes today on cutting up the large plate. Under $150 to plasma cut and $400 to use a industrial circular saw that has a .25 inch kerf. I need to find out how clean the edge will be on the plasma. It won't be until the end of the week until I get to see the plates.

The other issue is weight. I can move these around but were talking 500# for the 4x3 and 630# for the 4x4 pieces. So potential buyers need to take that into account for handling and or shipping.

--JMarsa

J ==

I plasma cut my own "end" off my 1/2" 4'X8' shop table... it's not nice and smooth despite clamping a guide. While they call it plasma - it ain't magic and is still a burn through... BUT --- BIG BUT --

I fixededededed it - by PLUG WELDING a 1-1/2" angle iron over the cut edge and made certain it was SQUARE to the other two edges. By plug welding it - it gave me an edge to push a tape measure from - as well as pulling a measurement from the "edge". It's actually worked out to be quite handy!

J ---

If you look closely -- at the FAR EDGE in this photo -- you can see (barely) the small lip the angle iron makes. And as I said above - this allows me to square up something using the lipped edge - or pulling a measurement off of it (pushing the tape against it)...


http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/DSC_7661.jpg

Greg, that's a great tip! I really like that idea.

I would sure save some $$ going the plasma route.

--JMarsa

That was what I was leading up to.... I just ground off the "slag" so the table was FLAT -- and put a nice edge over the cut...

Save that money and buy some good stuff!!

I like that tip. Always nice to have a straight edge to pull from, or butt up against. Neat.. JR

I want Beverly. How often do you play with her ?

Jim ---

You have a bad case of Beverly envy do you? :rofl:

I use it "all the time" -- and if not for my self - for doing something for a buddy. IT IS THE ALL TIME EASIST piece of equipment in my shed! Used it Friday!

Mine is the #2 -- figured to have it cut thicker gauge - better to have it and not need it - then need it and not have it.

THAT and my cold cut saw.... can't pry my cold dead fingers off of either of these pieces!

Mounted it so that one piece of the cut will go under and the other 'over'....



http://i919.photobucket.com/albums/a...s/DSC_7662.jpg

ha lol. all the floor space that I have has been ocupied by stuff for about a year and a half.just finaly making some progress on my shop reorganizing and finishing project hopefully I will be able to see some more floor space soon.:D

Materials In
 

Purchased the materials this weekend and got them cut to size. Dropped off the 1/2 plate table top at the waterjet shop to have the corners radus cut and the 3/8th bolt grid cut.

3 x 3 legs with 2 x 3 under table support.
2 x 2 lower shelf support.
1/2 rod cross bars to hang grinders, clamps, and vise grips on.
Levelers, weld nuts and 1/4 mounting plates.
Casters with 1/4 inch mount plates.
Electrical conduit, boxes, outlets, plates and supply cable will go inside the tubes - with one box on either side of the under table supports.
5 pieces of 12 x 12 x 1/4 for mounting tools that will then bolt to the table grid.
There will be a pull out drawer just inder the table grid to catch crud - and hold some tools.

Once I get the top back - I'll build the shelf, drawer and the removable top surround.

Jim

Looking great Jim. Was the water jet guy able to use the files? Let me know if he has any trouble. I had the files open to do some more detailing at lunch toady and then things went south. Let me know if you need details on any part soon and I can get them for you. I still haven't been able to upgrade my software at home. What a pain. Anyway, looks great and let me know what you might need.:thumbsup:

Hey Chad !

Hope you're done moving snow !

No problems on the file - he opened them and everything is good. Getting ready to weld Bro !

Thx for the engineering and CAD help !! :bow:

Jim

Top is here.

1/2 plate with a 5/16th holes grid 4 on 4 center. I have to tap each hole to 3/8 x 16 so I can use all my machinest clamps and 1-2-3 blocks.

That's a lot of holes to tap.... wonder how many beers that will take ... :cheers:

Jim

Well I guess I will have to show the table my High school intern is building in the afternoons. 37" tall, .5 inch plate with water jet holes for grid pattern. 4' x 16'. My plan is for this to be a production table for chassis designs. We will have fixtures that bolt to the table for different chassis's. This way we can design and cut all the parts, tooling and fixtures for a certain chassis to bolt to this table.

But underneath will be a material storage rack. The long side support rails will be open instead of miter cut corners to store stainless brake and fuel line plumbing inside with out damage.

I have been thinking about this one for weeks. I wish I would have seen this thread sooner. So good ideas in here.

Wish I had all your money !

:lol:

Looking forward to those pics !

I wish I had your time. :D

If you don't mind answering, how much did you pay for the half inch plate?

Cost was $140 It was 34 x 48 before being cut to final size or 32 by 48, They needed 1 inch on 2 sides for hold down clamps during the waterjet operation. You should be able to find cheaper as scrap - but I looked for a couple weeks and decided to go to my local steel vendor and buy new.

Jim

lol - that was an awesome reply

Oh sure, pick on the unemployed guy .... very funny !

:lol:

Need plate?
 

Sorry to the OP for the hijack, this is really for those that are looking to make a table like I was.

If anyone is looking for some 1" plate that's already drilled and tapped on 4" centers (1/2") I'm in the process of having a 4'x8' and a 4'x'6 section cut up.

I'm near Detroit. Price = $250 per 4'x'3 section. PM if interested.

--JMarsa

I was looking for scrap as well, but I don't quite know where to look. The steel plate I have found as scrap has been 1/4 inch. How much does the 32x48 plate weigh?

This thread is great for someone thinking about building a welding table. There are a lot great design features to take.

I happened to find mine on craigslist. I've also seen them at my local steel recycling/scrap yard.

--JMarsa

I like that plate!!! Gonna make a nice setup plate for whatever comes your way. And tapping the holes is gonna be fun. But a nice new quality tap and some fluid will make it a breeze. Oh, and some tapping fluid might help too :) JR

:lol:


I'm thinking of doing the same thing for my bench, all drilled and tapped so I can make fixtures. Awesome thread

Hi Mike,

.250 by 32 by 48 steel plate weighs 108.79 lbs.

Here's an online calculator:

http://www.portlandbolt.com/steel-plate-weight.html

Jim

I weigh 140 lbs. How do you guys put these tables together?

I must have been 12 the last I weighed that little :yes:

My plate is getting moved with my cherry picker.

--JMarsa

I had to build mine upside-down -- on the floor of my shop - then lift it and flip it with my 9000 lb two post lift... and a couple big chains!

A smaller table can be lifted and or moved with an engine hoist... etc.

bolting Legs to table top
 

This might sound dumb, but I'm not an engineer, I just play one at home. :lol:

My plate is 4'x6'x1" thick and has 1/2" holes already drilled so I was thinking of caping the legs with a plate and then bolting it to the underside of the top. I like the idea that I can disassemble it and move it if needed. I'll tie the legs toghether too, but my question is is there a need for a base around the perimeter? Any chance this could sag over time given a 5' span between legs?

--JMarsa

Alright check out what the big boys do.

http://www.race-dezert.com/forum/sho...-Fixture-Table!!!!!!!!

I love it when you share :thumbsup:
W