Anything welding

Still light enough yakety sax the flatbed off the truck. Maybe I can get it painted this week. Still need to finish up some welding and cap some stuff.

 

So... While I’m happy enough with my little slotted HF welding table (need to add wheels tho), I’m beginning to think about some sort of garage workbench that’ll also be suitable for metalwork as well as miscellaneous other stuff at a hobbiest/household level. not planning any production stuff.

If you’ve done something like this, what are some things you wish you’d done differently? Things you weren’t sure about but turned out to be great?

 

So I built mine with a top that is a laminate (bottom to top) of plywood, a rubber floor mat, and sheet metal. The top is built as a unit and just sits on top of the bench (so far). I really like it as a work surface, fluids don't run through it like benches I've built where its just a bunch of 2x6's next to each other and it can take a beating from heavy parts. I also can yank the top easily and hten use the frame underneath as welding. Which I haven't done yet, so I don't have any feedback on that. It does facilitate moving the bench more easily as well.

One other feature I'm a fan of is having a beefy piece all the way across the bottom front that I can use to clamp stuff down with C-clamps.


I need to work out better legs though, its more wobbly than intended. I experimented with the mounting of the legs a bit - they're just clamped in with some long bolts and have room for adjustment, so I may take that apart some day and see what I can improve.

 

Put a pipe vise on it. Super nice for holding all kinds of shapes... cutting, grinding.

 

This is just for Welding I have 3 other work benches 4 if you count the kitchen table

Go as big as possible and practical I like being able to be able to be able to get around the whole table as needed

Do Not go cheap on casters!!! if your going wheels.

Figure out what height your most comfortable with.

Being able to have the table free standing means no tight spots for combustible scrap to build up nothing like a fire you can`t get close to till it gets exciting .

I like having tool storage air and electric and lights on my table. That way if it needs to get moved everything can be disconnected

I put a vice and a wire wheel because they come in handy

A law of Nature any flat surface no matter how you try will get things sitting on it.

It works for me and we are all different in what works

 

I wish I’d made one side drop down for welding 3rd leg of 90s and I need more 5/8” holes. I will probably still do both tho!

If it’s going to be for general work metal is a little hard, so maybe incorporate a way to secure a piece of pressboard on top for non-flammable activities. And room for a vise.

 

X2 on dont cheap out on casters. I got some that have a foot you can lower down to level the table for big projects.

 

Finished up a project I will be giving my son for Christmas. A little history, I originally got similar names like this made for my groomsmen at my wedding (paid a guy),and then paid the same guy to make one for myself but with the chain that snapped and almost made me wreck/destroyed my R6.

Bike that snapped:

47681859_655703479790_8404744252260614144_n by Michael Halat, on Flickr

And the name made with the chain:

IMG_2318 by Michael Halat, on Flickr

I figure now that I had my own welder I could make him one with the chain that came off my second bike, and was stolen several years ago.

Bike that was stolen and the old chain still on it:

Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr

Mid process:

Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr
Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr
And final product:

Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr
Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr
Untitled by Michael Halat, on Flickr

It took quite some work to clean the chain up. Lots of surface rust from when it was sitting in an old storage unit. It's gotta be at least 10 years old or more. I made the stand because this is going to sit on the shelf above his crib and even though the name is stable and we won't have it on the edge, it's extra piece of mind in case Jersey somehow gets a major earthquake lol. It was fun making him something from my MC history.

 

Welding is fabulous

 

No rules! Nice!

 

I would be hung high in the center of town for all hands to see if I was caught violating all those rules!

 

@0xDEADBEEF @JPT4x4ac @Wyoming09 @Zebinator

Great suggestions, thank you. Taking vacation days this week so busy with other stuff than Tacomaworld, but wanted to thank you for your replies. Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Funny thing too is that I live in one of the most highly regulated states (California) but my industry is super weird. We have certain rules but not really enforced haha. The rule is “if you’re gonna do something stupid just don’t get hurt”

 

Been guilty of the safety squint my fair share of times...

 

no safety glasses, no problem!

just close your eyelids to where you can still see a little bit and you’ll be totally fine!!!

 

I need this...

 

What kind of lathe is that?

 

Guilty, and proven wrong more times than I care to admit

 

I can't say I've ever used safety squints. I'm an angel when it comes to eye pro.



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