Garage Shop: Tools

Dang

Not to brag but uhm...my wife actually encouraged me to retire, and build up my own shop in the garage

She knows it's great for my mental health so all she does is support me with it

 

Space is really a factor here. 2 car grudge. I want to put the welder under the table but worry about stinger length reaching back around. I can chain the bottle to the table also. Probably what I’ll do for now.

 

Get yourself a torch with a 20' long whip

 

In all seriousness, you should retire soon as possible if you can swing it! Especially if you have side work. I went at 62 and made 65 last summer. We have a 8yo grandson with us. School and sports take a lot of our time.

 

Read above, I am retired lol

 

But my life will only get so much busier seeing as how we've got a 7 month old in the house; will be fun to get him up to speed on wrenching, fab/welding, and more (if he's into it hopefully)

 

Speaking of, need to make this now





Can't have my laptop sitting on my bench near my drill press

 

my wife has a few times asked me if i want to buy a wheel and tire machine. after i finish up a few other shop things. i miss doing the quick stuff at home. but also my 9-5 at the moment pays really well and I don't need to supplement near as often. but in the future that can change!

 

Oh man, I know a dude that makes good money just mounting/dismounting wheels for others out of his garage.

Quick side money for sure.

 

there was one winter where i was just doing snow tires after work then loading them in my truck, mount and balance, and then install in a drive way. was super fast money after work a couple hrs a week.

 

Well it's about time! "mother's little helper"playing in the background.

 

Had to redraw the arm; my ADHD got the best of me and I went to cut it out forgetting to add the tabs

To start -



Mostly everything cut; the top portion itself I used 16 gauge whereas everything else is 12 gauge -



Here's how it'll go together -



And where it'll mount -



The top -



What's nice is I'll have the ability not only to swivel it in or out, but also angle the top a bit.

Welding her up -




All done -





Tomorrow I'll knock off some of the welds and throw a coat of paint and it'll be done.

 

Nice work. Looks great

 

Thanks!

Getting them painted so should be ready in a few days -

 

Are you bending all that on your swag brake?

 

Naw this is 12 gauge, easy to bend against a flat surface.

I bent it by hand as I added a little notch both for a bend relief and a means of tack welding it on top for centering reasons.

 

The notch and tack weld -



Did the same for the bottom -



I don't like how the top came out so it'll remain unfinished until my fluid comes in and I'll cut out another.

 

I think many folks out there overlook the utility of sheet metal. Everyone wants to hog everything out of a big “billet” on a cnc when a clever cut/bent/welded doodad will be faster, cheaper, and lighter!

 

On the subject of sheet metal, and the earlier mention of a welding cart, here's my cart made of sheet metal





60lb welder, 80lb bottle, 11lb spool underneath, 11lb spool in the machine, and a few for the torch and ground clamp

That's excluding the square tube itself and dom

Build it right (with scrap even) and it'll be sturdy AF, and cheap too (under $25-27 all in)

 

as a designer, absolutely. Ive had my sheet metal guys come up with some nice weight and cost savings ideas replacing bent sheet metal where a solid block was.