How long would this take you?

[ChrisV]

Hi All,
We built this frame for a wood torsion table top. I am questioning how long my new employee is taking to do some projects. Based on the info below, what is your rough estimate in time for cleaning the material, cutting, fit & weld.

2x4 rectangle (top frame) has 2 - 1" welds i@ each corner -the welding was kept at a minimum to avoid any distortion as this would ruin the wood torsion top for straightness.

2x2 was used for legs and stringers.

Thanks in advance

[jelias]

i would say about three hours tops. assuming you are cutting with band saw or similar saw and just grinding the welding surface. I think i would be expected to have it done in three hours or less, more likely a little less.

[dppmfg]

Hi All,
We built this frame for a wood torsion table top. I am questioning how long my new employee is taking to do some projects. Based on the info below, what is your rough estimate in time for cleaning the material, cutting, fit & weld.

2x4 rectangle (top frame) has 2 - 1" welds i@ each corner -the welding was kept at a minimum to avoid any distortion as this would ruin the wood torsion top for straightness.

2x2 was used for legs and stringers.

Thanks in advance

Not relay sure what a wood torsion table top is or does so I Dont know how square flat excreta it was speced to be but I would quote it a 4 hours. Funny how slow the fng seems to go. Have one of those myself now and sometimes I must remind myself that he is not the fastest but he rarely f__up any thing.

[nfinch86]

i would say about three hours tops. assuming you are cutting with band saw or similar saw and just grinding the welding surface. I think i would be expected to have it done in three hours or less, more likely a little less.

Yep, I agree about 3hrs.

........Norm

[Donald Branscom]

Was the employee interupted by having to answer the phone, talk to customers,
or anything else while trying to get some work done?
Did he have to go pick up the materials?

You know....multi tasking?
Was the employee micro managed?
Boss breathing down his neck?
You said new employee, maybe he was being extra careful since he is a new employee?

Just asking.

[Donald Branscom]

My estimate.


Did he have to go pick up the materials?
I count at least 24 cuts. 2 minutes per cut would be about 48 minutes right there,and that does not include measuring and marking. The sharp burrs would need to be sanded too. So add on one minute per cut end=24 more minutes. Up to about 1.5 hours. Then the measuring and marking of each piece=one minute per measure and mark=24 more minutes=2.0 hours. Then wiping down all the steel to get the oil off about 10 minutes(best done when the tubes are full length). Now that brings it up to about 2-1/4 hours.
If the steel had to be moved from a truck, or shop rack that is at least 5 minutes.
Clamping and setting up for parts at least a couple minutes per section or weldment (rectangle) would be maybe 30 minutes total. We are up to 2-3/4 hours. Next is tack welding it all before welding. one minute per tack and 24 joints. Now we are up to 3-1/4 hours and then the final welding which would be possibly 30-45 minutes= 4 hours. I would give this project at least 5 HOURS start to finish. Minimum with NO interuptions. Lunch in the middle of the project. If the customer was in the shop add at least 30 minutes.Or if the customer had to be called that is more time.

Two men could do it faster since a helper could hold opposite ends.

[aametalmaster]

There are lots of depends in that picture. How big was the saw that cut the metal? Was the workbench big enough to get the whole project on it? I would say 3 hours also and most of that would be cutting it out with my little bandsaw...Bob

[Donald Branscom]

On the original post you said "we built this" How well do you work together?
Since you are the boss and the other person is the employee.

That is a factor.

[Rig Hand]

Everyone needs there coffee/smokes and SH!t does happen, but 4 or 5 hours tops. Thats just my opinion, based on, well nothing really

[HayFarmer]

A 'wood torsion table' seems to me another way of saying torsion box. These are used as a flat, relatively light, stiff surface for assembly/layout - a 'perfect' reference surface. I just got done making one from MDF & plywood w/ plastic laminate on the business face. I use plywood lifts to support mine when its not stored. However, whatever is used doesn't need to be perfect, just close. The expectation would be to shim on set up. This is how I do it and how it was done in all the shops I worked in. So, the metal work just needs to be good but certainly not exceptional.

BTW my experience is w/ cabinets & furniture.

[GerryR]

I'd say a day (8 Hrs.) By the time you get everything measured and cut, clamped up and tacked, then recheck before final welding, and any finish grinding, I'd allow a day, and besides, up north we have a saying, "Lincoln freed the slaves."

[kevin]

i was going to say 4 hrs. until i read donalds post, so i up it till 5, but i know it will take more than that if it is to be perfect

[engnerdan]

I would have to agree with Donald, that is how I break down my welding projects. I would quote the customer at 5 hours if it was a quoted project.

-Dan

[SundownIII]

I think several "responders" just got set up here. At first I thought only a few new guys would take the bait, but then more jumped in.

I think, if you really look at the original question, the OP was asking "Did my new employee take too long to build this table?"

Frankly, without knowing his shop layout, what equipment he has available, how much did he help/hinder the job, what is meant by cleaning the material, etc, etc. it is difficult to say what is a reasonable time.

The OP needs to understand that the responses come from people familar with the equipment available, know how it's used, etc., etc.

A new employee, working with equipment he's not familar with, could take as much as twice as much time as the highest estimate. That may simply mean that this was the first time he did a similar setup, or that he was being extra careful so as to impress the boss with the quality of work.

Frankly, "the boss" is in a better position to tell if the employee took too long, than any poster on this board.

[kevin]

so, whats the point, he got more than he asked for, and, also, it is good info