Hybrid Workbench

[BilljustBill]

ON to the Next Project...

You fellows have been great with your comments. I'm on to another project, 20ft long by 3ft. deep shelving built like those at Home Depot and Lowes.... The shelving arms are held in place with 1" diameter steel pins, so when I don't need the shelving, they can be "UNPLUGGED" and taken down for more flexible use of the space...
I'm mounting the arms, not welding them, to the wall framework. The vertical members are welded to weldplates tied into the rebar and slab's deep and wide footing. The wall framework is 3X3" and 4X4" steel tubing reinforced with rebar and each is filled with concrete to not only support the outside wall, but take the heavy side loading of the stacks of dense hardwood lumber. Welding sure helps me keep the cost down and therefore, lets me have things I could never afford to have done....

Bill

[BilljustBill]

The Tape Arrived

The NICE new tape arrived March 3rd, here in North Texas. When I also saw the cost of shipping, $5+, I fully realized the depth of Customer Committment and Service MILLER is STILL known for.

THANK YOU SO MUCH !!
Bill

[fdburner]

Dual Sport bench

New here but I like your bench. What do you keep stored inside it? I'd like to see more pics if you have them. What I would like to see most is more of the finished product. I definately will have to build something multi-functional myself. Did you reference one you had seen somewhere else or was it totally from scratch?
If I missed the answers from somewhere else I apologize, just let me know and I'll keep looking.

[BilljustBill]

The workbench came from "collecting" materials for several years. I researched, read, hunted, viewed, and talked to gather ideas that I could mesh with the materials. I also needed an assembly table. \
It appears all the American workbenches had a tool tray, so instead of wasting one side of the workbench, I decided to put it in between the two benchtops. Some people prefer a height of where the back of your knuckles would touch, but I made the height of the tops the height of where the palms of my hands are when my arms are straight on each side of my body. That's about 2"-3" higher and better for my back....

Here are two more shots showing a detail of the base framework without the benchtops which is the corner trimwork. The other show it with the end and center sliding storage shelves extended. They allow an easy way to organize power and hand tools as well as provide a short reach to use them.

Bill

[mccutter]

Measure Twice, Cut Once!

I guess Bill will be parking outside the garage now! Or he'll be moving the workbench into the living room--afterall, it IS on wheels! Good Job!

Wood is great and easier on sawblades! You weld it with glue and sawdust!

Reminds me of an old carpenter joke: Young apprentice says to his boss: "I cut it twice and it's still too short!"

I worked as a carpenter with an old Jamaican who loved to bust nuggets. He'd say "Hit it like a maaan, not like a ooohman!"

[fdburner]

Inspiration

Thanks Bill. My workbench, is getting a makeover now to accomodate my newest hobby and your bench was the inspiration.I have no intention of trying to immitate the "billiard table quality" of your bench. The prospect of using steel now will help to make my bench mobile in the future. I'll share some pictures throughout my project. The 6"x6" legs have limited the mobility of my bench for a very long time, and I can't wait to be able to drag it out for use. The bench is extremely sturdy and has served me well for a long time. Unfortunately I hate to see these legs go to waste, got any ideas? If I don't end up with a better use, they will make great wheel chocks.

[BilljustBill]

Choose your casters CAREFULLY...

FD,

Be sure to get the casters that are rated at, or higher in load bearing capacity, than your workbench weighs. The reddish colored Polyurethane caster wheels seem to work the best on concrete, but under a standing load, they may last only a few years before cracking.

The other KEY element is with your two swiveling casters. On mine, I have two on one end that swivel and two that are fixed. The two that swivel allow me to guide the direction of where I want to push the workbench. The action of steering your workbench is allowed by the "Caster" or pivot of the two swiveling casters, but can cause the workbench to move, even though I have wheel locking brakes. To keep the workbench from moving around those swivel point, on my front steering casters, each one of the two swivel casters has an index pin that allows me to lock the caster at any one of the 4 compass points in addition to the wheel locking footbrake. When the caster pivots are indexed and locked where both casters are either pointing outward, or both pointing inward, at 90*degrees to the fixed casters, then the workbench won't move as you work and push.

I've seen casters without this indexing feature at "Tractor Supply" and "Grizzly" that are rated at 900 lbs. EACH, and cost about $27 apiece, no matter if they are the fixed or swivel design.

Hope that will help.

Bill

[BilljustBill]

posting problem

Got help from the System's Administrator.

Ok, third try to post picture of workbench's new partner, a wire welder/plasma cart.

Using parts and pieces from discarded Office furniture and cabinets, and parts from a discarded lightweight two-wheel dolly, I built this new cart. All parts are bolted together.

The upper shelf has a hole cut in it in the rear back corner for an Argon/CO2 bottle. There is room for a wire welder and plasma cutter as well. In the storage area below, the doors below keep dust away from welding helment, spools of wire and supplies.

Hammer-finish spray paint: $16
Gas Grill Cover for Cart Dust Cover: $5

Total cost of cart: $21

Bill

[fdburner]

thx again

I want to say thanks again Bill, I think the best projects always come from other peoples projects. Just like how cars have developed through thte years, imagine if every car maker had to start from a blank page. Every great thing started somewhere, and usually came from someone elses good idea. I have enjoyed the hammer finish paints in my workshop for a very long time, if you guys have never looked at this stuff, you should definately check it out. The first time I used it was painting a old rolling tool chest I got when My grandfather passed away. I did not want to attempt to make it look like a new chest, but wanted to protect it from the elements. This was the perfect product. Bill thanks agiain for the continued inspiration. I have another great cart idea to work with.

[Sherwoodchoppers]

Frame Table?

What would it take to build a nice solid frame bench for bike frames? If it was a few inches think of oak or somethin. I do all tig welding so sparks wouldnt be a problem. That workbench is the sweetest thing ever, nice job man.

[Glenn B]

workbench

Thats one sweet workbench!!!!!!!

[BilljustBill]

Thanks

Thanks for the compliment. The key to build things is to "gather" your supplies ahead of time and when you find them for pennies on the dollar. Keeping your ideas in your head so you'll know what you'll need will help with costs and knowing what to look for....
Flea markets, surplus stores, and commercial remodel sites are great places to get your supplies or parts for pennies on the dollar, and sometimes, for free.

You're never too old to "Dumpster Dive"....

Bill