Aluminium Workshop Bin

[Jigantor]

Every workshop needs a bin.
For housing waste be it scrap metal, filings, swarf or mistakes.
I have just constructed a new workshop/Welding bay and need a metal bin for all of the above reasons. I rang all the major hardwares and the machinery shop, I then rang an industrial cleaning supply company but alas none had a small metal bin.

They all had plastic bins and some had S/S bins with plastic liners.
No good when a red hot piece of metal is tossed into it.

I used aluminium tread plate for the flooring of my workshop and had a few pieces of scrap left over. I thought why don't I make my own bin out of the same material as the flooring.
Custom job.

Ji

[Jigantor]

I marked up the 1.4mm alloy tread plate and folded it in my panbrake.

Ji

[Jigantor]

This stuff folds pretty easy and looks great.

Ji

[Jigantor]

I placed the tail of my scrap into my home made shear and cut to length.

Ji

[Jigantor]

I then clamped the folded sides together.

Ji

[Jigantor]

I then switched on the TIG welder and let it warm up for 30 minutes before welding up the side joint.

Ji

[Jigantor]

I then cut and clamped in the bottom and started welding.

Ji

[Jigantor]

With the bottom welded in the bin was complete.

Ji

[Jigantor]

My alloy welding is getting better and the panbrake broadens what I can make.

Ji

[Schnellboot]

Great job Ji! You just remainded me I have to do one for my shop as well.

Your tig looks well.Trying to keep the bead on a straight line is difficult to me, how do you do it?

thank´s!

Regards:

[letzgoracin301]

not to jack your thread but trans fluid drums which are usually about 20 gal drums work AWESOME just call up some local shops sure you could find one.

[Jigantor]

Hi Jerónimo,
I find that part easy,
Just position your torch hand so it runs with the joint.
These outside edge welds lend themselves to this style.
Keep up the practise it is worth it.
A metal bin does not sound like a hard thing to find for sale but it can be.

Ji

[Jigantor]

Hi Letzgoaracin,
In the begining I was after any kind of a metal bin for sale. Then I wanted something shiny like alloy or stainless steel. In the end I would have settled for just about any kind of metal but there was none for sale.
Friends did suggest using a 20 litre oil drum but after they saw my floor retracted their recommendation.

Ji

[Jigantor]

Bin two after being folded and clamped ready to have the side seam welded up.

Ji

[Jigantor]

The alloy angle I use to square up the side seam also acts like a heat sink and helpd remove some heat from the 1.4mm bin material.

Ji