Hey Guys
So i found myself a 4x8 of 1" plate to make myself a new fab table at home. problem is my shop isnt of sufficient size to have it completely stationary. Putting it on wheels isnt really a problem but it does cut down on its usefulness because even with wheel locks it still wont be as stable as id like it. What i want to do is build some sort of framework that allows me to use something like a bottle jack to push down a framework with the wheels attached and lift the four solid legs up just an inch or two so that i can roll the whole set up in and out of the shop. Anybody have or seen something along these lines? I think i know what i have to do to make it work but i would really appreciate some input and further ideas. thankyou
Joe
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"BIG" Joe
This is the attitude we should ALL have
originally posted by Greywolf
"If I can really get this thing together it will either scatter itself in a million pieces or be the fastest pickup truck on earth."
My first thought was a cheap quick and dirty redneck idea. Get four small hydraulic jacks from Harbor Freight. Weld a caster wheel to each jacking point. Turn them upside down and weld the jacks to the legs of your welding bench.
My next idea was to build a scissors type undercarriage like an ambulance gurney. That would probably take two jacks because they would have to push from each side rather than have one in the middle that retracted. Now if you build an electric hydraulic pump into your bench then you could use a singe double acting hydraulic cylinder for the scissors.
But I have to ask... what in gawd's name are you building at home that you need 1" plate for your welding bench? We have two heavy duty workbenches at work and they are only 1/4"!
hmm im liking this. I actually know where there is a hospital bed, one of the heavy ones, with the scissor setup still intact. might go take another look at that.
As for the thickness, its not often you some across a 4x8 of 1" plate for $200. i couldnt pass it up, and its a lot better for working on. you can pry on stuff and reef on it and the table doesnt slide around. all of the tables at my actual work are 3/8 and now that they have been used for about 5 years they are worn out, warped and guys grinding on them have made them inaccurate for anything that requires precision and speed. the place where i got this table from has some 6'x12'x1 1/2" tables but i figured that was a little overkill for me at this point. i like the idea of a scissor jack though, i think i will play around with that a bit.
Yeah theoretically it should way 1305.6lbs plus the weight of the legs and lifting mechanism and likely a heavy vise.
The three leg idea is something that would be easier for everytime you move it but i think i will leave the ready rod levellers they have on each leg for now. little bit more of a pain because it will have to be set every time you move it but no worries of it ever tipping if something really heavy shifted in the wrong place
__________________
"BIG" Joe
This is the attitude we should ALL have
originally posted by Greywolf
"If I can really get this thing together it will either scatter itself in a million pieces or be the fastest pickup truck on earth."
I built my assembly table from some 4" square tubing and 1/2" plate for the surface and then mounted 4 1" dia. air cylinders (one per leg). To the bottom of the air cylinders I attached a 1" diameter ball caster. I connected all the air cylinders with 1/4" plastic tubing and when I want to meve the table I simply attach my air hose to a central connection and the table rolls on the ball casters. You can probably find all the stuff you need here: WWW.surpluscenter.com
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2002 F350 7.3 Ltr. 6sp.DRW 170K miles, 13' service body W/2200 # Venco hoist, Air compressor,10KW welder/generator, Air Horns, ceiling mtd CB W/250W Amp, Exhaust brake, Aux. Idle Control and Vac. operated hot water control.
1952 F1 flathead Project Truck
(It's got eight cylinders and I use them all )
Here is my outdoor welding table at work. It increases the length of the table which is 4'x10'. But more importantly, gives room for torch, saw or plasma cutting. It is an extending slide out. Yeah, I know it is painted. The other end where I do most of my work is (was) bare rusted metal. Just recently, one of the guys who fancies himself a painter and loves to suck up the OT, repainted the table. Including the top. I bitched him out and told him how his nice epoxy paint was going to get ground off.
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We have two heavy duty workbenches at work and they are only 1/4"!
