As I do every year around this time, when it's too cold to spend any length of time in shop,
I take an inventory of tools that did not make the grade (just didn't get enough use out of).
They get Craiglisted (receipts gladly given :gar-Bi). Then use money to get new :tool:'s
One item not making the "Cut" :wsmile:, or getting cut from roster, is my workbench.
More accurately, my PARK BENCH. It's just more where things sit, than get used:
It's a great bench, classic in form and function. But, with the type of work I like to do, I really need:gar-La;, something like these:
So begins my journey:
To build a custom worktable to better fit my needs. So, I'm attempting to build what I call,
Kreg meets Festool on PEDS. Storage, plus the Kreg and Festool Features all in one bench.
I start out humbly enough, using only items that can be purchased at Big Box, and WW stores.
The list includes:
-1 inch EMT steel tubing (approx 30 ft) Shown in pic are some cut offs
-4 1/2 in washers and nuts ( to be welded onto bottom of EMT, for adustable feet/wheels)
-2 4ft Red Aluminum Extrusions that accommodate T-Track accessories.
-2 4ft holed Angle Iron
-2 2 X 4 ft MDF 3/4 in thick
-Approx 15 ft of Wood for top ( 1in thick X 3in wide) still in design phase
- 4 Double Locking Casters from WC ( Optional)
So far that's all I have accumulated. There may be some misc things, but that should be most of it.
Let's see what I end up with!
Day 1:
Spent approx 5 hrs (leisurely, I take alot of breaks, but bill accordingly:gar-Bi).
Trip to Borg for most of materials.
Spent time Cutting EMT for legs, welding (yes welding) washers to nuts, to bottom of EMT pipe.
Connected the Angle Iron to 2X4 mdf and then to the legs:
Don't let the "rough" ness fool you, I plan to smooth, prime and paint (T/B shown later during process). Not sure If Im going to Laminate the MDF (white lam) Optional.
Day 2 will be to weld (yes Weld) crossbars, both top and mid/lower for lateral strength.
Now some may ask, why Steel/Mdf ?
The reason Im not building a traditional wooden bench is two fold.
Time and Materials. This Knockdown approach will save me time to work on other more important WWing projects. This, therefore, saves materials for those other projects.
I will post as WIP goes forward.
Thanks for Looking (comments / questions welcome!)
Splint
I take an inventory of tools that did not make the grade (just didn't get enough use out of).
They get Craiglisted (receipts gladly given :gar-Bi). Then use money to get new :tool:'s
One item not making the "Cut" :wsmile:, or getting cut from roster, is my workbench.
More accurately, my PARK BENCH. It's just more where things sit, than get used:
It's a great bench, classic in form and function. But, with the type of work I like to do, I really need:gar-La;, something like these:
So begins my journey:
To build a custom worktable to better fit my needs. So, I'm attempting to build what I call,
Kreg meets Festool on PEDS. Storage, plus the Kreg and Festool Features all in one bench.
I start out humbly enough, using only items that can be purchased at Big Box, and WW stores.
The list includes:
-1 inch EMT steel tubing (approx 30 ft) Shown in pic are some cut offs
-4 1/2 in washers and nuts ( to be welded onto bottom of EMT, for adustable feet/wheels)
-2 4ft Red Aluminum Extrusions that accommodate T-Track accessories.
-2 4ft holed Angle Iron
-2 2 X 4 ft MDF 3/4 in thick
-Approx 15 ft of Wood for top ( 1in thick X 3in wide) still in design phase
- 4 Double Locking Casters from WC ( Optional)
So far that's all I have accumulated. There may be some misc things, but that should be most of it.
Let's see what I end up with!
Day 1:
Spent approx 5 hrs (leisurely, I take alot of breaks, but bill accordingly:gar-Bi).
Trip to Borg for most of materials.
Spent time Cutting EMT for legs, welding (yes welding) washers to nuts, to bottom of EMT pipe.
Connected the Angle Iron to 2X4 mdf and then to the legs:
Don't let the "rough" ness fool you, I plan to smooth, prime and paint (T/B shown later during process). Not sure If Im going to Laminate the MDF (white lam) Optional.
Day 2 will be to weld (yes Weld) crossbars, both top and mid/lower for lateral strength.
Now some may ask, why Steel/Mdf ?
The reason Im not building a traditional wooden bench is two fold.
Time and Materials. This Knockdown approach will save me time to work on other more important WWing projects. This, therefore, saves materials for those other projects.
I will post as WIP goes forward.
Thanks for Looking (comments / questions welcome!)
Splint