boonman Posted December 22, 2003 Report Share Posted December 22, 2003 Well, I kind of got a handle on the workbench situation. I am pretty stoked. Here's the specs. Top height is 36", and it is 23.5"x94" long. it will have a 14" backdrop, and I haven't installed the middle shelf. The top piece is 3/8" thick 304 stainless. Best part is, I got it all for free!!!!!! I used 2"x2" mechanical tubing to make up the frame. The hex bolts that currently hold it down will be replaced with stainless steel Flathead cap screws. The bottom shelf will have a 23.5"x48" piece of 3/8" plate bolted in place as well. Same as the top. I brushed some good ol' Rust oleum satin black paint on it, and she looks stellar. it will be ancchored to the floor. I have a bunch more stainless plates that I will be making into workbenches in the future. Hopefully I will have enough room in the new shop for them.... Here's some pics.. DOn't mind the ridiculous mess in the garage...... In the background you can see the small block blazer that is currently waiting for me to rebuild the drivetrain. Which was the primary need for the new workbench in a hurry. I have to rebuild the tranny, and nowhere to lay it out.... In front of it, is the smaller stainless plate. Hopefully, the new shee drag motor will be next in line to go up on the new surface!!!! Man, simple things excite me these days..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
InFlames Posted December 22, 2003 Report Share Posted December 22, 2003 nice! I can easily picture a pair of banshee cases sitting on top of there, I lay mine on the floor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frocashmoney24 Posted December 22, 2003 Report Share Posted December 22, 2003 damn thats a really sweet work bench our is wood and it gets holes n shit in it, how long di dit take to make Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cotton eyed Joe Posted December 23, 2003 Report Share Posted December 23, 2003 /me plugs ears, shuts eyes. SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP j/k I so badly need a decent workbench. I've actually got 3 or 4, but there are other projects going on at the same time all laying around here and there. I need a decent stainless bench that I can put Banshee only stuff on. It would have to be big though. Booon, what would you recommend for a bench top?? I can build the frame out of wood easily, if I know what size of stainless (guage or thickness) would work out well. I'm thinking 1/8 would suffice for my smaller projects. then make it about 2.5-3.0 feet by about 6-8 feet long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ikikazz Posted December 23, 2003 Report Share Posted December 23, 2003 i gotta alot of work benches... in my room is the best one of all, but sadly gets used the least. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cotton eyed Joe Posted December 23, 2003 Report Share Posted December 23, 2003 i gotta alot of work benches... in my room is the best one of all, but sadly gets used the least. LOL well that work bench gets used often enough. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Screamin_Demon Posted December 23, 2003 Report Share Posted December 23, 2003 nice setup Boon.... anxious to see what else you have in mind. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boonman Posted December 23, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 23, 2003 How long did it take to make? It took me about 3 hours to go get the material, and load/unload it all. It took about 4 hours to cut the frame material and weld it all together. It took about another hour or so to get the fram home and into the garage and cleaned up. it took about an hour to get the plate on top of the frame and bolted down half assed. It took another hour to paint it. I still have to bolt it down completely and get the bottom plate on. Keep in mind this was all done by myself, and the finishing of it, (mounting the plate and painting) was done while I had a wicked sinus infection/bronchitis and was constantly damn near passing out. Could have been all the kerosene fumes as well..... It was perty cold outside.... Booon, what would you recommend for a bench top?? I can build the frame out of wood easily, if I know what size of stainless (guage or thickness) would work out well. I'm thinking 1/8 would suffice for my smaller projects. then make it about 2.5-3.0 feet by about 6-8 feet long. Well, depending on what you like, You could do it several different ways. I myself do not like having a pussy ass workbench. When I clamp something in a vice, (yet to be installed!!) I do not want the bench moving all around. That's why I am anchoring it to the floor. Also, wood framed work benches, while they are cheap, SUCK. Wood flexes. That's why I built the frame from steel. I used 2x2x.125 wall tubing for the top, and .0625 wall for the legs and bottom framework. I just checked our last P.O. at the shop, and 288' of 2x2x.125 wall tubing was $267 delivered. That's less than a dollar a foot. I used I think about 35' of material. That's a cheap frame. You could spend that in wood and screws alone... And the sheer strength of a steel frame is well worth the extra cost. On the top plate Stan, I would not go less than 1/8" thick. I would think that 1/8" would be stout enough, but I would rather see some 3/16" in there. My 3/8" is wicked overkill, but, hey, it's free. I checked out alot of people's benches in various shops, and found them all to be from 1.5'-3' wide. The material I got just happened to be about 2'. It is a realy nice, manageable width. I would have liked to have about a 2.5' wide though. I wouldn't go over 8' long, unless you have a long wall to put it on. A backdrop is nice to have, unless this bench will be in the middle of a floor and getting used from all sides. Sometimes, shit rolls off the back of the banch, and pisses you off. So, a backdrop is useful to prevent such occurences, and what not. Also provides a nice place to mount some outlets...... 6'-8' is a perfect length. I went 8'. Looks like it is gonna be right fine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogboystoy Posted December 23, 2003 Report Share Posted December 23, 2003 Nice Bench, Good thing you arent planning on moving it any time soon. That must weigh a ton. I bet it would last through a Nuclear War. I, myself, am planning on making a bench, but for wood working. I hope to acquire a nice 2" butcher block top. McMaster carr has exactly what I need but i dont want to spend 200 bones on it. So I may be able to steal one from work. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boonman Posted December 24, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 24, 2003 So I may be able to steal one from work. Ahemmmm!!! *cough* You should "borrow" one from work........ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogboystoy Posted December 24, 2003 Report Share Posted December 24, 2003 Yea thats it, I mean borrow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boonman Posted December 26, 2003 Author Report Share Posted December 26, 2003 I got it almost completed!!! I got the backdrop on it Christmas eve, and drilled and countersunk some bolts to hold the top plate down. I slid the middle shelf plate in there, and I still have to anchor it down. I have to find a good vice to put on there, but it should be coming together by the end of the weekend. We'll see. That shit is a PITA to drill holes in with caveman drills and wood bits... Maybe if I summon the drill gods I can "borrow" a drill or two from work... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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