We doin work benches?

Any one make a work bench(es)? or customize your work area? Post picks and tell us about it. Learn anything? would you do anything different?

Did not need to make one but was bored and looking for something to do. I don't know how to weld so please go easy. I was looking for a taller surface so as to not be hunched over when working on parts, needed a vice, and wanted some low shelves in addition to a new tool box so I threw this together.

Some places I messed up or learned was I made it too tall at first and then had to cut it shorter and then re-attach the top. Got a pic below of the top cut off with the length I wanted to remove. Then I didn't really think through the shelves. I should have looked up a better way to do them. They were built inside this thing which was a pain and were in general just done in a very unintelligent way.

Also all wheels swivel. Two should be straight. This was intentional and a huge mistake.

sorry too many pics

 

Very nice!

 

I'm a cabinet maker by profession for over 30 years, I also know how to weld.

For someone who doesn't build workbenches and doesn't know how to weld I think you did a fine job.

The main thing I would have done different other than measure twice and cut/build once is I would have bolted the wheels on rather than weld them, so it easy to replace them when they wear out.

 

Hey thanks @AuSeeker That's very nice of you to say. Yeah that's smart to do bolt on wheels. Maybe should have made a post or asked around a little before jumping in.

 

All's not lost, if you ever have to replace the wheels a little angle grinding will remove the wheels.

 

Nice job, looks great! It’s nice to make sure that measurements are right and details are perfectly figured out before starting, but that is a major hang-up for me because I never end up starting. Or the simplest thing takes forever because I’m trying to anticipate every last potential issue. Sometimes you just have to figure out along the way or just learn for next time. Well done!

 

Hi Crow. Awesome work. There’s nothing better than making it yourself and having it just the way you want it! I’ve built lots of stuff. I’m not a certified welder, but I’ve picked up some tips over the years. I welded up lots of carts back in my studio days.

Here’s a welding cart I made. It’s low so it can fit under a counter. It’s mostly box tubing, but there’s a piece of round tubing at each end so two guys can heft it into the back of a truck without unloading it.


And here’s a rolling drill press stand with a cabinet underneath.


I notice you welded the open ends of your tubing closed. I’ve done that before and I never liked the way it turned out. Now I prefer to design such that the open ends are on the vertical pieces. The open ends on top are covered by the work surface. The ends on the bottom are unseen. Where that’s not possible I use plastic caps sized for the box tubing. In that case I cut the tubing a little shorter so that the end of the cap will be flush with the rest of the piece.


Also when I add the wok surface I always like to leave an overhang all around to facilitate clamping.

I find that no matter how long it’s been since I welded I can always make decent welds with good penetration. But making pretty welds seems to be a perishable skill, at least for me. It always takes a little while to get back in the groove.

More later.

 

https://www.4runners.com/threads/post-your-tools.276/page-3#post-484325

 

Daaaaaang dawg. That's very cool. Your not messing around.

We'll I'm coming back to this thread when I buy a house and get to do what ever I want to my garage.....and going to copy a lot of what you did there. Thanks for posting.