New bench.

[KimB]

So I have been planning this bench for a little while. I ordered 2.5mm sheet and three lengths of 30mm box.
I didn’t want anything to extreme for the time being, when I do my garage I’ll built something more substantial. For specifically welding.
Anyway, so this was such an awkward job. I should’ve done this before moving everything in. I had no room and trying to make something so big square in such a small space was super hard.

As you can all see, I made it so I could level it and take it anywhere I’d like. I made a shelf underneath on the right and will be enclosing the compressor when I get some more wood.

I had the top sheered and folded for £30 at my local fabricators which was a nice touch for the final result. I also gave it a quick once over with some stone chip paint on the whole underside.

I’m going to buy a scotch pad disk and clean the top. Any idea what I can use to stop the top rusting?

Thanks

 

[magnet]

That's a cracking job...............Nice one

 

[KimB]

Also before I get comments about how I should’ve capped or done 45deg cuts on the whole top frame. It was much to hard trying to square it up as it was without doing that. It’s all covered and makes no difference now.

I am however so pleased to finally have a bench after 6months of doing things on the floor

 

[dholdi]

Nice work

 

[SteScouse]

Great bench

 

[Turbo]

Nice bench but I would be cautious about boxing in the compressor too much as it will run hotter, not good for the compressor & you get more moisture in the airline!

 

[KimB]

Nice bench but I would be cautious about boxing in the compressor too much as it will run hotter, not good for the compressor & you get more moisture in the airline!

I’ve got some plans with that and re plumbing the standard plumbing, incorporating an air cooler before it hits the tank.

 

[fizzy]

Really nice work Kim.
I agree though about airflow with the compressor.
Simple fix - when you run it use a nice big desk/drum fan or similar to blow extra air onto it.

 

[gaz1]

also you have caused an issue with the compressor not able to get enough flow of cold air across it

best if you could turn the compressor around for a better flow front to back of the shed

they say it does cool air before the tank using an after cooler but id advise really researching into it before you do kim

 

[Turbo]

I also like your grinder rack, I store my grinders on the wall behind the bench on a similar rack but I might have to put one on the end of the bench as well now I've seen your setup. That location keeps the bench clear but leaves the grinder easy to get at.

What do you think of the Makita cordless grinder? We just got one for the Men's Shed & I borrowed it last weekend to 'test it. I was very impressed, ours has variable speed & on low speed setting it was great for delicate work but if you leaned too hard you could hear the grinder speeding up according to the load you put on it, supposed to extend the battery life. On full power it's as good as an electric one, until the battery runs out.

Can I give you a couple of tips? Throw a cover over your halfords toolbox when you're welding/grinding. The grinding dust gets into the runners & it's a pig to get them running free again!

Get some child safety protectors for your 13a plugs. Keeps the grinding dust out when there's nothing plugged in. You could also use a spare 13a plug, easier to remove.

 

[stuvy]

@Turbo i have a makita cordless grinder I got it from my mate that upgraded to a Milwaukee fuel

It’s so quiet I can use it at home and the neighbours don’t mind compared to my other ones

 

[Scruffywelder]

Nice work Kim!

If possible consider moving your rollcab away from where it is in the pics. From personal experience I find that a wee inaccessible corner like that on a bench tends to turn into the workshop dead zone in no time.

 

[123hotchef]

I just use oil or WD40 on my benchs to keep the rust at bay, it will only be surface rust anyway nothing a lick of the grinder wont remove in a few seconds, oh and the bench looks great, now you need a nice stool so you can sit at it.

 

[bricol]

In 30yrs I've never had an issue with dust in sockets - the inbuilt shields must keep it out. I've be wary of having some crappy kid "safety" protectors keeping them open and letting crap in, never mind having to pull them out every time you want to use the socket.

(Mind you, when I first started playing in the garage, my dad (who worked from home, but had just had a stroke) had a metal bodied Black and Decker drill with no switch - wired to run as soon as it was plugged in. But no plug. Screwdriver in the earth to push the shield down, shove the wires in, remove screwdriver. Shield kept the wires in until it jammed or you wanted to stop, when you pulled the cable . . . as a less than heavily built teenager, that was a vital safety feature to stop me and the drill rotating around a jammed, blunt, bit!

I've managed to afford plugs ever since though. Buying a drill with a switch was a dream come true )

Only comment about the compressor - it'll be a git to get out if you need to . . .remove the front cross member - bench will still be fine without it. I'd stick some spreader plates under the feet though - stop them pushing into the timber floor. Weld 'em to the feet and screw them to the floor to help stop it moving when you are working at the vice.

As for stopping it rusting - paint it. Yes, where you work it will come off - but working on it will keep it clear of rust. And the bits you hide under the stuff you "temporarily" leave on it will still be painted.

 

[Ashley Burton]

Looks alright to me!

I had a sheet metal top on my previous work bench, But I did have 1" + of timber under it to take away the sound when hammering away. Otherwise you might need some ear defenders

 

[123hotchef]

I would not paint it makes earthing the work easier ;-) just attach the clamp to the bench leg away you go

 

[KimB]

I also like your grinder rack, I store my grinders on the wall behind the bench on a similar rack but I might have to put one on the end of the bench as well now I've seen your setup. That location keeps the bench clear but leaves the grinder easy to get at.

What do you think of the Makita cordless grinder? We just got one for the Men's Shed & I borrowed it last weekend to 'test it. I was very impressed, ours has variable speed & on low speed setting it was great for delicate work but if you leaned too hard you could hear the grinder speeding up according to the load you put on it, supposed to extend the battery life. On full power it's as good as an electric one, until the battery runs out.

Can I give you a couple of tips? Throw a cover over your halfords toolbox when you're welding/grinding. The grinding dust gets into the runners & it's a pig to get them running free again!

Get some child safety protectors for your 13a plugs. Keeps the grinding dust out when there's nothing plugged in. You could also use a spare 13a plug, easier to remove.

I love my little grinder, I bought this one first which is brushed one, it was £70 I think. I planned on testing it and seeing how good it is, I was going to buy a brushed one but I think they all have the soft start and I really don’t care for soft start function.
I generally only use it for a cutting disk and flap disk. I’m going to buy at least one more, maybe two so I don’t have to switch wheels. I can then get rid of all of my corded ones.

Nice work Kim!

If possible consider moving your rollcab away from where it is in the pics. From personal experience I find that a wee inaccessible corner like that on a bench tends to turn into the workshop dead zone in no time.

I did think about that but unfortunately I can’t do that . It’s okay though.

In 30yrs I've never had an issue with dust in sockets - the inbuilt shields must keep it out. I've be wary of having some *NO SWEARING ON THIS FORUM* kid "safety" protectors keeping them open and letting *NO SWEARING ON THIS FORUM* in, never mind having to pull them out every time you want to use the socket.

(Mind you, when I first started playing in the garage, my dad (who worked from home, but had just had a stroke) had a metal bodied Black and Decker drill with no switch - wired to run as soon as it was plugged in. But no plug. Screwdriver in the earth to push the shield down, shove the wires in, remove screwdriver. Shield kept the wires in until it jammed or you wanted to stop, when you pulled the cable . . . as a less than heavily built teenager, that was a vital safety feature to stop me and the drill rotating around a jammed, blunt, bit!

I've managed to afford plugs ever since though. Buying a drill with a switch was a dream come true )

Only comment about the compressor - it'll be a git to get out if you need to . . .remove the front cross member - bench will still be fine without it. I'd stick some spreader plates under the feet though - stop them pushing into the timber floor. Weld 'em to the feet and screw them to the floor to help stop it moving when you are working at the vice.

As for stopping it rusting - paint it. Yes, where you work it will come off - but working on it will keep it clear of rust. And the bits you hide under the stuff you "temporarily" leave on it will still be painted.

The bench slides straight past the compressor. The left hand end legs don’t have a lower connecting bar. But obviously you cannot see that. The compressor is actually wider than half the bench so it wouldn’t fit out the side without a lot of wiggling.

I would not paint it makes earthing the work easier ;-) just attach the clamp to the bench leg away you go

Already painted it. The top is not painted and I can clamp the earth clamp on the front face of the bench. Behind the front face is the 30mm box frame so no issues with earthing.

 

[addjunkie]

Proper job, well thought out, only addition Id suggest, is a socket on the front below the bench, saves annoying cable over your work area.

 

[arther dailey]

Also before I get comments about how I should’ve capped or done 45deg cuts on the whole top frame. It was much to hard trying to square it up as it was without doing that. It’s all covered and makes no difference now.

I am however so pleased to finally have a bench after 6months of doing things on the floor

does anyone do mitred joints on a bench like this ? thought that was just wood work

 

[KimB]

Proper job, well thought out, only addition Id suggest, is a socket on the front below the bench, saves annoying cable over your work area.

I will be adding one. I’m also going to move the 32a plug and he 16a plug to the end of the bench.