I've half completed a work table.
Usual 50mm square by 3mm box section. The top square has 45 degree mitred corners so there's no ugly open ends on show. This is a first for me. I cut and welded the top last week and got round to adding the legs and lower tie in pieces today. Everything cut on the bandsaw. It's going to go in my shed which has double doors so I should be able to get it in.
The plan was for a five-foot by four-foot working area. The frame is six inches smaller in both dimensions to allow for a three-inch overhang for the top. I haven't decided what to use for the top. Whatever's cheap that I can lay my hands on will have to do. I might need to put a supporting piece across the middle depending on the material used for the top but I'm trying to keep the weight down. I'm tempted to add a shallow drawer underneath to allow tools to be tidied away into it to keep the top clutter-free. One side of the frame has been left open so I can comfortably get my feet under if needed.
Some build pics as I went along.
One of my better MIG welds. They were a mixed bunch but I generally improved as I got more comfortable during the day.
I know, I know! Wrap your corners. Maybe in my next life.
A bit of assistance called for below to keep everything where it should be and not where it wants to be. Everything bloody moves once a bit of weld is applied. It's not quite square everywhere but it's close enough. Adjustable feet make all my inaccuracies go away anyway.
Final thing done today was to cut these squares of 3mm strip, they will hold the nuts for the threaded feet to ensure I can get the top straight and level. They still need drilling in the middle and welding down each side onto the legs. I have posed one on an offcut below. They are cut narrower that the box section so I have a nice little joint to weld into.
I've gone and ordered a fabrication square today which would have really helped with the build. It looks like this. (Ebay pic, not mine) It allows me to clamp the box section to keep everything held at 90 degrees. There's a nice cut away in the corner to make room for weld beads too. I always do this, buying stuff after completing the job.
Usual 50mm square by 3mm box section. The top square has 45 degree mitred corners so there's no ugly open ends on show. This is a first for me. I cut and welded the top last week and got round to adding the legs and lower tie in pieces today. Everything cut on the bandsaw. It's going to go in my shed which has double doors so I should be able to get it in.
The plan was for a five-foot by four-foot working area. The frame is six inches smaller in both dimensions to allow for a three-inch overhang for the top. I haven't decided what to use for the top. Whatever's cheap that I can lay my hands on will have to do. I might need to put a supporting piece across the middle depending on the material used for the top but I'm trying to keep the weight down. I'm tempted to add a shallow drawer underneath to allow tools to be tidied away into it to keep the top clutter-free. One side of the frame has been left open so I can comfortably get my feet under if needed.
Some build pics as I went along.
One of my better MIG welds. They were a mixed bunch but I generally improved as I got more comfortable during the day.
I know, I know! Wrap your corners. Maybe in my next life.
A bit of assistance called for below to keep everything where it should be and not where it wants to be. Everything bloody moves once a bit of weld is applied. It's not quite square everywhere but it's close enough. Adjustable feet make all my inaccuracies go away anyway.
Final thing done today was to cut these squares of 3mm strip, they will hold the nuts for the threaded feet to ensure I can get the top straight and level. They still need drilling in the middle and welding down each side onto the legs. I have posed one on an offcut below. They are cut narrower that the box section so I have a nice little joint to weld into.
I've gone and ordered a fabrication square today which would have really helped with the build. It looks like this. (Ebay pic, not mine) It allows me to clamp the box section to keep everything held at 90 degrees. There's a nice cut away in the corner to make room for weld beads too. I always do this, buying stuff after completing the job.
) here are some links that the interested might find useful...
