When I last cleared out the barn a couple of years ago I built a good sized workbench along the back wall. It's 1m deep, 1m high and about 9.5m long! Problem is, I was being tight (it's the fraction of Scottish blood ) so elected to make it from 3mm sheet on top of 20mm chipboard. Works great for light welding and general work but is hopeless for hammering stuff on. Plus, I've set the chipboard on fire a couple of times when the earth clamp gets a bit warm!
So, I'm going to make a new, smaller one that will be on castors and will fit neatly under the current bench. I've spoken to my steel supplier and, most fortuitously, he had some 80x80x3 SHS returned to him in 9' lengths earlier in the week so I've taken eight of them off his hands for a tenner a piece. They should make a good frame.
I've also got a price for 6, 8 and 10mm plate off him (£71, £94, £117 ex. VAT). Problem is, I can't find a definitive answer as to what thickness to go for. OK, well I'm not expecting someone to say 'it must be this thickness' but I should've thought there're a few people here who've built them and I was wondering what the general concensus on min. thickness is. Personally, I think 6mm is cutting it a bit fine so that leaves a choice of 8 or 10mm. Any ideas?
I'll try and get the sheet on Monday then I'll have a good project to occupy my on that most boring day of the year, Boxing Day! I might even take the opportunity to hone my limited arc skills...
So, I'm going to make a new, smaller one that will be on castors and will fit neatly under the current bench. I've spoken to my steel supplier and, most fortuitously, he had some 80x80x3 SHS returned to him in 9' lengths earlier in the week so I've taken eight of them off his hands for a tenner a piece. They should make a good frame.
I've also got a price for 6, 8 and 10mm plate off him (£71, £94, £117 ex. VAT). Problem is, I can't find a definitive answer as to what thickness to go for. OK, well I'm not expecting someone to say 'it must be this thickness' but I should've thought there're a few people here who've built them and I was wondering what the general concensus on min. thickness is. Personally, I think 6mm is cutting it a bit fine so that leaves a choice of 8 or 10mm. Any ideas?
I'll try and get the sheet on Monday then I'll have a good project to occupy my on that most boring day of the year, Boxing Day! I might even take the opportunity to hone my limited arc skills...