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View Full Version : Turn the family dining table into a rolling work-bench!



maveRick
07-14-2002, 02:38 PM
or

<CENTER> "A PoMoFo's ROLLING WORK BENCH"</CENTER>


Who needs a dining table anyway? The wife never cooks, the kids are never home, everyone eats their pizza in the TV room – that table is just wasted kindeling that could be put to good use!

Start by obtaining a kitchen table. :D

Secondly go to Harbor Freight where they have casters on-sale now for like a buck ninety-nine a piece.

Get two swivel casters (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/38700-38799/38711-t.gif) and two non-swivel casters (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/photos/38700-38799/38708-t.gif).

Go to your local lumber yard and look through the irregular-cut wood and receive, at no (as in my case) or very-little charge, a sheet of plywood (3/8" or thicker depending on span). Insist that 'homey' (Home Depo employee) cut it to size. Never mind the fact that the lumber was free - the sign reads ‘First Two Cuts Free". Threaten to call the district manager if necessary (note: if that doesn't work, break out into a fake teret spell - plywood dust will start flying quicker than a cat can lick it's ass).

Back home, look through your coffee-can of miscellaneous bolts/nuts/washers/syringes and find enough to almost complete the job.

Borrow your neighbor’s drill (don’t forget, you still have his chuck from the last time you borrowed it so remember to say “Oh, I don’t need a chuck – I’ve got two pair of vise grips”).

One six-pack of your favorite flavored kool-aid.

With those tools, combined with a positive attitude and knack for telling bold-faced lies (“I have NO idea what happened to the dining table, Honey”!) you’ll have a small workbench that you can easily put your friend’s chop-saw and welder on and move it in and out of the garage when you wanna get away from the family!


I’ll let the pics speak for themselves on the “Assembly destructions” (just remember to put both non-swivel casters on ONE side of the table!):

<center>http://users3.ev1.net/~rickbook/album1/table1.jpg
http://users3.ev1.net/~rickbook/album1/table2.jpg
http://users3.ev1.net/~rickbook/album1/table3.jpg

Estimated total cost to build:

4 casters - 6 bux
plywood - 0 bux
miscellaneous fasteners - 0 bux
kithchen table - zilch
Budweiser - 5 smackers

Grand Total 11 Georges


Now get out off your lazy ass, have fun, and most importantly,


<center>“WATCH 'EM FANGERS!”</center>

maveRick
07-14-2002, 02:48 PM
Actually, this thing works really well. It was an old breakfast table that had been my workbench up till now.

It's going to be part of my 'big plan'. It'll slip into a space next to my soon-to-build permanently mounted workbench. I cut the legs to ensure the height of the table top is level with (edit) a rolling toll-tray (32" high). Also, the depth of the table (31") determined the depth of the soon-to-build workbench.

Additions:

a) I'm going to cut out (2) slots in the outer boarder to use as handles to move the table around easier. (edit:edge not wide enough)

b) Semi-permanently mount the cut-off saw on top and the welder to the bottom so I can move the equipment to the work.

c) Add 1X6's along the bottom perimeter of the lower shelf to prevent 'stuff' from falling off.

d) Cover the tile top with lynoleum. (edit: see Aluminum instead below)


Any other suggestions on additions/enhancements, guys?

grass
07-15-2002, 08:45 AM
cup holder :p

Traceman
07-15-2002, 11:06 AM
Originally posted by maveRick

d) Cover the tile top with lynoleum.


Any other suggestions on additions/enhancements, guys?




I have a problem with a linoleum work surface and a cutoff saw and welder being used anywhere near it. I took a piece of .040 aluminum sheet and formed it around my workbench (old metal desk). This way you can weld small parts right on it and the splatter does not melt into anything or stick to the aluminum.

I may be interpreting your use wrong but just trying to keep out a fire hazard.

maveRick
07-15-2002, 01:26 PM
Originally posted by Traceman
I have a problem with a linoleum work surface and a cutoff saw and welder being used anywhere near it. I took a piece of .040 aluminum sheet and formed it around my workbench (old metal desk). This way you can weld small parts right on it and the splatter does not melt into anything or stick to the aluminum.

I may be interpreting your use wrong but just trying to keep out a fire hazard.



Good info Trace, I was going to make a similar welding surface on my stationary bench. Only I was going to use sheet metal (both on the bench and a peice attached to the surface of the garage wall).

Was your aluminum stock easy to find? From where? Cost?



Thanks!


Rick

Traceman
07-15-2002, 04:31 PM
Originally posted by maveRick

Good info Trace, I was going to make a similar welding surface on my stationary bench. Only I was going to use sheet metal (both on the bench and a peice attached to the surface of the garage wall).

Was your aluminum stock easy to find? From where? Cost?



Thanks!


Rick


Well I had the luxury of working for a goobment contractor with a lot of left over material laying around but I am sure the sheet steel will work fine and be cheap enough. The aluminum was a little better because it will not bond with the steel when welding and the splatter would dust off easily.

Anything beside wood, paper, or plastic! LOL

Neighbors
07-17-2002, 11:29 PM
Not to be outdone (save for frugalness), I started my bench on Sunday too...

I got salvaged the 4 x 6's from a machine tool pallet, and bought the plywood (today) and casters...

I bought a sheet of pegboard to install on three sides, so I can hang more stuff off of it, like a Mardi Gras float...

Rusman
07-17-2002, 11:41 PM
My vote goes to pRick.
He's got tile!

Shaggy
07-18-2002, 11:17 PM
I think we need a roving tech day I just a parts couter that I am going to turn into a bench this weekend too.

HangNail
07-19-2002, 12:33 PM
I think we need a roving tech day I just a parts couter that I am going to turn into a bench this weekend too.

hell yeah im in

Neighbors
07-23-2002, 12:00 AM
the finished version of my creation, complete w/ Teague's T45 on top (well, most of it :))

Trkpony
07-23-2002, 12:07 AM
yah!
that thing looks like a tank,
I have no fear for my tranny falling off the edge of a table now!

Neighbors
07-23-2002, 12:07 AM
...and now, my $5 bench...(less accessories!)

...complete w/the rest of Teagues T45 :D

maveRick
07-23-2002, 08:23 AM
Originally posted by Neighbors
the finished version of my creation, complete w/ Teague's T45 on top (well, most of it :))


KOO!