So i got to build a bench....

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i'v been working on a MDF (man made wooden sheet) topped bench for a while now.kinda sucks. smell of burning  wood, and the smoke half way through a weld.so i ordered $830 worth of steel2"x2" x 1/8" box section for the legs and upper framework1/8" angle for the lower shelf support3/4" for the topSee how long it takes me to mess that up!Oh! and some 2.5"x3/16 box for "helping me move it"delivery should be early next week, but i'll be up dating this thread as i go.Cant see this bench costing less than 1K in materials alone.Course the sweat is free.Last edited by gordfraser; 06-20-2009 at 07:52 PM.G
Reply:thats one expensive bench.  please take pics during the fabrication
Reply:i feel its a lot of money, but that is a reflection of the cost of materials here. not the "fancyness" of the benchI will try to take pics with a propper camera as my phone cam just cut it.G
Reply:where is "here"?   if  you go to   "User CP"  in the upper left of this page, then select "Edit Your Details" you can put your location in so we have an idea where you are.-- fredLincoln 180C MIG
Reply:Very eastern MA.Got the bench to a useable condition for now.1st pic is of $830 of raw materials.2nd is of the frame being constructed. A friend helping to rectify a little distortion.all 2x2x1/8" square box.and all tigged....i know i must have 2 much time on my hands, but ever since i got my AM300 ac/dc i just cant get enough.Yes it is is a wood shop.3rd is the 5 year old bench that im replacing. I threw this one together very quickly...it did well.ammazing the crap you accumulate under a bench!............ Attached ImagesLast edited by gordfraser; 06-23-2009 at 06:04 PM.G
Reply:got to talk about the new hand control.without it i doubt if i would have tigged the frame together.Think i'll start another thread on this subject"great new hand remote" Attached ImagesG
Reply:here are some of the welds. (the better ones obviously)the  vertical up was done walking the cup, but the filet was freehand (i think)i moved the frame around a bit, but still did a little overhead and a lot of vertical up as it was easier than throwing the frame all over the place.130A peak 40 background. 70% on peak.DCEN 3/32 rod and red tung12CFH (ish) and a no8 gas lensWhat ARE all the othersizes of cups for?i cant remember when i couldnt fit the no 8 in anywhere, but thats probably the last time i used another size.Is there any other reason to use a different size???most of the rest either had a reflection to the flash or were out of focus.all in all i found it was good practice for my tig in varies positions instead of at a comfy bench and i didn't regret deciding on tig at all.had a problem with undercut/underfill in the vert. up butt welds and some of the fillets, but after a little more torch manipulation i resolved that. Attached ImagesG
Reply:looking good
Reply:Found another clear picture.this one was done downhand (in position) and has the undercut/underfill.not ling after this i started laying the rod almost flat in the joint and weaving slightly with the torch.  Also feeding the rod in a little. Attached ImagesG
Reply:Looks nice - good job.  Damn expensive bench, but a lot better than the wooden one, and it'll probably outlast just about anything you can think of.
Reply:here are some more.1st the frame all primed up.2nd me drying off the 3/4" top (weather sucks here...is this june 22??)3rd & 4th finished paint job.couldnt decide on what color so i did them all!!still got to trick it out, but that could take a while. Attached ImagesG
Reply:Sweet heavens, that's what $830 of raw looks like?  I should have picked a cheaper hobby...
Reply:Hi gord...very eastern Ma?  where did you get the materials?  Are you over the bridge? If you are that would explain some of the price of the materials...Very nice table by the way.
Reply:I would like to be able to afford that bench- but then I would have been satisfied with just the contents of the old bench and shelving.For my budget I would get a bench, a shed to mount it inside of and probably that budget would include a used welder too.
Reply:sweet !!insert thoughtful quote from someone else2000 Thermal Arc 300GTSW 3.5 hours1946 Monarch 20 x 54 Lathe1998 Supermax 10x54 Mill2004 Haco Atlantic 1/2" Capacity Lasernot mine but i get to play with it
Reply:I just checked with my supplier, and a 4'x8'x3/4" sheet with 4 10' 2x2x1/8 box and a 10' 2x2x1/8" angle would run me $462.70.But that is if I pick it up!But that top you used looks more like a 3'x6'x3/4" or something close to that, so my calculations might be way off! The table does look nice though!#1. If you don't like what I wrote, or if it offends you, then don't read it!#2. I am living life the way I see fit, if you don't like the way I'M living, tough sh**!
Reply:Originally Posted by ChrisA7164Hi gord...very eastern Ma?  where did you get the materials?  Are you over the bridge? If you are that would explain some of the price of the materials...Very nice table by the way.
Reply:Originally Posted by Ken DennisI just checked with my supplier, and a 4'x8'x3/4" sheet with 4 10' 2x2x1/8 box and a 10' 2x2x1/8" angle would run me $462.70.But that is if I pick it up!But that top you used looks more like a 3'x6'x3/4" or something close to that, so my calculations might be way off! The table does look nice though!
Reply:that's where I get my materials...guess it has been a while since I got any..they have gone up like anything else.
Reply:That looks good.  Might be hard findin' it though, now that you camo'd it50cents a pound on the steel sounds right.  It's come down to that here.  Top should weigh around 30lbs/sf, a little over 900lbs total.  Back hurt???"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Well, in that case it comes to $483.00!But I am cheating really! I get my steel from a wholesaler at 0.35 a pound!#1. If you don't like what I wrote, or if it offends you, then don't read it!#2. I am living life the way I see fit, if you don't like the way I'M living, tough sh**!
Reply:Wow, really nice bench.I'm also in MA and have had a hard time finding materials.  I called Ryerson today and they were quoting $2 a pound.  Now, I'm new to this, but that seems like a "we don't want to deal with small orders" kind of quote.Are there any steel steals to be had in MA?
Reply:what part of Ma are you in?  I had the same trouble with Turner steel years ago so I started going to Mid City down in Westport..not only were they reasonable,but they had free delivery(that's probably changed due to fuel prices though).
Reply:I'm in N Central MA, so Westport is a bit of a haul.I did just find http://www.kirkeastern.com/ which is local to me and looks like they'll have the square tubing I need.I need to find a $0.5/lb source like farmersamm referenced above.Sorry for the thread derail.
Reply:Just picked up some 1/2" plate and 2" box tube.Plate ran right at .30/lb and the box tube was a little more at .35/lb.Sounds like I should be hauling a truckload of steel to MA.Steel has really come down in price.  Wasn't too long ago I paid almost .90/lb for tube.SS on the other hand, is headed back up.  Saw about a 10% increase in just the last week or so.  Aluminum has stayed about the same.  Just paid $59/stick of 2"x2"x1/2"x24'(mill finish) non-anodized.Syncro 250 DX Dynasty 200 DXMM 251 w/30A SG XMT 304 w/714 Feeder & Optima PulserHH187Dialarc 250 AC/DCHypertherm PM 1250Smith, Harris, Victor O/ASmith and Thermco Gas MixersAccess to a full fab shop with CNC Plasma, Water Jet, etc.u  should of just scopped up one of the trench plates down the street from my house lol theres about 50 of them sitting behind my buddies house blocking his drive way lmao. he complained about a water truck blockin, when he wakes the water trucks gone, then he came home from work to find a pile of trench plates.lincoln weld pac 100Hobart handler 120Lincoln  "BuZZ box"Lincoln Precision Tig 225
Reply:Fiddy, go get some of those plates!  Think about the monster table you could build ... or about a super-heavy-duty bumper - who's gonna get in your way when you're packing a bumper that looks like it came off a Mad Max vehicle?
Reply:^^^ lmao i already have a badass skid plate plus when u drive a lifted truck people seen to move outta the way for some reason when u start gettin a little close. i reinforced the rear bumper with 4130 1 3/4 tube that u cant see. as far as the trech plates, 2 of them seem to have come up missing already lol. I dont need a table any more, my neighbor just gave me a 2 1/2 foot by 8 foot table made out of 1/4 plate and 2x2 tube with a giant vise for free.lincoln weld pac 100Hobart handler 120Lincoln  "BuZZ box"Lincoln Precision Tig 225