A Bench for the 21st Century :)

[manicman]

I just thought I'd share some pictures of what I've been up to.... Starting with my 8x4 bench which (I think) has brought gate/railing manufacture into the 21st Century..... Along with a host of other reasons.... The frame is 40x40x3 box section which has been set using my own corner welding clamps.... The top is 10mm thick laser cut mild steel which has been designed to allow me to set up a multitude of clamping plates etc (again, my own design which are selling well on Fleabay :-)..... )
As you can see from the final picture that setting up a 12" railing section is done in minutes.... I'm so happy with it, I'm selling it as I now want a new bench 8x6

My corner clamps made setting the frame soooo easy....

We were only 2mm out on the diagonal

The delivery driver 'chose' to aid getting the 1/4 ton top into my unit obviously I took the health and safety approach by taking the picture....

In place ready for welding to the frame and 3/4" chipboard shelf below...

So easy to set up work now and it's been a god send..... More pictures due with some other creations soon.....

When I can get round to it, it'll be on Fleabay due to my 'version 2' being created

 

[rtbcomp]

None of the pictures show up, and the Photobucket links don't work either.

Please don't use external hosting sites, according to Paul "uploading pictures is now very easy , just drag and drop them straight from your pc into the edit window as you write your post."

EDIT - They've just appeared!

http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/why-you-shouldnt-use-photobucket.12020/page-7

 

[F.J.]

My mate got sacked for being 2mil out......... He worked in a bank!

 

[CRB]

Very nice. Simple and effective.

 

[chunkolini]

Looks like a good piece of kit.

 

[Kent]

So impressed, might I ask costs?

 

[manicman]

It was 3 lenghts of box @ £27/lgth and the top was £275 delivered.... That excludes the angles on the bench and other clamping plates..... Worth every penny

 

[Maker]

That looks great, very solid and the angle around the edge is an awesome but one question: what goes in the slots?

 

[manicman]

Thanks for that... With the angle I don't need to set anything up as I'm direct off on a fixed 90degree corner... The slots are for a selection of bolt down plates for when I'm setting up frames etc and I use stainless coach bolts instead of T slot bars for clamping down... I've also had holes cut in so I can bolt my bar twister, bar/plate bender and ring roller to the bench without the need for clamps

 

[Maker]

I was thinking you poke a clamp through the hole and slide it along the slots. I've been trying to come up with some clever fixturing system for my bench (If I ever build it) but I was thinking more along the lines of a load of drilled holes, like a Siegmund table but your slotted system seem great too, this is gonna take weeks of pondering.

the top was £275 delivered

Is that for the cutting and the material?
Where did you get the laser cutting done, that price seems fairly decent?

 

[Kent]

It was 3 lenghts of box @ £27/lgth and the top was £275 delivered.... That excludes the angles on the bench and other clamping plates..... Worth every penny

Sorry correct me if I am wrong but you paid £27 per length for 40x40x3 ? But only £275 delivered for the plate top all slots cut? The box sounds pricey and the plate very cheap

 

[manicman]

I thought box was at a normal price but not sure what others can get....
Actually top was £239 no vat ;-).... With £20 delivery.... ;-)
Im working on a removable 18" section for top and 8ft x 18" x 10mm is £74.... Cheaper than a new bench

 

[Cyberprog]

Aye, that top sounds *very* cheap, I was quoted £216 this morning for a 3m x 1.5m x 5mm plate cut into 4 pieces (3 cuts) for my workbench. And I had a stupid quote of nearly £400 inc vat & del from another place!

 

[steviec_lj]

Very interesting. Where do I place my order?

 

[manicman]

Lets just say I have a good 'cash' relationship with them the shaped spacers in my railing picture were 46p each - again 10mm...
I have all sorts of stuff cut by them... A lot of my stuff is on Fleabay now and if you're a tad creative life can be very easy for making repetitive stuff...
I'm not advertising but here's a link to my firepit where the1.5mm Stainless Steel ash pan (cut and folded) was £22.50 also, the Mild Steel spacers for the square section bar was also done by them.... £20 for the complete set of 19 pieces

Mod: Link removed

 

[manicman]

Very interesting. Where do I place my order?

I'd be more than happy to make one for you if you can collect it? I have access to a fork lift for loading

 

[Maker]

I was looking at benches on google for inspiration for my own bench and I found this
The recessed shelves to let you sit at it are something you could have done with the bracing on yours. Or maybe its an idea for MK2.

 

[Wallace]

Lets just say I have a good 'cash' relationship with them

How do you explain to the Inland Revenue where you get the materials from?

 

[manicman]

How do you explain to the Inland Revenue where you get the materials from?

What materials??? I've just turned 50 and I've suddenly become VERY forgetful..... LOL

 

[Wallace]

What materials??? I've just turned 50 and I've suddenly become VERY forgetful..... LOL

Oh dear, doesn't work and they are very good at the brain game.

PS like the angle plates, what tolerance are they to 90°?