Parm
Respect The Sound System
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I do like a drink. But being good these days. Had a few beers tonight and a couple of rums
now watching Grand Tour (Seamen) with the youngest lad (15)
he’s splitting his sides
- Thread starter Yamhon
- Start date
now watching Grand Tour (Seamen) with the youngest lad (15)
he’s splitting his sides
eLuSiVeMiTe
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Enjoyed that one
Like the new format.
Shame they are not releasing weekly this time
Like the new format.
Shame they are not releasing weekly this time
Parm
Respect The Sound System
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agreed, but still brilliant
it’s all about the three characters, nothing about mode of transport
Parm
Respect The Sound System
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It’s all excellent
Memmeddu
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I loved top gear
Today's objective was to upgrade the table so that it can be adjustable for level and be moved easier through the use of casters and scaffold jacks. Ordered a length of 48.3mm x 3mm CHS which was cut down to ~26 inch; just an inch longer than the full length of the threaded portion of the scaffold jacks. I wanted to totally cover the threads rather than just use little sections of the CHS to help avoid weld splatter and other debri damaging the threads or otherwise making them harder to adjust.
I was contemplating cutting the frame down some, so I can could install the CHS on each existing leg, in the inside corner of the angle which the legs are made out of. Having thought about it and considered a few ways to best achieve what I was aiming for, me and my Dad who was helping me opted to just affix the CHS to the outside of the existing legs, simplifying the upgrading process.
The first leg was quickly tacked, but all of the "welds" looked awful, you couldn't really describe them as welds, it was more luck that some blobs managed to stick and hold it in place. It felt like I needed what power I had, perhaps even slightly more, despite the CHS only having a thickness of 3mm. Playing around with it, the spool ran out, and I'm not sure if it was me getting into the flow more or perhaps the end of the previous spool wasn't too great, but a change of spool for what no brand wire I had left and I was making much better progress.
All of the little runs of welds I made to attach the CHS to the existing steel angle legs were done in the vertical up or vertical down position; I tended to prefer vertical down, but ended up doing a bit of both depending on how best I could get into position. The contact area for the joint was actually quite deep in, so my stick out was longer than usual; I'd begin striking an arc favouring which ever side I felt had the stronger connection to the return. Weaving between left and right, watching for the front of the puddle I'd form a keyhole type shape and tried to keep adding material to it whilst following the front of the puddle down or upwards along the joint.
I only bought two casters at this stage, as I wanted to benefit from saving money if I didn't need them and wanted to see how stable and maneuverable the table would be with only two. These two casters were bolted to the base plates on two of the scaffold jacks and the bases were later cut down to make it easier to access the break and so fit up would be easier - and people will to hurt themselves on the protruding base plates.
Once all for sections of CHS were attached, the table was tipped up on one side, then the other, while the legs were shortened - this was a necessary step so that the jacks with the casters on could move freely without hitting the existing legs. It took two attempts to get this right, as the first time the scaffold jacks were not seating very well on a bit of protruding frame, which we ended up removing.
I was disappointed the reasonably level table, after all of this effort was now a mile out in every direction; but I'm glad that there is some adjustability now, and we dialed it in somewhere close before calling it a day. The table is still really difficult to move with only the two casters and adjusting it to get the table as level as possible is much harder than I expected, but I'll live with it for a few weeks before deciding to throw more money at it. If nothing else the table seems to have stiffened up a lot.
It may end up with four casters on, as originally envisioned. I'm also thinking of coming up with some solution so the scaffold jacks can be held attached to the table for when the table is lifted to make adjusting easier without having the legs fall out.
Next priority will be to add a bit more weld to one of the CHS legs, the other three should remain firm as they are.
I was contemplating cutting the frame down some, so I can could install the CHS on each existing leg, in the inside corner of the angle which the legs are made out of. Having thought about it and considered a few ways to best achieve what I was aiming for, me and my Dad who was helping me opted to just affix the CHS to the outside of the existing legs, simplifying the upgrading process.
The first leg was quickly tacked, but all of the "welds" looked awful, you couldn't really describe them as welds, it was more luck that some blobs managed to stick and hold it in place. It felt like I needed what power I had, perhaps even slightly more, despite the CHS only having a thickness of 3mm. Playing around with it, the spool ran out, and I'm not sure if it was me getting into the flow more or perhaps the end of the previous spool wasn't too great, but a change of spool for what no brand wire I had left and I was making much better progress.
All of the little runs of welds I made to attach the CHS to the existing steel angle legs were done in the vertical up or vertical down position; I tended to prefer vertical down, but ended up doing a bit of both depending on how best I could get into position. The contact area for the joint was actually quite deep in, so my stick out was longer than usual; I'd begin striking an arc favouring which ever side I felt had the stronger connection to the return. Weaving between left and right, watching for the front of the puddle I'd form a keyhole type shape and tried to keep adding material to it whilst following the front of the puddle down or upwards along the joint.
I only bought two casters at this stage, as I wanted to benefit from saving money if I didn't need them and wanted to see how stable and maneuverable the table would be with only two. These two casters were bolted to the base plates on two of the scaffold jacks and the bases were later cut down to make it easier to access the break and so fit up would be easier - and people will to hurt themselves on the protruding base plates.
Once all for sections of CHS were attached, the table was tipped up on one side, then the other, while the legs were shortened - this was a necessary step so that the jacks with the casters on could move freely without hitting the existing legs. It took two attempts to get this right, as the first time the scaffold jacks were not seating very well on a bit of protruding frame, which we ended up removing.
I was disappointed the reasonably level table, after all of this effort was now a mile out in every direction; but I'm glad that there is some adjustability now, and we dialed it in somewhere close before calling it a day. The table is still really difficult to move with only the two casters and adjusting it to get the table as level as possible is much harder than I expected, but I'll live with it for a few weeks before deciding to throw more money at it. If nothing else the table seems to have stiffened up a lot.
It may end up with four casters on, as originally envisioned. I'm also thinking of coming up with some solution so the scaffold jacks can be held attached to the table for when the table is lifted to make adjusting easier without having the legs fall out.
Next priority will be to add a bit more weld to one of the CHS legs, the other three should remain firm as they are.
Shedendman
Member
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- 5,306
Why do you need a perfectly level table?
No point if the floor isn't,been there done that,spending time flaffing about getting spot on,move it a few inches either way and its out again
No point if the floor isn't,been there done that,spending time flaffing about getting spot on,move it a few inches either way and its out again
Just wan it close so it's easir to make things level when welding things up on top.
Memmeddu
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If you cannot fit a square in a corner you can check your square with a level
That's straightforward
Parm
Respect The Sound System
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Just be careful on those corners. You will jump and probably swear quite a lot if you catch your ankles
Nick DV
"That's the only name they ever gave me."
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The casters are under a slight overhang on the table top, which helps avoid hitting them.
I think I'll add an eyelet to each leg so I can loop a piece of chain under the scaffold nuts to stop them slipping when the table is lifted up at one to be moved. I already have the parts I can use for that, so should be easy enough to try and make things easier. If that isn't successful I'll probably add another two casters as its still a right pain to move.
There is a crown in the center of the table, which I've not noticed before, so may have happened when flipping the table on its side when working on it. There's a frame member directly underneath, so fixing it might just be as simple as drilling and bolting it down, then adding a weld underneath.
The table wasn't ideal when I got it, full of dents, holes and sloping to one side, so getting it perfect is unrealistic, I just want to improve things. It's also nice to have something to try ideas on for when I build a table from scratch. I have around 4'x4' of 5mm plate left from cutting the table in half, planning on using a piece of it for the bottom of a welding cart to help keep the center of gravity low so I can have the welder higher up.
I think I'll add an eyelet to each leg so I can loop a piece of chain under the scaffold nuts to stop them slipping when the table is lifted up at one to be moved. I already have the parts I can use for that, so should be easy enough to try and make things easier. If that isn't successful I'll probably add another two casters as its still a right pain to move.
There is a crown in the center of the table, which I've not noticed before, so may have happened when flipping the table on its side when working on it. There's a frame member directly underneath, so fixing it might just be as simple as drilling and bolting it down, then adding a weld underneath.
The table wasn't ideal when I got it, full of dents, holes and sloping to one side, so getting it perfect is unrealistic, I just want to improve things. It's also nice to have something to try ideas on for when I build a table from scratch. I have around 4'x4' of 5mm plate left from cutting the table in half, planning on using a piece of it for the bottom of a welding cart to help keep the center of gravity low so I can have the welder higher up.
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Shedendman
Member
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Just build a new table,your's will end up like triggers broom
Don't have the cash to spend on an outright new table atm; and until I've solved the issues with this one, I run the risk of repeating them on a new table. I want to be able to move and level up a heavy table, I think the modifications are getting me closer, but I've someway to go to be totally happy with it.
I think I can safely say the table as it originally was would be impossible for one person to move on their own safely, so just cutting it in half as gone a long way to making it more useful for me.
For a bespoke table, I've been thinking of using swivel casters with brakes and just attached to the frame without adjustment and then using 4 sidewinder trailer jacks, one for each corner to level and "brake" the table. That scheme was cost prohibitive for this table, but I'd be prepared to spend the money on a custom table. Cheapest I've found is £120 for four jacks, so it was worth trying scaffold jacks first which cost me around £7 each and £42 for the 48.3mm CHS delivered.
Added a small hook to two of the legs today, out of a piece of 4mm rod and cut down a piece of chain for each leg. This allows me to hold the scaffold jacks; the two without casters attached in place so they don't slip out or move around when you lift up this end of the table when moving the table.
Decided to get another two casters now, as it is still too difficult to move as it is. Just need to decide whether to buy another two of the same casters or opt for these; https://www.screwfix.com/p/select-h...mm/492ft#product_additional_details_container the wheel size on each is the same, but these are total lock and the ones I've already bought only lock the wheels from rolling, not from swiveling.
Also tried to fix the crown in the table with a c clamp on either end of a piece of flat bar; until one of my c clamps gave up and blew apart.
Decided to get another two casters now, as it is still too difficult to move as it is. Just need to decide whether to buy another two of the same casters or opt for these; https://www.screwfix.com/p/select-h...mm/492ft#product_additional_details_container the wheel size on each is the same, but these are total lock and the ones I've already bought only lock the wheels from rolling, not from swiveling.
Also tried to fix the crown in the table with a c clamp on either end of a piece of flat bar; until one of my c clamps gave up and blew apart.
Parm
Respect The Sound System
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you need to stay off the spinach
The_Yellow_Ardvark
https://www.death-clock.org/
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Never found an Alloy G Clamp, most are cast ferrous metal. Some cheepo and light, others heavy and strong.
What's the link for a Alloy G clamp?
