Yet another work bench thread.

[SwissTony]

Finally got the garage cleared out to a point where I can put a bench in.
Few things I am trying to work out before I attempt it.

1st: The main structure of it (legs and support bars) Do I buy some dexion type stuff or would normal angle iron be better? If Dexion, anyone know of a cheap online supplier of dexion or alternative? If angle iron, what sort of size would be strong enough? I have found some supadex angle which is 40mm x 40mm x 1.6mm, do you reckon that would be strong enough to make a bench with?

2nd: The top. I am not that rich, so buying 10-15mm steel sheet isnt going to happen any time soon. I have access to plenty of kitchen worktops for free, so I was thinking 1 of them topped with maybe 2-3mm mild sheet. I know heat will warp it, so my plan was to put plenty of screws in and when I need to weld, use a small section of 10mm plate under the weld to absorb the heat.

3rd: Protecting the rest of the garage. Due to the garage being a dumping ground for various things including fuel for chainsaw and mower, I need a way of stopping the sparks from the welding from setting fire to the garage and me Would a couple of boards covered with 0.9mm steel sheet going from bench to ceiling at both ends be enough or would I need to cover even more?

Ideally I would like to be welding the frame together rather than bolting it, as I need the welding practice

 

[rtbcomp]

I would say Dexion is much too weak, get some 1/4 inch box section or angle.

Could you make a lockable, ventilated outside bunker for your fuel & thinners?

 

[Angusdog]

Angle or RHS is relatively cheap. Unless you get the dexion free, i'd buy something fairly beefy but not over the top for the legs. 40 x 40mm might be enough and you can double it up for extra strength.

And for the top, mine is 6mm and plenty beefy enough for my needs. In a decade or so, I can grind the welds holding it down and put something else on. I personally feel a lot of the welding benches you see on the net (esp. those in the US) are hugely over built.

Ditto to storing the fuel outside. After a geezer near us was badly burned when his garage went up (and nearly taking the house with it) I bought a really cheap tin (foil) shed for paint and other flammables. Made an enormous difference to feeling safe, plus I bought a bigger fire extinguisher.

 

[paul r]

I'm just finishing off my workbench. I used 50x50x2.5mm box section for the legs and i got a piece of 1200x600x10mm plate for the top. cost me about £75 for the materials.

Paul.

 

[SwissTony]

Unfortunately I have very little room where I live. The garage is quite a way from the house and between 2 other houses garages.
Adding the 2 end plates should stop any sparks getting anywhere near the fuel cans. The cans are metal and on a shelf between other stuff, so very unlikely to get sparks near them anyway.

I have no decent metal suppliers anywhere near me apart from parker steel who want £30 just for delivery.

I just found Austen Knapmans website and put in this as my shopping list
25 x 2.5 box 3m x 8 = 67.36+vat
16x3mm bar 3m x 5 = 10.10+vat
20x3mm bar 3m x 4 =10.36+vat
1000 x 1000 x 3mm x1 = 22+vat

Total inc vat = 129.04
Free delivery on orders over £100 ex vat at the moment
Does that sound OK price wise?

 

[paul r]

Unfortunately I have very little room where I live. The garage is quite a way from the house and between 2 other houses garages.
Adding the 2 end plates should stop any sparks getting anywhere near the fuel cans. The cans are metal and on a shelf between other stuff, so very unlikely to get sparks near them anyway.

I have no decent metal suppliers anywhere near me apart from parker steel who want £30 just for delivery.

I just found Austen Knapmans website and put in this as my shopping list
25 x 2.5 box 3m x 8 = 67.36+vat
16x3mm bar 3m x 5 = 10.10+vat
20x3mm bar 3m x 4 =10.36+vat
1000 x 1000 x 3mm x1 = 22+vat

Total inc vat = 129.04
Free delivery on orders over £100 ex vat at the moment
Does that sound OK price wise?

Their prices are approx twice as much as my local steel stockholders, but i doubt you will find much different off of the net. Havent you gone a bit overboard with 24 meters of box section? lol

Paul.

 

[SwissTony]

I need some for another project
I dont have a local stockholders and parker steels is about the same price.

 

[paul r]

I need some for another project
I dont have a local stockholders and parker steels is about the same price.

Shame your not near me! I have about 7M of 50x50x2.5mm box section that i dont really need..

Paul.

 

[SwissTony]

I think I may just have to see if a local fabricator can get some in for me, might be the easiest way

 

[TheJoker]

Shame your not near me! I have about 7M of 50x50x2.5mm box section that i dont really need..

Paul.

And where are you..? Nowhere near nort oxon, I take it.

 

[paul r]

And where are you..? Nowhere near nort oxon, I take it.

Sorry, I'm up in cheshire!

Paul.

 

[buzzy bee]

Legs, 50mm heavyweight box, and then cross members 40mm box. make it real strong, then you can bolt a nice big vice, on and you shouldn't have any problems! hehe

 

[TheJoker]

Sorry, I'm up in cheshire!

Too far, but thanks anyway!

 

[SwissTony]

Would 25mm square box with 3mm walls be any good for the legs and framework?

 

[bonepyro]

Hi Swiss Tony

Have you looked at Crawley metal supplies?

http://www.crawleymetals.co.uk/

I have used them in the past, very helpful on the phone and delivered to Forest Row no problem (I do not think there was a delivery charge, but it was not enough to make you sit down if there was one).

Where in East Sussex are you?

 

[SwissTony]

I live in Northiam.

 

[Angusdog]

Would 25mm square box with 3mm walls be any good for the legs and framework?

I think it depends on your requirements. Some guys, esp. in the states, seem to think it should be able to take an M1A1 tank turret to be of any use. Mine has 60x60 box, braced under the top every 200mm-ish and it's solid as. I won't be dropping any V8 engine blocks on it, but at least I was able to just unload it off the trailer myself. It weighs easily 200kg so it perhaps it wasn't the wisest, but hernias are like chicken pox aren't they? Can't get them twice...

The upshot: I'd run with at least 40x40, but preferably 60x60. For the amount you'd need, the difference in cost would be worth it.

 

[SwissTony]

I have spine damage, so trying to keep weight to a minimum, but keep it strong enough.
I doubt I will be putting huge weight on it, a pillar drill, bench grinder and a vice.

Might get a kitchen work top to use as the work surface and when I want to weld on it, use a 500x500 section of 10-15mm steel to absorb the heat. Work tops are free for me, so I can use the money I save to buy bigger box section for the legs and have enough left over to buy a bench grinder.

 

[chunkolini]

Bench top?
I used 1" marine ply with a skin of 1.6mm mild sheet, and loads of screws to holdit down. It has bowed a bit if a few places but causes no problems. I do as much welding on top of a piece of 4mm sheet to keep spatter off the main top, and to avoid too much heat getting to the work top. Works a treat.
the main frame is made of 30mm box with braces of 25mm box, I think. Dimensions 2.5x1.2m. I cn just about move it round on m yown but it does take some hauling.

See below.


Chunko'.

 

[mike os]

you work in a timber building chunko?