Welcome! Please use the navigational links to explore our website.
PartsASAP LogoCompany Logo (800) 853-2651

Shop Now

   Allis Chalmers Case Farmall IH Ford 8N,9N,2N Ford
   Ferguson John Deere Massey Ferguson Minn. Moline Oliver

Attention Forum Users: On the 28th of December 2023 at 9:00am Central Time, we will be taking the forums down for maintenance while we prepare the new forums for your use. Please click here for more information.

Tool Talk Discussion Forum

Work Bench Advice

Welcome Guest, Log in or Register
Author 
Crude K

08-14-2007 14:44:26




Report to Moderator

I like to work in my shop but there never seems to be enough room for the bigger projects. Has anyone built an outdoor work bench that holds a vice and a anvil and a flat surface to pound on. I would like to build something heavy and made of steel. When you are heating something with the torch and are holding it in the vice and then need to switch to the anvil to pound there is never enough room in the shop. My idea is if some one else has plans or a picture of there creations I could adapt them for my use. Any and all help is always appreciated.

[Log in to Reply]   [No Email]
Gene Davis (Ga.)

08-17-2007 19:48:25




Report to Moderator
 Re: Work Bench Advice in reply to Crude K, 08-14-2007 14:44:26  
When I built my shop, I set a 4' section of schedule 40, 4"steel pipe in the ground 2'deep then welded 1/4x2x2"angle iron across it at right angles so that the concrete for the 4" floor encased it. Then built the table top with 3" I beam cross members and 1/2" plate for a top. I used 2x2x!/4" angle for uprights from the corner of the table down to the 1/2" plate feet on the floor. I mounted an old style(1940's) heavy Cast steel vise with 6" wide jaws that opens up 10" and I never have to chase the table when I get to hammering away and it also does a good job of being there for piling junk on also. Put it just inside the door so if I need to long stuff can hang out the 12' door. Just didn't make it big enough, 2'X3' won't hold much piled on junk!

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Oldmax

08-17-2007 05:12:49




Report to Moderator
 Re: Work Bench Advice in reply to Crude K, 08-14-2007 14:44:26  
I use a 1/2"X4'X4'Plate with weavy 3" angle iron frame and 2" pipe for leggs with 6" round feet . Move with farm tractor when needed .



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Crude K

08-15-2007 11:33:44




Report to Moderator
 Re: Work Bench Advice in reply to Crude K, 08-14-2007 14:44:26  
Thanks for all of the advice and ideas. I think the heavy plate steel will work the best for me and with removeable casters I can move it inside and out. Thanks again!!
Crude K



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
135 Fan

08-14-2007 22:52:45




Report to Moderator
 Re: Work Bench Advice in reply to Crude K, 08-14-2007 14:44:26  
For welding related work you need at least a 1/2 inch thick plate for the top. 5/8 or even 3/4 would be even better. It stays flat and doesn't warp when heating or welding on it. It allows you to tack things on it and you can heat things up to bend them and have enough weight that the table stays put. I built a 4x8 1/2 inch table with a 4 inch channel frame with a cross member in the middle and it weighs just under 1000 lbs. When you weld the frame on the table only put about 2 inch stitch welds and not a long continuous weld as the extreme heat and cooling of the weld could still warp your table. Having a nice flat table makes fabricating things that have to be flat 100 times easier. Dave

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
dan hill

08-16-2007 03:47:01




Report to Moderator
 Re: Work Bench Advice in reply to 135 Fan, 08-14-2007 22:52:45  
My welding table it small, 2X3 feet.I used 2 inch channel spaced 9/16 inches apart.This lets me use hold down clamps with 1/2 inch bolts.The top is a seperate part bolted on so it can be replaced if it gets beat up.The bottom shelf is made up of some sheet metal channel a friend gave me.A small vise is on one end for small jobs.The top could be made with larger channel if you have.I dont do any hard pounding on it.I plan to build a larger table and it will have the slotted top.The larger table will have 2 identical vises on 1 end to hold long parts for welding.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Stan in Oly, WA

08-14-2007 22:21:08




Report to Moderator
 Re: Work Bench Advice in reply to Crude K, 08-14-2007 14:44:26  
Hi Crude K,

A couple of years ago one of the students in the Saturday morning Metal Arts class at the local community college built the heaviest duty work table I've seen anyone build. The top was a 4'X 8' plate of 5/8" steel. I forget the dimensions of the framing members and legs but I remember that even before the top went on, two regular guys couldn't lift it.

I saw that student a few months ago and asked him how the table was working for him. He said that all the problems had to do with getting it out of his truck and into his garage. Once it was in place, it was just about as good as you'd expect it to be.

All the best, Stan

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
bva

08-14-2007 19:55:44




Report to Moderator
 Re: Work Bench Advice in reply to Crude K, 08-14-2007 14:44:26  

I have a metal top work table that has wheels on one end so I can move it to suit the job. Most times it sets in the shed holdin most anything. the metal top( about 8 or 10 gauge steel) is excellent for weldin. It has 2 edges bent over for about 2" which are good and stiff for poundin, the other 2 edges are open flat metal which can be clamped even with vice grips or larger clamps. The surface is about 3'x5' and I find this size works real well. the table frame is heavy 2" angle. My anvil has its own base for H beam bridge pile. Vises' are mounted on seperate counter top or rough framed tops. One thing I have found that I like real well is that one large vice is mounted high above my waist. This sure lightens the load on the back and eyes.

[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Chris in MD

08-14-2007 18:18:01




Report to Moderator
 Re: Work Bench Advice in reply to Crude K, 08-14-2007 14:44:26  
beating and whacking metal parts is often best done on huge timbers. Either that or some extremely heavy steel because if you used light steel, you would have a problem with bouncing and not getting anything bent.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
Vern-MI

08-14-2007 15:31:47




Report to Moderator
 Re: Work Bench Advice in reply to Crude K, 08-14-2007 14:44:26  
Quite a few old shops and factories had benches made from maleable cast iron. They were rather like a bedplate on cast iron legs. They were impossible to move without a crane or Hi-LO. Look for a distributor of used factory equipment in your area.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
135 Fan

08-14-2007 22:55:35




Report to Moderator
 Re: Work Bench Advice in reply to Vern-MI, 08-14-2007 15:31:47  
You can buy platens that are heavy cast iron with a grid of square holes in them that can be used for bending and clamping jigs. Acorn platens is one name I've seen advertised. Dave



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
TimV

08-14-2007 14:58:48




Report to Moderator
 Re: Work Bench Advice in reply to Crude K, 08-14-2007 14:44:26  
I mounted an old planer base on 4 steel pipe legs, welded on some bracing and flat pieces to the bottoms of the legs to keep them from sinking in the ground, and put a vise on it. It's only about 2 feet x 5 feet, but will hold several hundred pounds and works very well for the purposes you mention, plus welding and cutting.



[Log in to Reply]  [No Email]
[Options]  [Printer Friendly]  [Posting Help]  [Return to Forum]   [Log in to Reply]

Hop to:


TRACTOR PARTS TRACTOR MANUALS
We sell tractor parts!  We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]

Home  |  Forums


Copyright © 1997-2023 Yesterday's Tractor Co.

All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy

TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.

Yesterday's Tractors - Antique Tractor Headquarters

Website Accessibility Policy