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Fab table.

Stomis

Stomis

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Roseland VA/PtPleasant NJ
So Ive always wanted one and made excuses about space and stuff to not build one. Since working on them at the new job and seeing Paul build his I said screw it and tore out the wooden bench and built one.

4ft x 4ft. 1/2in plate. The top weighs in at 330lbs...

So taking that out of my truck by myself was not going to happen. Hell it was difficult just to budge the thing. Appropriate measures were taken to not kill myself with a piece of steel :haha:




I got the top centered up on the frame and welded down. Nothing crazy because I didnt want to put heat into the top. Just the corners and the middle of each side with a small 1in bead. Then post welding the top on I quickly found out just like Ryoken that my top wasnt so damn flat either, but not as bad as his by far.





Had a heavy 1/16th of light coming through on each side. In hindsight I would have built a backbone down the center also. But there was no point now so I found other ways.

Added in a crossmember in the center.



Drilled a 3/4in hole through it and ran a 3/4 piece of all thread to the dead center of the underside of the top and welded a nut to it.



I tightened the rod up and tensioned the center of the plate. Going one way I got the difference down to .035 and the other way is about .065-.075. I guess the only way to have it truly flat is to have it cut. But for building crossmembers, doors, etc etc the tolerance is more than good.


Done




Space hog




I plan on adding some features to it down the road. Obviously the under side will make good storage. I want to add two receiver tubes through the top plate. Then Im going to make some pieces to slide in to hold an axle and mount my vice on a chunk of plate with a male end so my vice is removable.
 
Also depends on how straight your straight edge is, but by the sound of it the surface is as flat as you're gonna get it. Overkill: The CK5 Way :haha: :bow:

Sigh. Tween you and Paul, my poor little 2x4x3/8" table just ain't manly, but it's all I have space for now. Someday.

-- A
 
4 x 4 was just toooo big for my shop.. I'm VERY happy that I went 3 x 4, even with the 2hr drive to chop it...
 
yeah, I just knew how huge of a deal that extra foot was gonna be in the LAB™, and was willing to go thru the chit to do the cut...

you'll be grateful the first job you do on it, loving mine already...
 
ryoken said:
yeah, I just knew how huge of a deal that extra foot was gonna be in the LAB™, and was willing to go thru the chit to do the cut...

you'll be grateful the first job you do on it, loving mine already...
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Ha. Side gates for the s10 bed tomorrow! So excited to not have to back bone it with tube and just make cuts and slap it on the table :waytogo:
 
Not much I would change except I would move one side of the lower outside framework in. Simply so I could scoot a stool up to weld when needed
 
All you guys building fab tables lately... I've been wanting to build another one.

It'll be big though. Like 6' x 12' with a 1" thick top.
 
Upstate said:
show off:D
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Not yet, but if I start building it, I will.:D

ryoken said:
that top alone is 3000 lb's..... :eek1: :pimp:
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Yep, it creats a few logistical issues. You damn sure want to have the frame built and ready to go when the top shows up.

Stomis said:
We have a 5x10 at work that's 1/2in thick, its way too thin for that size. 1in would be way better.
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Yep. 1/2" could work but the frame underneath needs to be much more substantial.
 
My last one was 5x10 by 1/14". Frame was all 5x5x.375" wall box tube. This is the one we eventually surfaced on the CNC mill. We did do some seriously heavy fab on it though. After each job it'd get the fab shop surfacing treatment using a 7" cupped grinding disc like a floor polisher.
 
tRustyK5 said:
My last one was 5x10 by 1/14". Frame was all 5x5x.375" wall box tube. This is the one we eventually surfaced on the CNC mill. We did do some seriously heavy fab on it though. After each job it'd get the fab shop surfacing treatment using a 7" cupped grinding disc like a floor polisher.
Click to expand...


I was contemplating getting mine milled but the costs vs how critical is probably ridiculous. Plus I figure +/- .060 if the piece is clamped to the table its gonna spring back straight anyway when I let the clamps go.
 
The largest fabricating 'table' I used was 24' x 24'. Was a dozen 24" "I" beams (wide flange) spaced on 24" centers. I spent 30 hours getting it all shot in, shimmed, and anchored to the floor, had it to within .060"...was a thing of beauty for about a year. Then we had a 5.2 quake, the whole building settled and I had to start over. :doah:

For the large stuff we were doing it was an absolute God-send.

For frames, I'd consider the same thing using wide flange. You only need two...
 
And in the category of "mines bigger than yours", the winner is... Rene! ;)

Sounds like just the thing for building those big trailers. A table you can not only clamp anywhere, but also walk around in and move through while working.
 
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