Machining work bench

Hey Guys, so I finally got a decent tool box to hold my machining tooling...

Craftsman 41inch tool chest...
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To house the tool chest I decided to build a nice sturdy metal work bench. It will be really nice have to have a bench near the Mill and lathe.

So the plan is to build a sturdy metal frame around the tool chest and then put a 1/4in steel top on it. This is just a work bench NOT a welding table, so a really thick top isn't required.

I'm also going to incorporate a system so that the bench can have wheels that raise/ lower if I want to move it.

Here's all the steel that will soon become a bench...

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I used my mill to drill out holes in the front and back pieces of the frame.
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The holes on the bottom frame will be for leveing feet...
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I cut to length some 3/4in steel round stock and pre-drilled to size the ID for threading.
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Next the round stock was welded in place and threads cut through the whole 2.5in length...
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pre-fit of leveling feet...
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I used the same process for the top frame. The threaded holes in the top frame are to allow attachent points if the bench needs to be hoised in a truck etc... 1/2-13 bolts can be used.
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Now that that was done it was time to start building the the frame for the top out of metal 2x2 and 2x4 (1/8 wall). Yhe dimensions for the top is 28in wide × 50in long.
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Next up was to build the bottom frame that supports the tool chest...
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I ran out of welding wire, so that's as far as I got for now.
 
That looks very, very nice!
I suggest you keep the top box. Eventually (probably sooner than you think) you'll need the space for storage and it'll cost a lot more to replace if you buy new.
Thanks, ya i guess for now might as well keep the top box. I might make a mounting system so it is mounted to the wall behind the bench, sort of like a top cabinet, that way it won't take up space on the bench top.
Great job! I love your shop.
Thanks!
 
Very good looking job! Too bad you have to keep the work bench against the wall ... if it were in the middle of the floor, you could make use of the space behind the tool box ... maybe a good place to hang angle grinders, etc. Ah, well ...
 
Love your shop pics, especially the hidden Trans Am! But I absolutely drooled when I saw your mill! I grew up 30 minutes south of Jackson, still live in Michigan, and had never heard of the Index Company. Did you document that restoration here as well? I haven't had much time to spend on here ogling.
 
Very good looking job! Too bad you have to keep the work bench against the wall ... if it were in the middle of the floor, you could make use of the space behind the tool box ... maybe a good place to hang angle grinders, etc. Ah, well ...
Thank you. Ya for now, against the wall is sort of where it has to go but maybe at some future point I can re-arrange the shop. still trying to figure out if there is a way to use the 6in space at the back for something, I'm considering storing some longer metal stock there...
Love your shop pics, especially the hidden Trans Am! But I absolutely drooled when I saw your mill! I grew up 30 minutes south of Jackson, still live in Michigan, and had never heard of the Index Company. Did you document that restoration here as well? I haven't had much time to spend on here ogling.
Thanks yes, the Trans Am is a bit of a back burner project, one day i'll get to it... My 1988 Corvette tends to consume most of my time and project funds, I am literally am just finishing an LS/T56 magnum swap etc... on it. Took it out for the first short 'shake-down' drive last Saturday.
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I did document the Milling machine 'refurbishment' you can find it here:

https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/new-mill-wells-index-745.69200/

I also did document the south bend 9A also, but its not as detailed because I lost a lot of the pictures when my phone died a few years ago:
You can find the south bend 9A thread here:

https://www.hobby-machinist.com/threads/south-bend-9a-refurbished.73351/
 
Hey Guys, so I finally got a decent tool box to hold my machining tooling...

Craftsman 41inch tool chest...
View attachment 349225
To house the tool chest I decided to build a nice sturdy metal work bench. It will be really nice have to have a bench near the Mill and lathe.

So the plan is to build a sturdy metal frame around the tool chest and then put a 1/4in steel top on it. This is just a work bench NOT a welding table, so a really thick top isn't required.

I'm also going to incorporate a system so that the bench can have wheels that raise/ lower if I want to move it.

Here's all the steel that will soon become a bench...

View attachment 349236

I used my mill to drill out holes in the front and back pieces of the frame.
View attachment 349227
The holes on the bottom frame will be for leveing feet...
View attachment 349229
View attachment 349230
I cut to length some 3/4in steel round stock and pre-drilled to size the ID for threading.
View attachment 349231
Next the round stock was welded in place and threads cut through the whole 2.5in length...
View attachment 349233
View attachment 349232
pre-fit of leveling feet...
View attachment 349234
I used the same process for the top frame. The threaded holes in the top frame are to allow attachent points if the bench needs to be hoised in a truck etc... 1/2-13 bolts can be used.
View attachment 349235
Now that that was done it was time to start building the the frame for the top out of metal 2x2 and 2x4 (1/8 wall). Yhe dimensions for the top is 28in wide × 50in long.
View attachment 349240
View attachment 349237
View attachment 349238
View attachment 349239
View attachment 349241
View attachment 349242
View attachment 349244

Next up was to build the bottom frame that supports the tool chest...
View attachment 349245
I ran out of welding wire, so that's as far as I got for now.
Where did you get your leveling feet?
 
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