Build DIY 3D fixture table

That’s a pretty cool table. No means to move it or store it?

I like the modularity idea. I’ve never had a welding table before. Always a wood bench, floor or finally a crumby free.99 metal table top. Over the years I’ve had ideas for trick wings or fixtures or built-in tools on the table top. The brain vault doesn’t remember the ideas and I suffer from analysis paralysis so this was my choice for table design.

I’ll need a lot of discipline not to grind near these tables. Keep the crumby table for that…
 
I moved out in a hurry, had to pack this whole place up in like 2 days, on my own, in kind of a “perfect storm” of unfortunate events.

1767856921081.jpeg

The table probably weighed 300lbs, and if I had thought about it better, I could have pulled the slats and made a couple of clean cuts and fit it in the U-Haul, but, wasn’t really thinking.

1767857041571.jpeg

Two house moves, three storage units, and several rented trucks later, I finally got everything into the new shop a couple weeks ago;




1767857091004.jpeg

I do wish I could have at least given the table away to someone who’d use it. No idea where it is now.
 
Wow. I know where you’re coming from. I too had 2 days to put my life on a trailer and we moved across the country. Wife departed 4 days later with uhaul. Lots of regrets leaving stuff that I was too lazy or brain fogged for wanting to load.
IMG_1528.jpeg

Round 2.
IMG_1182.jpeg
IMG_1194.jpeg
IMG_1195.jpeg


Looks like the Jeep fits in the shop now! I love small shops packed to the gills. Lots of character.
 
WiscoF100 said:
Wow. I know where you’re coming from. I too had 2 days to put my life on a trailer and we moved across the country. Wife departed 4 days later with uhaul. Lots of regrets leaving stuff that I was too lazy or brain fogged for wanting to load.
IMG_1528.jpeg

Round 2.
IMG_1182.jpeg
IMG_1194.jpeg
IMG_1195.jpeg


Looks like the Jeep fits in the shop now! I love small shops packed to the gills. Lots of character.
Click to expand...
First pic is pretty epic.

Yeah, I waited until the last minute and underestimated how long it would take, story of my life.

1768015660629.jpeg

Had to figure out how to load three fully-loaded steel toolboxes by myself. Rigged my Jeep winch up to a LifePo4 battery (which eventually destroyed the winch, probably from running at a higher voltage, not sure, sparks went flying). But, got it all in there right before it broke.

Then as I was unloading the bigger grey husky toolbox, had that thought that I assume every dude has (just once though….) of “I could probably just stand in front of the toolbox and guide it down the ramp, it’s not that steep of an angle.)

Boy do those things pick up momentum fast.
 
I’m impressed the uhaul box held up to the job!! And you’re not flattened :laughing:

Washed over the welds hoping for more stability
IMG_3755.jpeg

Looks complicated but man it’s so easy to hold stuff where you want it
IMG_3766.jpeg
IMG_3767.jpeg

Clamp utilizing 1/2” table scrap, some home made T slot bolts to concentrically drill the primary table feet
IMG_3774.jpeg

Need to remove mill scale tomorrow and weld nuts, studs and remove tac welds
IMG_3775.jpeg


Almost out of gas. Fingers crossed there’s enough to finish this table. The chip tray was cut today from 1/8” 5052 aluminum. Fine tune and locate install tabs tomorrow after I weld the grid structure
 
WiscoF100 said:
I’m impressed the uhaul box held up to the job!! And you’re not flattened :laughing:

Washed over the welds hoping for more stability
IMG_3755.jpeg

Looks complicated but man it’s so easy to hold stuff where you want it
IMG_3766.jpeg
IMG_3767.jpeg

Clamp utilizing 1/2” table scrap, some home made T slot bolts to concentrically drill the primary table feet
IMG_3774.jpeg

Need to remove mill scale tomorrow and weld nuts, studs and remove tac welds
IMG_3775.jpeg


Almost out of gas. Fingers crossed there’s enough to finish this table. The chip tray was cut today from 1/8” 5052 aluminum. Fine tune and locate install tabs tomorrow after I weld the grid structure
Click to expand...
its bad ass though i'll say that
 
Big table leveling pads finished
IMG_3787.jpeg

36” pipe wrench only has 4” throat. Needed to open the pads after welding
IMG_3788.jpeg

Plan B was drill 3/16” hole in lower plate. Was an idea from the start for adjustment in service
IMG_3789.jpeg

Had enough gas to finish out all the things I could think of today. Even changed the spool
IMG_3780.jpeg

This clamp was awesome since it has a Vee groove feature in the pad. Also long enough to jump from the other table surface
IMG_3782.jpeg

Probably over welded the hell out of this thing
IMG_3784.jpeg

Fastener tabs for the chip tray. 1/4” rivnuts
IMG_3791.jpeg

Fancied some center point screws quick with a drill and flap disc
IMG_3793.jpeg

Transfer
IMG_3794.jpeg

Install/test fit
IMG_3795.jpeg

Tearing down for paint and toolbox install next. Legs/base are being a bit stubborn from some distortion and the chip board shims I included in the leg sockets. Hoping once I get past that, the reverse install is a little smoother. Caster assemblies are painted and ready for anti seize and install
 
I hope that nothing important falls through the holes of that table and onto that tray, lol
 
It’s a depth of 4” and compartmentalized, so stick magnet or those pincher finger things will do the trick. Or F it, it wasn’t that important anyways and I’ll find another widget :laughing: The large table will be open.

Rush to post last night, the drilled hole in the foot is for a spanner type operation for lack of better words. To adjust, I plan to put a floor jack under the lower lacing and in all reality, the foot should spin by hand for adjustment
IMG_3797.jpeg

I’m not asking!!!
IMG_3798.jpeg

Chip board shims or air filter box. Whatever you’re more familiar with 😁
IMG_3799.jpeg

I win.
IMG_3800.jpeg


It really didn’t require much hydraulic effort. The shims, grinding debris and slag BBs were the biggest hindrance.
 
WiscoF100 said:
Thank you. This was seemingly impossible enough. Idk how the “professionals” pull off the master pieces they do.
Click to expand...
The "pros" don't, that's the key. It's either laser cut and perfect with clamps, or YouTube magic, or it's surface ground after the fabrication is done. That or it's a full cast table that's ground to make it close.

Point being, you and I, making our own fixture tables, are gonna make it within 10 or 20 thou flat, and anything more than that has to be ground to make flat.

Nice damn work. You spent more time and care making yours than I did mine.
 
GLTHFJ60 said:
The "pros" don't, that's the key. It's either laser cut and perfect with clamps, or YouTube magic, or it's surface ground after the fabrication is done. That or it's a full cast table that's ground to make it close.

Point being, you and I, making our own fixture tables, are gonna make it within 10 or 20 thou flat, and anything more than that has to be ground to make flat.

Nice damn work. You spent more time and care making yours than I did mine.
Click to expand...
I see how you weaseled in on his credit, nice :laughing:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top Back Refresh