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Building table
designer - 16/4/11 at 06:15 PM

Good idea.


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Badger_McLetcher - 19/4/11 at 09:08 AM

I like that, it's ingenious!

nick205 - 19/4/11 at 10:04 AM

A frame and legs in 4"x2" rough cut timber would be cheaper!

John Bonnett - 20/4/11 at 06:30 AM

I'm surprised that there have been so few replies to this topic because the building table is the very first item that needs constructing before work proper can commence. So, every builder will have their own ideas on this subject.

I would have thought that the main criteria of a building board are;

It offers a convenient working height.
It is level and has a smooth surface.
It is rigid; the board will not slide around and be capable of withstanding the weight of a completed chassis without bowing.
Can withstand tacking without catching fire. Blockboard may be better than plywood in this respect.

The two ladders should give a rigid base but would you want to screw the plywood to them? I think it is important that the whole thing is screwed together so that it doesn't slide around when you lean on it or move metal around on it.

From memory, our board was blockboard screwed to 50 x 25 rhs supported on trestles and this worked very well.

John

mad-butcher - 20/4/11 at 08:41 AM

When I'd marked the board out I cut 6 inch holes out were the welds would be so it could be turned over and welded rather than just tacked then taken off

tony

James - 20/4/11 at 09:32 AM

quote:
Originally posted by nick205
A frame and legs in 4"x2" rough cut timber would be cheaper!


But straight enough?

You'd need to go somewhere that sells decent quality wood... most of the stuff for sale at my local Wickes seems to be made of bananas!

loggyboy - 20/4/11 at 10:03 AM

Isnt the idea behind ally ladders to strong in compression, but allow a fair amount bend and flex along their length, I would think there are better cross bracing materierals!

designer - 20/4/11 at 10:31 AM

I've seen this used in the states, for a plane build, on a 16ft long table.

It all comes together solid as the proverbial rock, not a mm of twist.

wilkingj - 20/4/11 at 12:25 PM

I bolted up a square frame of 100x75x10mm Angle, then sat two B&D workmates on top of that. Worked fine for me.

The large angle just happened to be lying about, so no particular reason for that size!.

I put 4 castor wheels on the bottom, and could move it about in the garage.

Having said that, I did not make the chassis (I Couldnt weld very well then!) sp the accuracy was not that important for the table, just the height and mobility.

liam.mccaffrey - 25/4/11 at 12:21 PM

my 2p worth. on a similar theme