Big Barn’s Retirement Farm Shop

[ovrszd]

Re: Big Barn痴 Retirement Farm Shop

That's what I was inquiring about Terry.

My table weighs somewhere around 500lbs. I wanted it to be easy to move so I put very good quality 6" casters under it. Swivel casters on one end. I move it a lot so this has been great. Very easy to push it around even with an additional 300lbs of steel piled on the bottom shelf. Problem is I can't do much heavy work on the table without screwing the locks down. It rolls away from me. Especially if doing vise work.

I had originally thought I'd design and build pads that would be pedal operated. Ideally one pedal would raise the table up on the wheels. Release and it would settle on adjustable pads for leveling. After I struggled to design and build a folding cutting table on one end I gave up on the more complicated stabilizers. I think you actually helped me figure out the design on the folding cutting table. Thanks for that.

 

[Big Barn]

I love your welding table, Richard. I recall when you were doing the build. I think I gave a few suggestions, but if I recall you were having problems with the geometry on the folding cut table.

Being the high school drop out that I am I wouldn’t have dared suggest a solution. I’m pretty certain it was Shield Arc that helped out!

Everyone else: Post ideas, pics, questions, whatever.....remember the intention is to share shop ideas and insights. I’ll post some stuff just for stimulation.

 

[aczlan]

Re: Big Barn痴 Retirement Farm Shop

That's what I was inquiring about Terry.
My table weighs somewhere around 500lbs. I wanted it to be easy to move so I put very good quality 6" casters under it. Swivel casters on one end. I move it a lot so this has been great. Very easy to push it around even with an additional 300lbs of steel piled on the bottom shelf. Problem is I can't do much heavy work on the table without screwing the locks down. It rolls away from me. Especially if doing vise work.

One other thing you might look at is going to a junkyard and picking up 2 or 4 scissor jacks and welding a socket to each one so that you can put a cordless impact on them and run them up.

Aaron Z

 

[Big Barn]

Re: Big Barn痴 Retirement Farm Shop

One other thing you might look at is going to a junkyard and picking up 2 or 4 scissor jacks and welding a socket to each one so that you can put a cordless impact on them and run them up.

Aaron Z

Good idea. Some come with hex ends already.

The one in foreground was given to me. The blue one was purchased new from Princess Auto ( a Canadian somewhat equivalent to Harbor Freight) on sale for about $15.



Another option for those with larger shops or space would be the use of a pallet jack.

I try to build my fixtures so they can be stable without casters but still easily repositioned.

This is my oxy-acetylene and plasma cutting bench.





And another welding table. Weight just under 2000 pounds.



Richard, would this work for you?

 

[the old grind]

Re: Big Barn痴 Retirement Farm Shop

Checking in to compare details, gain inspiration, and offer anything I can if you expand shop machines beyond the turret lathe (A Do-All?) and bench drill presses. Me toolmaker, machine repair/rebuild, power tool repair, and cutter grinder, so will have or find answers to your toughest machinery questions. (also 35 yr welding apprentice still practicing for my first test )

Lotta welders in that impressive (esp floorspace ) shop. Nothing but praise for what you have to work with, and one question: What power, phase, amperage do you have supplied to your shop? No 3-PH power near here, so I've converted a few 1-2 hp machines to treadmill motors with HFT PWM 'router speed controller' and bridge rectifier vs VFD to gain speed control. (Derate VFDs w/1-PH supply? ) t o g

 

[Big Barn]

Thanks for checking in, the old grind! I’m sure I/we will have questions.

I wish you lived near me. I do only the most rudimentary of machining work as all repair/machine work on the farm was well— farmed out —in the past as time was of the essence and I could not afford to screw up four expensive parts in an effort to “save money”

Oh. Lathe. My friend Bob dropped it off for me awhile back. I cleaned it up for him and sent it back because well... I just didn’t want it.







And YES I have three phase. My dad had a line brought onto the farm in the mid 1950’s to run the refrigeration compressors and washing and grading line. We grew vegetables back then. Row crop, market garden and other designations depending on what part of the country you were from

Here’s my mini machine shop adjacent to the inner shop office.

 

[ovrszd]

I love your welding table, Richard. I recall when you were doing the build. I think I gave a few suggestions, but if I recall you were having problems with the geometry on the folding cut table.

Being the high school drop out that I am I wouldn’t have dared suggest a solution. I’m pretty certain it was Shield Arc that helped out!

Everyone else: Post ideas, pics, questions, whatever.....remember the intention is to share shop ideas and insights. I’ll post some stuff just for stimulation.

You might be right. Shield Arc has contributed some very good ideas. I like his cutting table that spins for cutting circles.

Speaking of coolers. One time I took two Platoons to Korea for two weeks training. Our sleeping quarters was a cooler in an old Commissary building. Talk about claustrophobic conditions!!!!

 

[ovrszd]

I could use a pallet jack. I would just like to have a spontaneous way to secure the table for a few minutes and then move it, without dragging additional equipment into the equation. I'm gonna do the stabilizers you used, or maybe the fancier adjustable ones you found later.

I'm in the midst of building a new house and moving my shop so this will all have to wait til next Winter.

 

[ovrszd]

Re: Big Barn痴 Retirement Farm Shop

Here's a pic of an old Dake Press that I "fell" into. Paid $50. It's a beast!!!!

Check out the attachment on the left side of the Press. Anyone, besides Terry, know what that is??

 

[Big Barn]

Hard to tell from the pic, Richard. Is it some type of arbor press?