Finally got a fixture table!

[Scratch]

I'm a small time fabricator in my 50's. I've been making signs and the occasional table or something with my CNC plasma cutter for about 15 years, but I've been just ITCHING to get a fixture table ever since I started watching videos from Fireball Tools on YouTube. I'm pretty broke these days so I can't afford something like a Fireball table but I really enjoy working with metal so I do what I can. About 12 years ago I was gifted a 4x6 sheet of 1" steel plate so I made a welding table. It had a pretty big bow in the middle, but I made do with it for all these years. Clamping to the edge of the table like a caveman... Here's a pic of what it "used" to look like.

1.jpg

I found a friend with a laser cutter that said if I paid for the steel, and traded him some old Willys jeep parts, he'd cut me some holes in it for me. He said he could cut 1/2" steel with his laser.
Now... I like my 1" top, but I've really never had a time where I thought, "Golly, I'm glad my top is 1" thick!" so I took him up on his offer and had him cut a 48"x 72" sheet of 1/2" thick steel with (805) 5/8" holes set on a 2" grid pattern. After about a week, he told me it was done. I pulled off the 1" thick top to make room for the new sheet.

2.jpg

Using a skid steer with forks, the new top was on in a jiffy!

4.jpg

I have actually lost sleep over this next part... I really wanted to use Fireball fixtures. I love their tooth block design and the 2 pin design of their fence blocks, but I was literally terrified that their fence blocks weren't going to fit because the holes were just a little bit off. I had heard Jason from Fireball Tools mention once that spacing should be in the +/-.002 range, and my laser guy says his table has a tolerance of about +/-.005, so I was very worried that I was going to have a table that would have great clamping abilities, but not be able to use the Fireball fence blocks (Well, with two pins at least) I also really like their larger fence blocks and the ability to use them in a 45 degree setup, but again... terrified they wouldn't work.
So first test... do I really have a 2" grid pattern.........?
Yes! they fit great!

5.jpg

Next test, can I use the Fireball Tools long fence blocks, set at a 45 degree angle.......?
Yes! They fit great also! I guess lasers do actually work!

6.jpg

I'm assuming these are going to be my bread and butter fixtures for the stuff I'll be making.

8.jpg

Now for flatness. With my old 1" top, it had about a 1/4" gap over the 6' span. I didn't like it, but I made it work. Honestly, if I could make this ANY better than that, I'd be happy. I set my 6' level on the short side of the table. It was nice and flat! Now I didn't get out the feeler gauges, but the level didn't wobble anything noticeable so I was very happy with that.
Over the 6' length though, things were different. There was almost an 1/8" of wobble on the level. Many years ago, I tried to pull my old 1" sheet with clamps and bolts, but it wouldn't budge.
Now with this 1/2" table top, I was hoping I could pull this sheet into place if I needed to, so I tried putting a clamp underneath and was able to pull it perfectly into place! Again... I didn't get out the feeler gauges, but if my 6' level looks good, I'm happy! I’ll weld on a nut or something to make it more permanent.

9.jpg

10.jpg

I also made a rolling cart for my fixtures and clamps. I looked at a bunch of different designs for storage and really liked the design Fireball had, so I based it on their design. I don't have too many fixtures yet, but I hope to change that in the future.

11.jpg

12.jpg

[ROKCRLER]

Nice setup Scratch!

[Dirtmotor]

That looks like a great set up .

[plasmanewbie]

Oooooh man....is that ever sweeeeet! Well done Scratch, what a great looking setup. I am in the same boat as you, not a lot of money kicking around these days but always wanted one of those. Hopefully one day I will find an opportunity to get into something like that for a decent price. Awesome topic, enjoyed the read and the pics

[SegoMan DeSigns]

Looking good, you're a couple of jobs away from saying I should have done this sooner

[martyy]

very nice setup! would love to have something like that. life would be cake

[adbuch]

Your table turned out great!! And I particularly like how you were able to use clamps on the bottom side to pull it flat. Nice job!!
David

[acourtjester]

Scratch do you know there are new jeep bodies being manufacturing in the Philippines?? A guy around here has a stainless steel one built, he put a Chevy 4.3 V6 in it. When I was in the Navy (1965) in the Philippines they used WW2 jeep to make their taxies called Jeepney.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a1534 ... -solution/

[adbuch]

Tom - that's amazing to watch - lots of hand work and assembly - not the standard robotic assembly line that we have come to expect here in the USA today. Thanks for sharing!

David

Jeeps.jpg

[BrayD]

I just found this sub forum and I'm loving the content. Bumping a couple of these more recent threads just to keep things active.

I'm a huge proponent of fixture tables. A clean, accurate worksurface produces clean, accurate work. Complete game changer. Congrats on the new build, Scratch!

I have a smaller Buildpro. I curse the gap between plates more than I use them, but overall I can't complain too much. It's incredibly handy for quick and crude fixtures. I built a loader a while ago. When most parts are qty 2, it's nice to drop a couple pins in the table and replicate a part without grabbing the tape measure.

This setup is pretty terrible, but it's the first pic I came across. Pin at the far end (not shown) located the tube.

IMG_8419.JPEG

IMG_8422.JPEG

[Scratch]

Scratch do you know there are new jeep bodies being manufacturing in the Philippines?? A guy around here has a stainless steel one built, he put a Chevy 4.3 V6 in it. When I was in the Navy (1965) in the Philippines they used WW2 jeep to make their taxies called Jeepney.

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a1534 ... -solution/

Sorry I missed this post but yes, MD Juan is well known amongst jeepers mostly for their body parts and tubs. Honestly though… they are kind of looked down upon for their poor fitment and sometimes questionable primer finishes. I’ve never used one of their body tubs but know plenty of people who have. Yes, some holes are going to be put in the wrong spot, but for someone who is skilled enough to do a restoration or rebuild involving a body tub swap, they’ll how to solve those types of problems. A few years ago I contacted them about becoming a distributor for their parts but decided against it.

[adbuch]

I just found this sub forum and I'm loving the content. Bumping a couple of these more recent threads just to keep things active.

I'm a huge proponent of fixture tables. A clean, accurate worksurface produces clean, accurate work. Complete game changer. Congrats on the new build, Scratch!

I have a smaller Buildpro. I curse the gap between plates more than I use them, but overall I can't complain too much. It's incredibly handy for quick and crude fixtures. I built a loader a while ago. When most parts are qty 2, it's nice to drop a couple pins in the table and replicate a part without grabbing the tape measure.

This setup is pretty terrible, but it's the first pic I came across. Pin at the far end (not shown) located the tube.
IMG_8419.JPEG
IMG_8422.JPEG

BrayD - That loader you built is an impressive piece of work. Very nicely done!!

I considered the BuildPro before settling on the Rhino Carts. They both use the same fixturing, but I was not a big fan of all those gaps in the table top - plus I liked the fact that the Rhino Carts are mobile, have leveling feet/pads, and can be joined together to create a larger working surface.

Also, the machined surface is extremely flat - sort of like having a large surface plate with holes.

I posted some photos of mine before, but will do so again here for others to see.

David

Click on the link to see the slideshow.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/SsDsKC4MvY7FEAkU6

Rhino cart.jpg

Click on the link to see the additional slideshow.
https://photos.app.goo.gl/7xdUae3eoVWjbSrL7

rhino cart 1.jpg

[BrayD]

I really like how everything is self contained with the Rhino. I have a separate tool cart full of fixtures and clamps now. It does the job, but an engineered storage solution like the Rhino has would be great.

I wanted the separate plates so I could expand the table if necessary. Romantic idea, but I've only done it a handful of times. I could definitely come up with a creative solution to do something similar with a solid table. The best of both worlds would've been a BuildPro Max. I can't even remember if they were available at the time that I bought my table.

This is a pic from my old shop showing the modular capability.

trike build.png

.
Final product from all of that work. This thing was a riot. Mostly a novelty, but fun. I sold it shortly after.

trike final.png

[adbuch]

Very cool project trike! Yes - they did have the BuildPro Max back when I purchased my Rhino Carts. I liked them better than the table with the slots in the top, but opted for the Rhino Carts as they are more compact (30" x 48"), were mobile, had the tool storage underneath, and were modular in that I could connect two of them together in several different configurations (48" x 60", 30" x 96", etc.) and they came with a nice starter set of tooling. I have added to that initial tooling set with additional tooling from Strong Hand Tools as well as some custom diy clamps, spacers, etc.

David

[Joe Jones]

Before I moved to Kentucky, I ran into a guy who had some steel workbenches like I have never seen before. The top plates were SIX INCHES THICK! That was not the most remarkable thing wither. These benches were BENT.

I asked about them. What could possibly "potato chip" a six-inch thick steel plate?

As it turned out, he worked for Flying Tigers (now FedEx.) They had to park a 747 out on a field at LAX for a length of time, to air it out after using it to bring in some refugees from some 3rd world unwashed country. The plane transported the people, and their chickens, and their pigs, and everything else IN the cabin. These people did not USE the bathroom. They just dropped trow whenever the mood struck them, and dropped their payloads onto the floor. Liquids and solids

The maintenance crew REFUSED to enter the plane until it was aired out, and WASHED OUT with chemicals and whatnot. Guys went in with hazmat suits and machines, and stripped EVERY fiber of cloth or other material from the cabin that could not be cleansed.

The 747 is a heavy plane. so they placed huge 6" thick steel trench plates out onto the ground, and rolled the plane onto them for storage OFF of the runway or the tarmac. When they removed the plane to bring it back into service, the trench plates were all convex shaped, from the summer heat and the massive weight. They cut them up with acetylene torches, and sold the rectangles as scrap. These bench tops were made from those pieces.

Joe

[plasmanewbie]

Sounds like buddy was pulling your leg Joe