2015 POTD Thread Archive

Great score! They look pretty durn stout.
 
I started a much needed die and jig rolling table build for the shop on Sunday. One of the requirements was to have the table top height match the iron worker hieght for a break die/jig swap over. The die is heavy and really hard to simply grab a hold of, so the idea of sliding into place from table to IW sounds appealing. The table will also store pipe/tubing dies as well and other heavy dies for the profile roller. In all the table will support well over 1,500# of dies. Im excited to complete the table and free up the floor space which the current dies are stored. Most all material for this build comes from remnant leftovers excluding the casters.

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Got most of the table frame welded up as well as punched the base caster plates. The smaller 1.5" angle will span the bottom portion of the table and heavy expanded metal will serve as a shelf for smaller items such as counter dies and such. The smaller angle iron was notched with the iron worker for a nice fit.IMG_1062.JPG
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I designed a lock in type of indexer to mate with the iron worker to prevent any sideway movement during the sliding of the heavy break die. The swivel casters opposite of the indexer will have locks to prevent movement as well.
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Now for the bad news....It was around 5:30 pm when I decided to call it quits and begin my clean up ritual. I jumped on the forklift to pull the project off the welding table to sweep off the table and surrounding floor. I have 12' high doors but I only had the door set to 8' (the late afternoon sun was blaring ). As I was backing out the fork lift, I had the load off the table about 4" and lost track of the headache rack height (I always lower the load while traveling to a maximum of 12" above floor) NOT ON SUNDAY! I took out the first two panels of my door. I spent the next 4-5 hours pulling the panels and straightening so that I could secure the shop. I was sick when I saw the aftermath (still am), what a rookie F@#king maneuver. So much for building a cost effective die table. Sorry, no pictures of damaged door prior to repairing but the door resembled a Jiffy pop lid after the pop corn popped for those of you who remember those . Two new door panels on order and then add metal paint for a rust to match exterior finish, then paint the interior stripes to match. I suppose if I never get out of bed, nothing bad can happen, that said, if I stay busy, I will screw up eventually.
More to come on the table build.
 
Sorry to hear about he door panels, but what you have done o the table looks nice.
 
I'm a door guy. Are you familiar with sectional doors? Like the cables/bottom brackets and the danger of spring tension? Or are you having a door guy come fix it?
 
Very nice table, Paco.

Sorry to hear about the door. Compost happens.

Me, I never make the same mistake twice.
I generally make it 4 or 5 times... just to be sure.
 
Thanks kvt.
chevydyl, yes, I actually had to remove the two damaged (lower) panels to straighten out and reinstall to be able to secure the shop. For this, I clamped the undamaged portions of the door (4 panels) in place, then removed the spring tension to pull the two lower panels for repair. I have a lot of respect for the springs on garage doors. I ordered new panels and plan on installing them when they arrive. If they can do the swap for under $300 (doubtful) I will let them do it, but I live a bit out from the city so travel time will probably drive the price up more than I can live with. Ironically, I used the very same fork lift to fine tune the damage once it was back in the tracks. A 2x4 spanning the forks and driving forward a little at a time,(from the outside) moving the forks up and rinse and repeat and the doors open and close quietly and the alarm contacts still works. The jack shaft operator runs quiet and smooth as well. I appreciate your questions on the dangers associated with spring tensions tho.
 
Very nice table, Paco.

Sorry to hear about the door. Compost happens.

Me, I never make the same mistake twice.
I generally make it 4 or 5 times... just to be sure.
Thanks Franko, I will stare at the door every morning for a few seconds and remind myself why garage doors either stay closed or ALL the way open! hahaha
For the table, I will need to pick up some 1/4" plate, the leftover piece I was planning on using is 6" too short.
 
Some days go like that, but what you gonna do. I tried opening my 10x12 the other day with an extension ladder sticking up thru the trusses in front of it. Fortunately the stupid proof setup on the new openers saved the day. Hope things go smoother for you the rest of the week. Mike
 
What I Did in My Shop Today

I disassembled a cheap dish drying rack from Family Dollar. It required removing four screws and four nuts.

I had gone to buy some bows for Christmas gift wrapping. While there I spotted the rack which was made of wood.

Now I've been having a hard time finding places for and putting away a bunch of machine tools that I got recently. I cut up some cardboard paper towel rolls to put them in so they wouldn't knock against each other. It works but it's not exactly pleasing to the eye. I had been thinking about cutting a bunch of slots in wood to hold them. But then I saw the rack for $5.00. It looks like this taken apart:

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It will now be placed in drawers to work as nesting places for mills, drills, etc. If I use all of it then I can probably come up with five bucks for another one.

The tin in the picture is one of several I bought today for $1.00. I find them to be very handy for storage also.
 
Good deal paco, I would just hate for one of you guys to become a statistic from messing with your own garage doors, plenty of horror stories around
 
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