Hi gang,
I'm looking to pick up the "deluxe" benchtop mill and 11x26" lathe from Grizzly. This is for my home shop so as far as a machine table I'd like it to be nice-looking and rigid. Grizzly offers stands for these machines but they seem crude, and once you factor in shipping, well overpriced.
Soooo I've been considering building my own. Right now I feel I could use a lot of feedback on the design, materials and construction method.
Table size 96" x 24". This is the same size as the two other benches in my shop and I want them all to look the same. The benchtop will be made of either 0.25" 6061 aluminum plate or a 1.5" maple butcher block top with the machines mounted to base plates. (Would base plates be necessary for those Grizzly 350-500 lb machines? My old setup was mounted to a metal table.) Since I'm in earthquake country, the machines will have to be bolted to the table, and the table to the floor.
For the legs, diagonal members and stringers I was planning to use 2" x 0.065" wall square tube A36 hot roll steel. Would this be a suitable material? I can tack weld it together myself but would like to hire someone to finish welding it up (looks issue).
My shop floor is sloped and uneven. So I was considering using a 360° laser level and stacking 1/8" shims to make four foot pads all at the same level (to within the 1/8") to build the bench on to help ensure the finished product is true and square. Once finished I'd probably level it with conventional machine leveling feet.
What's the best way to start building something like this? With one of the legs and build outward? Start by building the table top frame and then attaching the legs? Some other way I'm not seeing?
Thanks for any feedback. I'm unsure of materials suitability (strength, rigidity), construction method and even the most efficient method of cutting the steel. (So far the plan is to use the 4x6 band saw and truing the angles on the mill.)
One last thing... recommendations for a metal supplier would be welcome too. I'd be looking at around 18-20 pieces of 8' length square tube. These run about $20 each from onlinemetals.com plus $160 total UPS freight shipping to my door. Materials cost alone will be approaching the $1,000 mark, including the butcher block or aluminum top.
PS: Quick and dirty drawing done in Visio. The longer diagonal members work out to appx 52" in length and the shorter diagonals work out to appx 31" in length.