Tool stand project

[jamscal]

Hello all,

I am going to buy a tubing bender soon and didn't want to spend the $100+ for a stand. I also wanted something that could be used in multiple ways. Finally, I didn't want to take up a bunch of space when not in use.

Here's my solution:



I have a plate assembly that is attached to the floor. The 'reciever' actually goes into the floor an additional 3 inches. I had to bust a hole for that. I did this to have enough support and have the unit only 3" off the ground.

I can drive/park a car over it and a tire hitting it shouldn't hurt anything. I'll paint it yellow but I'm sure I'll trip over it sooner or later.



There's a reciever at the top as well, so I can change out those tools that need space but aren't used every day. I threw the buffer attachment together with scrap, I'll have to buy some more steel for the bender or anything else.

Pics of welds. I tigged it. Probably overkill, but good practice.



I'm also going to put a reciever under my welding table so it will all interchange. I'll probably make something for a vise, I could make a table extender or some sort, etc. Plenty of uses as far as I can see.

I might even bolt my wood miter saw to an mdf top, and bolt a 'hitch' to it too.

Thanks for looking,

James

[KBar]

James, nice job, I like it. If I had a garage I would do the same. I like the way you can interchange everything when you need it. Sure saves a lot of space.

I'm afraid if you hit it with a tire, you might blow out the sidewall or break some bands. You could always make some kind of ramp that goes over it, maybe use an old tire. Either way it will still be a trip hazard.

[welding101]

looks well made. if you could have it put next to the work bench it seems that it would not have taken up much space with the way its made.be sure to get that base plate painted with caution yellow. nice job.

[AnotherDano]

When it's not in use, stick a broom in it.
No tripping.

[EdZep]

Looks good, especially the base design. How did you make a hole in your concrete without making a mess that might show beyond the base?

[villemur]

Beautiful TIG welds. What are you running for a machine?

[jamscal]

Thanks guys.

I think it would be fine driving over it slowly. I wouldn't do it on purpose.I did consider some kind of 'hat' for it though. It's placed where it would be inside of the left rear wheel on a car parked over it.

My welding table will be over it most of the time. I could also leave the post installed when my garage is full of projects and not cars, which is a lot.

For the center hole in the floor I hammerdrilled five holes and started in with a chisel, then an air chisel. After a bit of frustration, the shop-vac, and more drilling I got a decent hole for the reciever tube. If I ever sell the place it will patch up nicely.

My machine is a Dynasty 200dx.

Other details: You can actually have two tools mounted at once if their 'tails' are kept at 5".

The main reason for the location of this tool is the tubing bender. I wanted plenty of clearance all around for bending long tubes. It'll be nice to have the buffer out in the open too.

I think I've seen the reciever hitch idea on this site as well as a few other places. I have a reciever on the front of my trailer for a winch mounted in the same manner.

James

[storts]

Hi there,I had 4500 3/16 round ss collet racks to build!,So the iron worker brake was to much power,so a 100 buck grizzly,Not saying my mounting is right,I had a 1/2 disc approx 3 ft,and tacked it down,so the guy can stand on it,and he can bend as much as the bender will take by standing on the plate.

Then easy enough,roll it under the set up bench,,Boy,cant wait till the shop is movable into, But now were fighting with 5" of frozen Dagwood sandwith,ice,sleeet,snow,more ice,than sleet,and a nice 1/2 topping of ice!!!!!!!! And about 10 degrees with the wind chill!!!!! ,But this is New England!,,Looks Good,Thanks,Jack

[Fishy Jim]

I've often thought about the same type of floor mount.

One change my idea has is that you would use a latch buried inside the male tube and thus eliminate the need for an above ground lip.

A simple Z shaped lever engaging a hook on the opposite side would be one way to do it. Put a spring across from the bottom leg of the pivot and it would retain itself in the hole.

[jamscal]

Jack: I have a bench grinder stand like that, but I don't think it would work for me. I'm getting a jd2 bender that has a long handle, I don't weigh enough anyway I think I'll be standing five feet out straining.


Jim: A totally underground mount would be ideal. Actually, you could fab up something really simple and sink it in the concrete if you were building a new garage shop. Sort of like those 'pull pots' they put in the floors of body shops.

-James