16 replies to this topic

[stuart bowes]

Been a bit busy lately, converting the garage from mostly woodwork to having a little metalworking area:

 

table:

 

 

it's flat and level that's the main thing.  

only 3mm sheet on top though so I won't be welding directly onto it for thick stuff!  wanted to keep it fairly cheap

if you were wondering, the front edge is angled slightly for a bit of extra space (I'm right handed)

 

there will be a small drawer added for marking up tools etc, and obviously some shelving underneath for storage as well (extra weight not a bad thing to keep it steady)

 

that front right corner was a bit pokey-outy so I cut that off and will cap it later on

 

and new trolley

 

(that grinder needs to come down lower really,  need to relocate socket outlet first)

 

 

 

 

(nicked the wheels off the old trolley)

then painted :

 

 

obviously it fits in between the table and the blue wall.. I thought it might be a bit unstable being so long and thinner than the old trolley, but it's really stable actually even with the MIG on top and nothing on the bottom

 

it has space for two bottles and two machines, the idea being the other bottle will eventually be pure argon and the other machine will be a AC/DC 200a TIG (which I've taken measurements of already :) )

 

I would have 45'd the box section but in all honesty I wanted to slap it together quick, I'll get some end caps to put in at some point

 

for now though I'm thinking just the MIG (gotta practice that more yet anyway) and possibly a cheap plasma cutter for now until I've saved up a couple of grand..

 

I showed the missus and she said, are you taking part in the red bull soap box race lol .. no but that would be funny

Edited by stuart bowes, 04 March 2026 - 12:38 PM.

[stuart bowes]

also, this might be useful to any older guys or people like me without 20/20 vision (so you don't need to get your face as close to the heat as well, or in awkward locations)

https://www.r-techwe...magnifying-lens

 

my mask is air fed:

https://www.r-techwe...ing-mask-system

it comes with a little convertor piece to use the magnifier if you need.  although somehow I lost that so I've taped it in instead 

 

the lens did fit straight in both my other masks though (non r-tech) there are little clips on the inside of the screen to mount it 

 

my mask has the welding visor as a flip-up so underneath it's just a normal plastic visor (for grinding, looking around while not welding, etc) as when you've got the magnifier in it does sort of mess with your depth perception and taking it off is a bit of a nuisance with the air feed, etc, easier just to leave it on

 

the yellow visor it came with was a bit too dim so I swapped that to a clear one.  and I use a bright torch where required, obviously

Edited by stuart bowes, 04 March 2026 - 01:12 PM.