Any plans for a wooden 4x8 table?

[knight_toolworks]

Looks like my budget is getting cut and it would save a huge amount if I built the table. Doing it out of metal at least a bolt together form would be a pain in my shop. Having someone weld up one may be the way to go or I could build a wooden one if I had more info on the size and requirements.

[wooddr]

Steve,

I built my table out of wood and I am very pleased with it. I used 1-3/4” x 11-7/8” Lvl’s for the main side rails and then I used 6” x 1-1/2” joists made out of ¾” Baltic birch laminated together on 12” centers. I also sheeted the bottom of the joists with ½” plywood. I didn’t use the lag bolt setup that Shopbot used to mount the top main rails. My main top is out of 1-1/8” mdf (with a vacuum zone setup in it) with a 1/2” spoil board top. Since Idaho is like a desert we don’t have to worry about humidity too much.

Bill Palumbo took a picture of my setup at the Boise, Idaho Shopbot camp. http://www.flickr.com/photos/campshopbot/159924487/in/set-72157594154965065/ I used a piece of 2” x 3” L metal to mount the main top rails. My main legs are made out ¾” Baltic birch that is 6” x 12” box construction. I don’t know if there is more than $300 to $400 dollars difference between a metal table vs. a wooden table like mine though so you might check with your local steel shop first.

Dirk

[myxpykalix]

I had my table built by a welder. It is 5x10 with an indexer bay built in and material and labor to build mine was inthe $1100.00 range. If you are building a regular table (no indexer) depending on where you live you might get away inthe $800-900.00 range Probably less if you went with wood however all that i read about tolerences and such I decided to go with steel over wood. But be prepared for at least 800 lbs of weight.

[knight_toolworks]

Gerald sent me the wooden planes. they look good. I can see changing it over to plywood for stability and strength.
the plans show the width at 61.5" will that let me do the mounting like dirk does?

[gerald_d]

That must be another Gerald - but I am giving my steel table plans at the MechMate site http://www.mechmate.com/Forum/messages/8/1204.html

[wooddr]

Steve,

My table is 60-7/8" inside the 11-7/8" Lvl's. If you look at the picture in my link from above you will see that you have plenty of fudge factor to install the factory Shopbot rails.
I think I probably have about $350 invested in my table. I used the shopbot plans for wood and metal as my guide.

Dirk

[pfulghum]

Dirk (and everyone else interested),

I have an extensive collection of jpg photos for Dirk's table. It is about 64MB. If you are interested I can post them somewhere on my website. Just drop me or Dirk an email.


EDIT: I don't have a good overall view.
but the photos I have can be seen at http://www.users.qwest.net/~pfulghum/dirkwoodtable.zip (It is a 64MB download).

-- pat

[pfulghum]

The link is ...
http://www.users.qwest.net/~pfulghum/DirkWoodTable.zip sorry.
-- pat

[gwilson]

It was me, I had a copy of the shopbot wood table plans.

[knight_toolworks]

I will use wood and metal I think I want some sheet good storage under the table.

[myxpykalix]

You might want to, at a later date,install a vacumn holddown and storage under the table will interfere with that. Something to think about...

[knight_toolworks]

I can work the vacuum parts through the sides as I build it. or through the table slats. but I don't have any place for sheet good storage in my shop.