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Mike Miller
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Date:  10-3-2005
Number of Hours:  4.00
Manual Reference:  
Brief Description:  Building work table

In reviewing many builders tables I decided "flat" needed to be a priority for my construction. Building a flat table is not easy. Plywood, press board, etc. does not like to lay flat. Having built a couple work benches over the years I felt I might as well do it right this time, as the finished table would become my future general workbench after the plane was completed.I also built RC airplanes for many years and realize that "flat" is REALLY important in the final aircraft product. Spent some time looking at what others had built, and nothing really looked adequate.I wanted "moveable", to put it in different places in my shop. I wanted height adjustable, so I could make it more comfortable to work with. Since I probably would not do it again, cost was not a major consideration.Originally I wanted to skin the top surface with 1/4" smooth, high-density, 2-sided hardboard. 12' x 4' sizes are made, but not available through our local lumber yards without a special order (very expensive!). Gave up on that idea.Instead I looked for high quality, 3/4", flat, finished (at least one-side), 7-ply plywood. Wow, has that price increased.Also difficult, if not impossible, to find straight 2x4's, or much "straight" lumber anywhere. So, one day I am out looking at a metal supplier for something else, and I find a "scrap" 5" 6061-T6 channel, 8' long. Scrap sells by the pound, so I grab the one piece (all they had), and eventually ordered a 25' piece that they cut into 2 - 12' pieces for me. Also had them cut 5 - 1/4"x 5"x40" plate AL pieces, and 14 - 2" x 5" angle AL corners. Had the 8' channel cut into 2- 40" pieces that became the ends of the top frame.Now I had a frame I felt might be "flat" and stay flat. (Lots of drilling for 1/4" bolts, but rigid when put together). 8 bolts in each corner. 7 cross-members.
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Skeleton of work table

Skeleton of work table

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