Surface Plate Coffee Table, Project #1, d.fisher

[d.fisher]

This is one of my current projects. It has been in the works (off and on) for the last two months. I wasn't exactly sure what category this fits into because it is made equally of metal, wood, and granite. It has a good amount of welding and machining. The parts are either identical or mirrors to one another, so I made several jigs to reproduce each piece. I plan to make more of these tables if this one succeeds, so if I get lucky, I won't have to reinvent any parts in the future.

The idea of the piece revolves around the size and weight of a 3'x4'x6" granite surface plate. It weighs approximately 1140 lbs. The base for the table will act using tension, to clamp each corner of the plate. No mechanical attachments will be used.

So up till this point, I have fabricated four legs and a center post. They are made from mild steel, brass, some aluminum, and quartersawn white oak (about 1 1/4" thick).

This photo shows the surface plate on my workbench. The plate was shipped right side up, but I needed to build from the bottom. I made crate that allows me to lift the plate, set it on the side pins, and rotate (or flip upside down).

[d.fisher]

Here's some pics of the legs and center post. I have some work to do aligning the connecting rods that go from the legs to the post

[dyethor]

I'm intrigued. can't wait for more progress pics.

[jp2code]

It weights over 1000 lbs???

[dyethor]

Yea those surface plates are no joke! I worked at a place that had a 4'x8'x 6" one. You could try to move it by hand all you want and it wouldn't even slightly move.

[d.fisher]

Yup, I ordered from Enco where the weight was listed in the stats. Plus the freight company confirmed this in their bill. In all reality, this won't make a good coffee table, but at least your coffee cup will have a nice flat surface to rest on....

[dyethor]

I would be proud to have and call that a coffee table!

[Jake98]

In all reality, this won't make a good coffee table, but at least your coffee cup will have a nice flat surface to rest on....

So, what's the plan for it? Those are nice looking legs, oak right?

[d.fisher]

Here's a detail shot of where the leg meets the table. This is also where I installed the previously mentioned brass plates to cover the transition in between the round bar and plate.

[d.fisher]

Here are a few images of the jigs I created to make the corner plates. Because I am welding round bar to plate, I have to do a lot of filler-welding and then grinding to blend the two together, sort of a pain, and something I would maybe change in the future. I'm saving my pennies to get a tig welder soon, then I'll concentrate on making attractive welds and try and forget about the grinding...after the pieces are tacked together, I remove the jig and do all the finish welding

[d.fisher]

A view of the finished base, all tightened up and ready to go.

[d.fisher]

Another jig to make a contoured brass cover plate. This jig is made for use in a manual arbor press. The one I use is rated at 3tons. I'm sure you could get away with using a smaller press, it's just what is available to me. Pictured below is the female and male parts of this forming jig.

[d.fisher]

This design is pulled out of my head, no help from any computer design programs. Therefore I wanted to simulate a test to get an idea of how this base would react to weight. Overall, the test went well. I made a wood insert to pile weight on top of, found around 600 lbs of various bags of cement, stone, and dirt laying around the shop, and slowly started piling. My overall goal is 1140 pounds, so after all the weight was on, a fellow studio mate (260 lbs) and myself (215) both stepped on. Success! Nothing crashed and all was stable! Next step is the granite, but that won't happen for a few days.

[d.fisher]

The jig was made to hot form 1.25" x 3/16" brass (alloy 360). Other metals and widths can be used, but the jig is specific to the 3/16" thickness. You'll see why later, or you probably already know why.

[d.fisher]

Well, it's been a long week. Finished a few projects including the surface plate table. Here's some shots of yesterday's action. The first photo shows the setting in place awaiting the arrival of the surface plate. The second photo shows the table set in place. At 1200 pounds, and only set in by tension, this table is more stable than I could have imagined. It won't be in my house anytime soon. Its best viewed from two feet away, for safety's sake...

[d.fisher]

The brass is then heated till glowing a dark red (best viewed in low light), the then transfered to the jig, and pressed into form with one pull of the handle. The transfer does not have to be super fast, as forming the brass while too hot may cause it to crack. Some minor tweaking on the anvil is necessary afterward.

[jp2code]

Cool stuff!

What part of the table is this going on? Holding the top in place or something?

[d.fisher]

Cool stuff!

What part of the table is this going on? Holding the top in place or something?

The brass parts are essentially decoration. They will cover the 1" round bar that was welded in the middle of the plate in the earlier pictures. I'll add a detail picture when I get back to the studio.

[charger891]

True artist! looks awesome man!!

[d.fisher]

Thanks charger! It feels good to have it done!