Picked up a new bench vise off of Amazon, originally I was just going to mount it on a pedestal but then I figured I'd build a small welding table off the back end. Snagged a trash brake drum from a local semi repair shop for scrap value, some time with a wire wheel and it cleaned up nice, super heavy and makes a great base.
![20191116_082245.jpg 20191116_082245.jpg](https://www.rme4x4.com/data/attachments/83/83709-2e16f83128a309f2ef74340179921a61.jpg)
Used 1/4" plate to create the base to be bolted to the brake drum. Leftover 2"x2"x1/4" tubing for the post. 24"x24"x3/8" plate for the weld table. With the vise bolted to the weld table, i found the CG which is where I attached the post to keep everything balanced. Added some gussets to the bottom (doubt it's necessary but what the hell/weld practice), and some 1" x 1/4" and 1/8" thick backbones to the bottom of the weld table to hopefully help prevent warping. Left 4" gap between the backbones and the edge of the table to make clamping pieces easy.
![20191117_095827.jpg 20191117_095827.jpg](https://www.rme4x4.com/data/attachments/83/83710-a649e3201e3d889a27552e236795a7b4.jpg)
![20191117_131254.jpg 20191117_131254.jpg](https://www.rme4x4.com/data/attachments/83/83711-48e464f2560d37925e36eea38f87ac61.jpg)
Blended any sharp edges and rattled canned hammered black.
![20191118_052614.jpg 20191118_052614.jpg](https://www.rme4x4.com/data/attachments/83/83712-72fc8ca39886d3ea397a7cec80b060ed.jpg)
![20191118_052620.jpg 20191118_052620.jpg](https://www.rme4x4.com/data/attachments/83/83713-72c1843cbe36eea2081479c3076650e8.jpg)
The vise is Amazon quality nice, not nice nice, but great for what I'll be doing; rotating head will be handy and the thing seems dang stout. The weld table height is the same height as my primary work bench so I can maneuver it around/next to it if needed for bigger pieces. Obviously I'm not going to be cranking on anything too hard in the vise with it mounted this way but the assembly turned out really stable. It's heavy but I can shuffle it around the shop without too much effort.
![20191116_082245.jpg 20191116_082245.jpg](https://www.rme4x4.com/data/attachments/83/83709-2e16f83128a309f2ef74340179921a61.jpg)
Used 1/4" plate to create the base to be bolted to the brake drum. Leftover 2"x2"x1/4" tubing for the post. 24"x24"x3/8" plate for the weld table. With the vise bolted to the weld table, i found the CG which is where I attached the post to keep everything balanced. Added some gussets to the bottom (doubt it's necessary but what the hell/weld practice), and some 1" x 1/4" and 1/8" thick backbones to the bottom of the weld table to hopefully help prevent warping. Left 4" gap between the backbones and the edge of the table to make clamping pieces easy.
![20191117_095827.jpg 20191117_095827.jpg](https://www.rme4x4.com/data/attachments/83/83710-a649e3201e3d889a27552e236795a7b4.jpg)
![20191117_131254.jpg 20191117_131254.jpg](https://www.rme4x4.com/data/attachments/83/83711-48e464f2560d37925e36eea38f87ac61.jpg)
Blended any sharp edges and rattled canned hammered black.
![20191118_052614.jpg 20191118_052614.jpg](https://www.rme4x4.com/data/attachments/83/83712-72fc8ca39886d3ea397a7cec80b060ed.jpg)
![20191118_052620.jpg 20191118_052620.jpg](https://www.rme4x4.com/data/attachments/83/83713-72c1843cbe36eea2081479c3076650e8.jpg)
The vise is Amazon quality nice, not nice nice, but great for what I'll be doing; rotating head will be handy and the thing seems dang stout. The weld table height is the same height as my primary work bench so I can maneuver it around/next to it if needed for bigger pieces. Obviously I'm not going to be cranking on anything too hard in the vise with it mounted this way but the assembly turned out really stable. It's heavy but I can shuffle it around the shop without too much effort.