recent posts

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Metal is ordered

Woo hoo.  Just a small update, but my friend that works for a metal fab shop ordered the tube to get me started.

QTY 8 1 X 1 X .065 WALL X 20'
QTY 1 1 X 2 X .065 WALL X 20'
QTY 2 3/4 X 3/4 X .120 W X 24'

Should all be in next week.

Monday, January 23, 2012

Table done


Thursday, January 19, 2012

Donor is Home

Pick up the donor today.  The Copart experience was very good.  I pulled up, walked in, gave them my numbers, they told me to go back out and meet the loading tech.  Next thing I know a big old CAT fork lift pulls up and ask for my papers.  He drive out in the yard, pick us the miata, comes back and drops it on my trailer.


Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Table Build continues

I had planned on using sawhorses for the base.  I tried it and didn't like it.  Even though I bought nice metal sawhorses, they didn't seem stable enough for me.  Then there is the garage floor slope.  It work out to be just under 1inch slope over 8 feet.  That would have meant rigging something with the sawhorses.

So I decided to build my own base.  4x4 post at the 4 corners.  On the uphill end the post are 3 feet, and a bit longer on the down hill side. 1x4s for a frame for the top and shelf area, and middle support

The bottom of the top is 1/2 inch MDF.  I am using unistrut glued to that.  Then I will put a 3/4 inch top on that and bolt it all together using carriage bolts.



Friday, January 13, 2012

I have a donor

I haven't picked it up yet, but I have purchased a donor Miata.  A 1994 with only 80k miles.


Sunday, January 8, 2012

Starting the build table

I see a lot of people use two sheets of MDF and metal wall studs to make a build table.  I like that idea.  The metal studs should be more true than any wood.  The problem is I can't find any around here.  I checked Lowe's and Home Depot, no luck.  Home Depot does have dry wall studs, but they don't look strong enough.

So yesterday I was shopping with my wife.  As I was standing outside the dressing room I noticed everything was built using unistrut/superstrut.  The lights we hung from unistrut, the racks were made with it, it was everywhere.

Once done shopping I stopped by Lowe's and picked up 2 10' sections.  They call it superstrut and it is with the electrical stuff.

The plan is 1/2" MDF on the bottom bonded to the superstrut.  Then put 3/4" MDF on the top and use carriage bolts to sandwich it all together.