For all 10MW Plus members*
Hi everyone. Whilst getting ready to ream out the Excel bench top I made a bit of a discovery, possibly making the connection between the Metabo bench and the Vevor/Excel much closer that I’d thought.
I use the Benchdogs reamer on the top without any issues at all, and it only took a few minutes; unless you’re in a tearing hurry it’s probably better to take it slower as the reamer gets very hot - I did actually take a break to let it cools down just in case there was a slight difference in size, but there didn’t appear to be any at all.
I freehanded the whole thing and had no issues that I could see with squareness of the hole grid or perpendicuar-ness of the individual holes. The grid did seem to be slightly out of square, but it remained so after the holes were reamed, and hadn’t worsened.
Overall I think it’s a good, quick fix for a cheap bench top; a better top would sort out the hole spacings and I’ll be looking into that later on, as well as pulling the bench apart to take a closer look at that extrusion.
That’s all for this week though, thanks everyone for your support, and I’ll catch you in the next one.
Peter
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Direct link - https://youtu.be/2uyUmNAARBY
I got distracted by the 3d printing discussions below. But I came here to wager that the top of the Excell extrusion is not solid. I am guessing that can be checked by removing the top.
Is the extrusion riveted to the plastic corners?
Peter, Just wonderig if metabo and Excell can supply thier own brand of bench dogs that fit their tables?
I was around at the start of 3d printing - as hobbyists know it. Hannah, my daughter, and I started in 2006 (when the RepRap Project started) and this presentation to Reading Geek Night resulted in the formation of Thames Valley RepRap User Group. In the days before Chinese manufacturing took over, we helped over 80 people source the parts for 3d printers, build and calibrate them.
This afternoon, I was showing Hannah how to use my 5+ year-old Creality printer. That was to prototype some parts for a loom that she has ambitions to build. Her comment (after a few years away from the area) was, "It has come on a bit since I last used a 3d printer."
You were quite motivated — Loved your delight when the Excel fitted nicely into your workbench space.
For the “is it square” test, try the dog holes on the Right side of the table. Those were virgin holes prior to the reaming.
The hourly rental costs for that paint spray booth is quite good. Although, for the typical Primer + Top Coat layers, that might go over 4-hours if one includes drying and sanding time.
However, that total cost is worth it. They have excellent ventilation and provide all the equipment. You’d simply have to bring your material and the paint.
I bet that space also has a metal milling machine to make the T-Slot into those side extrusions! 🤫
I would have sworn you were going to connect the two benches together with those plastic pieces--what a tease!