The Framers Forum

I’ve been working with extruded aluminium on a side project and have been thinking that as I have the saw and kit to make them perhaps there is a market for custom sized work benches for framers?

Similar to the Keencut benches https://www.lionpic.co.uk/p/41381/Keenc ... 11m-Cutter

They can be made any size and configuration and would come in a self-assembly kit ready to assemble and have the mdf tops fitted.(not supplied)

Any thoughts?

That sounds like a great idea! I hope that it will work well for you!

A very small market if you only look at the framing business.

A plus would be a height specification option for us with back problem.

Good idea about the height option , I might add add a sloping option as well. I’m also not after a lot of sales, it’s just me here and I do plenty as it is…

I'm with Jerome. Our benches are 100cms high, a comfortable height to stand at without leaning over, for me at 5'11". Very hard to find worktables this height, mine are on blocks..

Nice idea Alan,

A possible other small but really useful market is to offer mitre workstations. I have made a couple in my time which i have generally rushed as i am always chasing my tail. By chance, i had watched a video a week ago of a guy in the states make one and given the adjustable nature of the height for the mitre saw, had thought what good idea it was.

Here is the link



Similar to framers benches, not a big market, but very useful.

Thankss. Yes I’ve see those. I’ve working out prices to see if it’s viable for
Me.

It’s looking like £600 or so for a 1.2x2.4m bench with shelf. Supply your own 18mm mdf.

Hummm what do you think?

I don't think that is a bad price, but how long do you reckon it would take for a customer to put it together. I could imagine it would be quite quick.

A decent table would take a reasonable time to make, and can be awkward for one person, so if yours is quick, it is time saved working on my clients work and earning income.

Also can they be fitted with castors?

Nick

It is such a great idea. I bet it will be a really superb quality product. What can I say, it sounds really great to me!

Ok, I’m thinking of a modular system with a core of 1.2x1.2m, 1.8x1.2m and 1.2x600mm benches which can be mixed and matched. They bolt together or are extendable to form whatever arrangement you want. Casters are an option. MDF tops and shelves bolt to the frame from the underside. Indents/cut outs section for underpinnner and bolt down option for mount cutter and a bench end guillotine fitting. Available in silver or black anodised.

Easy enough to design and specify but not cheap. Any takers….?

Hi Alan,

Slight deviation here, but have you considered making something to locate and apply press fit hinges and struts to backing boards, for small volume use?

A cheap drill press could be used to provide the necessary fixing pressure and guide parts to locate the backs, strut legs and hinges in place with machined MDF parts. MDF parts could be CNC machined using your CNC routing machine!

A pressing head to clamp into the electric drill clamp position on the cheap drill press could also be CNC machined from MDF.

It need not be a complicated products at all. What do you think? It might be a good next project.

No, not for me. I generally make things I have an interest in or use for. It could be a good project for yourself? You could make this entirely out of wood with a small bit of 6mm plate alloy and an old forstner bit adapted for the job

I would make them to the standard 18mm MDF board sizes, that way the customer does not have to trim the board down by 10mm, and the board will drop into place

Yes that’s the plan. I’m going to make a small one for a router
In my workshop to see how things go together. I’ll
Report back…

I may be in the market for a couple of smaller sized ones, but at some point in the first quarter of next year. I upgraded (in terms of power) a couple of machines and this led to me needing to get a new dust extractor. This in turn required me to change ducting to a wider diameter.

I have botched bits in order to get machinery usable so jobs can be worked o , but i am hoping i can get my workshop properly organised and in particular will need outfeed tables for a couple of machines.

Will be interested in your report on your table.

Nick

Hi,

Have you thought of making one with vertical partitions for mount board storage?

Regards,

Graham

Yes, there are lot of options that can be built in.