New Fixture table!

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I'm a small time fabricator in my 50's. I've been making signs and the occasional table or something with my CNC plasma cutter for about 15 years, but I've been just ITCHING to get a fixture table ever since I started watching videos from Fireball Tools on YouTube. I'm pretty broke these days so I can't afford something like a Fireball table but I really enjoy working with metal so I do what I can. About 12 years ago I was gifted a 4x6 sheet of 1" steel plate so I made a welding table. It had a pretty big bow in the middle, but I made do with it for all these years. Clamping to the edge of the table like a caveman... Here's a pic of what it "used" to look like.

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I found a friend with a laser cutter that said if I paid for the steel, and traded him some old Willys jeep parts, he'd cut me some holes in it for me. He said he could cut 1/2" steel with his laser.

Now... I like my 1" top, but I've really never had a time where I thought, "Golly, I'm glad my top is 1" thick!" so I took him up on his offer and had him cut a 48"x 72" sheet of 1/2" thick steel with (805) 5/8" holes set on a 2" grid pattern. After about a week, he told me it was done. I pulled off the 1" thick top to make room for the new sheet.

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Using a skid steer with forks, the new top was on in a jiffy!

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I have actually lost sleep over this next part... I really wanted to use Fireball fixtures. I love their tooth block design and the 2 pin design of their fence blocks, but I was literally terrified that their fence blocks weren't going to fit because the holes were just a little bit off. I had heard Jason from Fireball Tools mention once that spacing should be in the +/-.002 range, and my laser guy says his table has a tolerance of about +/-.005, so I was very worried that I was going to have a table that would have great clamping abilities, but not be able to use the Fireball 2 pin fence blocks (Well, with two pins at least) I also really like their larger fence blocks and the ability to use them in a 45 degree setup, but again... terrified they wouldn't work.

So first test... do I really have a 2" grid pattern.........?

Yes! they fit great!

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Next test, can I use the Fireball Tools long fence blocks, set at a 45 degree angle.......?

Yes! They fit great also!
I guess lasers do actually work!

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I'm assuming these specific fixtures are going to be my bread and butter fixtures for the stuff I'll be making.

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Now for flatness. With my old 1" top, it had about a 1/4" gap over the 6' span. I didn't like it, but I made it work. Honestly, if I could make this ANY better than that, I'd be happy. I set my 6' level on the short side of the table. It was nice and flat! Now I didn't get out the feeler gauges, but the level didn't wobble anything noticeable so I was very happy with that.

Over the 6' length though, things were different. There was almost an 1/8" of wobble on the level. Many years ago, I tried to pull my old 1" sheet with clamps and bolts, but it wouldn't budge.

Now with this 1/2" table top, I was hoping I could pull this sheet into place if I needed to, so I tried putting a clamp underneath and was able to pull it perfectly into place! Again... I didn't get out the feeler gauges, but if my 6' level looks good, I'm happy! I’ll weld on a nut or something to make it more permanent.

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I also made a rolling cart for my fixtures and clamps. I looked at a bunch of different designs for storage and really liked the design Fireball had, so I based it on their design. I don't have too many fixtures yet, but I hope to change that in the future.

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Nice work! I’ve been thinking, dreaming about a fixture table myself.

I was thinking about Jason’s first design using 1’x1’ plates that are spaced a couple inches apart thinking how it would work out for me. I guess pros and cons both ways.

I have a 1” steel table 6’x 12’ in my shop. Most of it is a catch all and at the moment only 2/3 is available. And it has a considerable bow in it. I’ve been thinking about making a new base for it and try to get it straightened. Plus I don’t like the existing base since they made it overhang only 2”, making it tough to clamp down to.

And I may start drilling holes in it for a fixture table. I might make my own drilling template. I’m frugal that way, and figured that’s why I have invested in my hobby tools. Getting my retirement home shop set up well before I actually retire someday from the day job.

Last year I bought some of the Fireball mega squares. I have liked them and would like to invest in more of his stuff.

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Very nice!!!!