DIY Guide: Build a Vibrating Table Shaker for Concrete Molding

So, you wanna make yourself a vibrating table shaker for molding concrete, huh? Well, it’s not all that hard, really. I know a lot of folks out there try to buy these fancy vibrating tables, but let me tell you, you can make one yourself without breaking the bank. All you need is a few tools, some patience, and the right bits and pieces.

Now, first thing first, a vibrating table is real handy when you’re working with concrete molds. It helps get rid of those air bubbles that like to sneak into the mix, and trust me, you don’t want those. Bubbles in concrete mean weak spots, and you want your concrete nice and strong, don’t you? A vibrating table shakes the concrete so that the air pockets rise to the top and escape, leaving you with a much smoother, denser, and stronger mold. And that’s what we’re after, right?

So, here’s what you’ll need to get started on making your own concrete vibrating table:

• Some wood for the frame – doesn’t need to be anything fancy, just some good sturdy stuff.
• An orbital sander – yep, you heard me right. If you’ve got an old sander sitting around that lost its sanding pad, it can be put to work here.
• Some screws and nails – to hold everything together.
• A motor – something with a bit of vibration power, like a small vibrating motor or even a Dayton audio transducer. They’re not too expensive and can do the job just fine.
• Some rubber feet or a shock-absorbing material – to keep everything from shaking too much and to make sure the vibration goes into the concrete, not the whole table.

Alright, now let’s get to building. First, you’ll need to build a simple frame for your table. You don’t need to make it too big unless you’re planning to mold big chunks of concrete. A small 2×2 foot frame should do just fine for most home projects. You want it to be sturdy, so make sure you screw the corners together nice and tight.

Next, you’ll attach your vibrating motor to the frame. The idea is to get the motor positioned so that when it runs, it causes the whole table to shake. The motor will be the heart of your vibrating table, so don’t skimp here. If you’re using an orbital sander motor, you might need to take off the sanding pad and see how to mount it securely so it can shake the whole setup. Don’t worry too much about the details; just make sure it’s tight and secure.

Once you have the motor in place, you want to make sure it’s connected to a power source, and it can switch on and off easily. Safety first, though, so make sure your wiring is proper and everything is safe to use. You can even add a switch to make turning it on and off simple.

Now, here comes the fun part. Put the table on a solid surface, like your workbench, and place your concrete mold on top of it. When you turn the motor on, you’ll notice that the whole table shakes, and that’s exactly what you want. You can start filling the mold with concrete, but don’t fill it all the way at first. Leave it about halfway full, then turn the motor on for a few seconds to let the concrete settle and get rid of those pesky bubbles. Once the air pockets are gone, fill the mold to the top and give it another shake.

When it comes to how long to vibrate the concrete, don’t go overboard. About 10 to 15 seconds should be enough to get the job done. Any longer and you might end up with a mess. Just keep an eye on the mold, and when you see the bubbles rising to the top, that’s when you know it’s working. When you turn the motor off, the concrete will be nice and compact, and you’ll have a strong, smooth result when it sets.

And there you have it, folks! A homemade concrete vibrating table shaker that can help you make smooth, strong molds without spending a fortune. Just be patient and take your time with each step, and soon enough, you’ll be making concrete molds like a pro. Ain’t too hard once you get the hang of it, and it’s a mighty good tool to have around if you’re doing a lot of concrete work.

Tags：[Concrete Vibrating Table, Build A Vibrating Table, Concrete Molding, DIY Concrete Shaker, Vibrating Motor, Concrete Projects]