Help Me Build a Great Welding table

[Wooddust]

I just scored a great deal.

I now own a 3foot by 4 foot 1/2 inch piece of steel plate that I will use as a top for a welding table.

Your challenge if you choose to accept it, is to help me design the table using that top piece.

Im open to any and all ideas, let your creativity flow and help me make this a great useful addition to my shop.

 

[deereman75]

I am wanting to build one for my self soon, and I am thinking of welding large angle iron legs onto the plate, and putting a lower shelf under it, about half way up the legs. This will make it alot stronger, and give you a place to put things like grinders and welding rods. I would also put a vise on it, and a bench anvil. I am going to make up some sketches, I will post them when I am finished.

 

[Wooddust]

I am wanting to build one for my self soon, and I am thinking of welding large angle iron legs onto the plate, and putting a lower shelf under it, about half way up the legs. This will make it alot stronger, and give you a place to put things like grinders and welding rods. I would also put a vise on it, and a bench anvil. I am going to make up some sketches, I will post them when I am finished.

I plan on a vice as well. Thinking about drilling holes in 1/2 plate makes me weak and tired....gotta figure that one out.

Table needs to be heavy and have Casters for my shop. I like the storage shelf idea for helmets, vice grips, gloves.

 

[deereman75]

I couldnt make up any sketches, but I found a picture of basicaly what I am thinking of, but with a shelf insted of the braces in the middle. I would also add an anvil, in the 20# range, railroad rail anvil would work well.

 

[deereman75]

I plan on a vice as well. Thinking about drilling holes in 1/2 plate makes me weak and tired....gotta figure that one out.

Table needs to be heavy and have Casters for my shop. I like the storage shelf idea for helmets, vice grips, gloves.

Torch the holes, if you can.

 

[not2old]

Table needs to be heavy and have Casters for my shop. I like the storage shelf idea for helmets, vice grips, gloves.[/QUOTE]

I found than casters weren't solid enough. I lift one end with a floor jack and slide a dolly under the braces in order to move it easily. With ballast, mine weighs over 1000 lbs. but still moves easily and the heavy duty dolly I made works well for other things too. Mine was my first project with thicker metal and I learned a lot doing it. I warped the top a little, and although it doesn't seem to be a problem, be carefull, it happens easily.

 

[Runner]

Here's a thread on my welding table build:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/welding/162293-welding-table.html

I know you said you already have a top, but my recommendation is to go bigger. Mine is 53 x 60 and I would like even bigger (however, I was also using a top I already had).

Since the original build, I have also added sheet metal sides that keep grindings and welding spatter from going everywhere.

 

[Wooddust]

Free 3 by 4 trumped bigger for cash....

 

[Wooddust]

Table needs to be heavy and have Casters for my shop. I like the storage shelf idea for helmets, vice grips, gloves.

I found than casters weren't solid enough. I lift one end with a floor jack and slide a dolly under the braces in order to move it easily. With ballast, mine weighs over 1000 lbs. but still moves easily and the heavy duty dolly I made works well for other things too. Mine was my first project with thicker metal and I learned a lot doing it. I warped the top a little, and although it doesn't seem to be a problem, be carefull, it happens easily.[/QUOTE]

May consider a plate in dead center that a floor jack would reach then just use jack to move it.....something to consider

 

[ptexer]

I placed a metal drawer out of a desk right under the top. It holds tapes, chalk and many things that create clutter on your table. This is a thin center drawer.