Welding table build.

[shadetree]

Two great tables. Lots of work in each.

ovrszd since it's all in your head, could you post some more pictures of your fold down? It looks like you got the alignment perfect.

 

[dragoneggs]

Two great tables. Lots of work in each.

ovrszd since it's all in your head, could you post some more pictures of your fold down? It looks like you got the alignment perfect.

Yeah I like the standard holes in the plates. Wondering if you can buy just those to stick on your own frame? I do like the fold up end... I assume for plasma work?

 

[Big Barn]

Strong hand tools makes assorted tooling that will drop in the holes. They are kind of expensive so it's likely I won't buy many but I'll make some of my own. It's also a welding table, not a nuts and bolts table. I have a regular wooden work bench for that.

You don't HAVE to buy the Stronghand tooling. Just weld a 5/8" bolt (or?) to whatever clamps or tooling you need.

Here's some of my clamps with the top curved section cut off (had a C -section )



Here's a bent tire lug nut wrench in a 5/8 hole on my anvil but also can be used on my weld table. Just needs a light tap with hammer to lock down and a light tap to release.



Terry

 

[CADplans]

Here is a pic of my welding table,,, it is under the parts I used to build a 7' landplane.

I did not build the welding table, I bought it off of a weld shop that was closing.
Before purchasing the table, I had several opportunities to see the previous owner use the table.
He simply MIG welded any fixturing or clamps directly to the table.
After he was done, the angle grinder would remove the welds, the table looked perfect again.

This was done thousands of times on my table,, and it is still flat within my specs,,,

 

[newbury]

Yeah I like the standard holes in the plates. Wondering if you can buy just those to stick on your own frame? I do like the fold up end... I assume for plasma work?

YEAH, I've got the metal plate for a top, now if I can just buy about 30 holes!

 

[BigBoyToys]

:laughing: Here's one way to "buy" the holes...
PRO Series Welding Table Tops – WeldTables.com

 

[Big Barn]

YEAH, I've got the metal plate for a top, now if I can just buy about 30 holes!

I didn't have a mag drill when I built my table. Here's how a "limited income retired farmer" does it:

--found cheap import drill press at garage sale for $20
--shortened column appropriate amount.
--removed work table and rotated headstock 180°
--clamped unit to table



FWIW I only have about 30 holes on my 4'x8' table. Seems suitable for MY requirements.

Terry

 

[dragoneggs]

I didn't have a mag drill when I built my table. Here's how a "limited income retired farmer" does it:

--found cheap import drill press at garage sale for $20
--shortened column appropriate amount.
--removed work table and rotated headstock 180°
--clamped unit to table

View attachment 524386View attachment 524387

FWIW I only have about 30 holes on my 4'x8' table. Seems suitable for MY requirements.

Terry

Smart.

 

[flusher]

OK. I didn't get photos during the build process but here's a few of the finished product for your enjoyment and/or criticism.

Like the frame. Don't like the top. Ten pieces of steel plate--too difficult to ensure that these plates are aligned so the top is sufficiently flat for precision work.

 

[Big Barn]

Smart.

Not really.

SMART was when I dipped into my daughter's dwindling inheritance money....

 

[Rustyiron]

Not really.

SMART was when I dipped into my daughter's dwindling inheritance money....View attachment 524396

:laughing::laughing::laughing:
That's top of the line there! I'm still running my cheapo Evolution mag drill, when it's shot (now realizing how great a mag drill is) I'll step up:thumbsup:

 

[ovrszd]

ovrszd. I really like the drop leaf on your table.

Trying to save space in my shop. I use it for a cutting table. Wanted it to be in the upright position perfectly flat with the welding table. Had to rely on "ShieldArc" for help with that.

Thanks for the compliment. Your workmanship exceeds mine. Don't want to distract from your very well built table!!!!

 

[ovrszd]

I like your's better, wont lose any nuts and bolts through holes, then for welding a fold up table, and lastly the nice screw down feet to support the severe aggravation fits from working on Fords. What's the top made of?

Mark, I understand the use of both types of table tops. The slotted/holed version limits varied use. But if you are jigging a lot, it's better. With my top I have to weld jig brackets to the top and then cut them off when I'm done.

If the intended use of a welding table is all kinds of metal work, including vice work, the screw down feet are a necessity. Only thing I did wrong was I used coarse thread 3/4" bolts. Should have used fine thread. You gotta get right ahold of them to screw up/down. My table weighs somewhere around 500lbs. Top is 3/4" mild steel plate. Bought off Craigslist for $100.

 

[ovrszd]

Two great tables. Lots of work in each.

ovrszd since it's all in your head, could you post some more pictures of your fold down? It looks like you got the alignment perfect.

Again, I give all the credit to "ShieldArc". He taught me how to design the fold down/latch up system. My first attempt wouldn't fold at all. Excuse my non-mathematical verbiage. The distance from the hinge pin to the table top pin must EXACTLY match the distance from the hinge pin to the lower leg pin. After that it's all secondary. Since I don't beat on stuff or load the extension with extreme weight I didn't worry so much about the supports. They are 1/4x2 flatbar that I had onhand.

Not sure these pics will help you, but it's all I got. Sorry to the OP for the distraction!!!!!

 

[ovrszd]

Bigbarn, Terry, is a craftsman. He's very modest. So you gotta almost pry his knowledge out of him. But he's definitely a Metal Craftsman!!!! I pay very close attention to his posts and read them repeatedly hoping some of it will soak in......

 

[Jeepnford]

Like the frame. Don't like the top. Ten pieces of steel plate--too difficult to ensure that these plates are aligned so the top is sufficiently flat for precision work.

It's a lot more precision than when I laid a couple of lengths of C-channel across some saw horses. With three rectangular tubes for support it's actually pretty flat. I really haven't built anything that requires extremely close tolerances. A machinist I am not. I did get a little carried away with the holes.

 

[ovrszd]

It's a lot more precision than when I laid a couple of lengths of C-channel across some saw horses. With three rectangular tubes for support it's actually pretty flat. I really haven't built anything that requires extremely close tolerances. A machinist I am not. I did get a little carried away with the holes.

I think it has the perfect number of holes!!!

 

[Jeepnford]

Again, I give all the credit to "ShieldArc". He taught me how to design the fold down/latch up system. My first attempt wouldn't fold at all. Excuse my non-mathematical verbiage. The distance from the hinge pin to the table top pin must EXACTLY match the distance from the hinge pin to the lower leg pin. After that it's all secondary. Since I don't beat on stuff or load the extension with extreme weight I didn't worry so much about the supports. They are 1/4x2 flatbar that I had onhand.

Not sure these pics will help you, but it's all I got. Sorry to the OP for the distraction!!!!!


The OP doesn't mind. He likes to see what others have done.

 

[ovrszd]

Me too. I've learned more than I've ever contributed to this site.

Here's a couple other pics. Not sure who posted them here. They are two ideas I thought ingenious for cutting tables. One catches the mess. One rotates.

 

[ovrszd]

This rotating one uses a car wheel/hub assembly.