Welding Table

[slowzuki]

Yeah the local yard diverts plate into a pile and tries to sell it at 75% of new price even if warped, or covered in weldments.

 

[jake98]

Couldn't you use a thin top over a good frame for most DIY projects?

 

[Haywire]

I had actually thought of that. I considered thick plywood skinned with some thin stuff like 1/8 or thinner. I have some feelers out for the plate. I just have to be patient.

Ian

 

[jake98]

I had actually thought of that. I considered thick plywood skinned with some thin stuff like 1/8 or thinner. I have some feelers out for the plate. I just have to be patient.

Ian

You could use micro-lam (1 3/4) and sheet metal, I was thinking. It would dent, but what the heck?
If you covered a couple with sheet-metal (like 18x48) you could use them on horses and save shop space.
Not to reinvent the wheel, but you could screw thru them easy for quick jigs..

 

[Haywire]

Problem is that by the time you buy a sheet of some specialty 1.75" plywood and a thin sheet of metal, you've come close to buying the thick sheet of metal.

Ian

 

[Jaylegger]

I do only very small jobs so don't need a large table and have successfully been using one of those workmate type workbench units but as you might imagine the top is pretty much toast (literally). Been contemplated replacing the wood top with 1/4" or 1/2" plate (likely 1/2"), the end result a relatively small fold up welding table with built in clamping abilities. Anyone here do anything similar?

 

[Gizmo2]

Problem is that by the time you buy a sheet of some specialty 1.75" plywood and a thin sheet of metal, you've come close to buying the thick sheet of metal.

Ian

Sometimes it's real nice to be able to weld your work to the table, it's like having four hands, then grind it off when done. Makes it tough with a thin sheet metal table.

 

[moored4]

In another thread there was talk about rust on the grounding point. To prevent that and to give you a clean spot all the time then get a small piece of stanless steel and weld to your table to attach your ground to.:thumbsup:

 

[jake98]

I just spent the morning checking out welding table ideas, and products, and it finally occurred to me that unless you know what you're gonna be building, it doesn't make much sense to try and figure out what size table you want.. :confused2:
So, what I'm going to do is get some steel channel 'caps' that fit over the tops of my horses. I use 'Great White' horses (a set can hold a cube of 2x12's) and I've got 3 sets. Shims under the caps will allow for flatness adjustments. And when I need a table for small stuff, I can lay a piece of plate or two up there. I bought some tee shirts from 'Welding Tips and Tricks', just to give me the sensation of spending some money.. :thumbsup:

 

[Tenn_Blue]

Just came in from the shop - working on final assembly of my table when I saw this thread!

Mine is 48"x32" and sits 35" high. Made out of 2 pieces of 24x32x1/2 inch plate I had laying around.

Built on 2x2x3/8 angle iron frame.

Big enough for the majority of the projects I work on. And it was material I had, so no cash outlay to build it.

 

[jmanatee2]

The one I made is 48" x 30" x 1/2" thick.

The frame is 2" x 3" box. The frame is set back about 2" from the edges so I can use C Clamps to hold stuff down.

The table is on heavy duty casters so I move it around the garage.

 

[Haywire]

The welding table project has been put off indefinitely.

I don't have access to any cheap steel, and buying 1/2" plate is cost prohibitive. If I come across any cheap plate, I'll probably build one, but until then...

I found that after I got my welder, learned to put down a decent flat bead and did the welding projects I already had in my mind, the welder mostly sits idle anyway.

Ian

 

[davygp38]

I had actually thought of that. I considered thick plywood skinned with some thin stuff like 1/8 or thinner. I have some feelers out for the plate. I just have to be patient.

Ian

Thats what I have. I have a 56"x30" 1/4 plate on a rolling work bench that has shelves, and a lot of storage underneath. I just tack welded some angle under the plate to keep it on the cart, and it works great. the top of the cart is doubled up 3/4 plywood. with the cart full of tools, it is rock solid. It has locking casters.

 

[jake98]

Got this beauty today. I was talking to a buddy about my new mig machine and needing a table top, he said, 'I just saw a piece on the job in Newark!, I'll get it for you..' I met him on the way home. I love it when a plan comes together..

 

[Gizmo2]

Add a few of these laser cuts and you're in.

 

[jake98]

Add a few of these laser cuts and you're in.

View attachment 229555

View attachment 229556

That looks like a great way to go. :thumbsup: I have a plasma cutter coming tomorrow, but I won't risk doing something like that until I get the hang of it for a while.

 

[Welshman]

The welding table project has been put off indefinitely.

I don't have access to any cheap steel, and buying 1/2" plate is cost prohibitive. If I come across any cheap plate, I'll probably build one, but until then...

Ian

Haywire, I was browsing on the Miller Projects (I think) site last night, and saw a table that a guy made using flat stock - maybe 3" wide - in a "slat" design, rather than a single plate. He had maybe 3/4" gaps between the slats, and liked the convenience of being able to clamp a workpiece at various location across the top. I haven't priced anything but this may be a more economical way to make a top, and may give you more options at the salvage yard. While his slats were uniform in width, they wouldn't have to be.

 

[mjncad]

Haywire, I was browsing on the Miller Projects (I think) site last night, and saw a table that a guy made using flat stock - maybe 3" wide - in a "slat" design, rather than a single plate. He had maybe 3/4" gaps between the slats, and liked the convenience of being able to clamp a workpiece at various location across the top. I haven't priced anything but this may be a more economical way to make a top, and may give you more options at the salvage yard. While his slats were uniform in width, they wouldn't have to be.

Interesting concept, I may have to keep that in mind.

 

[jake98]

I have a trailer axle that's half good. Thinking of using it to mount my table on, so it turns.. anybody do that?

 

[jmanatee2]

I used 4 heavy duty caster wheels so I move it around the garage I was well worth it.