Welding Tables

[dyethor]

I wonder if its more specifically the oxide layer on the wire and on the work that becomes vaporized. I built the all stainless steel bbq in my pictures with only a mig. Warping is a pain in the rear!

[Buzz]

I ended up making a table top table. 24x48 1/4 thick, weighs about 100 lbs , portable that I can remove. nothing special but it works great. I need to make some kind of jig to square up material. if any body got any ideas let me know.

[dyethor]

Buzz.
You could get some straight stock and square it as good as possible, clamp it down then drill holes through it and the table. Then tap out the holes in the table, and ream out the holes in the stock a little. Or you could just use bolts and nuts all the way through. Use the most accurate measuring device possible when setting up the pieces before drilling any holes. If trying to make a perfect 90 use the Pythagorean theorem formula http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pythagorean_theorem. This way you can do the math and figure out the exact length you need to measure out.

[brad3579]

I was wondering what type of welding tables everyone uses? If you made it or bought it? I made mine out of aluminum to be light so if I had to move it would be easy. I made it so beefy out of 1/4" 2" x 4" aluminum the beast weights about 80 pounds so it defeated the purpose. The top is removable I just lay it on top. I have different tops I use. The most common is a 1/8" sheet of 6061 aluminum with a copper sheet to absorb heat and protect to table. I tell you this table is the best ground you could hope for. I have never had arc marks on anything I have welded. If I want to hammer or cut something I put a 1/8 steel sheet on top of the aluminum sheet.

I just bought a 36' x 72" with a 1/4" top for $140.00.
I was going to build one but the materials were three times that.

Not at all dude it's an interesting thread.. I'm always interested in other guy's idea's about stuff like this... I have the hots right now to build a new welding table using 1" plate as a top... I want it Blanchard Ground though and I'm having some issues finding a machine that will grind a 4x8 sheet of 1"...

Hey Gunner
It is to bad your not up here as one just sold with a 42" x 72" x 1" surface ground top (looked like brand new) for $500.00. the top alone was worth way more than that.

[sportbike]

I just bought one of the little, somewhat cheesy folding Nomad tables. I know it is a bit on the light side and I could have built one, but I don't have the room in the garage for a big table (and 90% of the work I do I can hold in my hand). I do have access to a much better table if needed. I also ordered a bunch of Strong Hand clamps and clamp accessories, including an adjustable small joint master clamp to hopefully use for building small accessory racks and subframes for bikes.

I'll put up a post once I get it all, especially to sort of "review" the clamps.

[GUNNER]

I just bought one of the little, somewhat cheesy folding Nomad tables. I know it is a bit on the light side and I could have built one, but I don't have the room in the garage for a big table (and 90% of the work I do I can hold in my hand). I do have access to a much better table if needed. I also ordered a bunch of Strong Hand clamps and clamp accessories, including an adjustable small joint master clamp to hopefully use for building small accessory racks and subframes for bikes.

I'll put up a post once I get it all, especially to sort of "review" the clamps.

What clamp are you going to try to use for the sub frame holding?

[Topgear]

My "welding table" doubles as a general metalworking bench and an anvil. It's 30" tall, 36" square, with a 2.5" thick top. Plate alone weighs over 900lbs.

Kent

[jp2code]

Doesn't LOOK like a portable table, but apparently it is!

[dyethor]

topgear, Is the plate recessed? Its hard to tell from the pic but it doesn't look like 2.5 it looks more around 1 inch. Looking at the 2x4's on the bench behind it, the top seems like its thinner.
and geez Do you own a forklift or what, how do you move it there's no way I could move that thing around by hand. Any how nice table.

[Topgear]

Doesn't LOOK like a portable table, but apparently it is!

Portable, no. It was put into my truck with a fork lift. I took it out of my truck and into my garage with a 1.5 Ton engine hoist. There it sits. Only paid $200 for it and a really good old Athol vise!

Kent

[Topgear]

topgear, Is the plate recessed? Its hard to tell from the pic but it doesn't look like 2.5 it looks more around 1 inch. Looking at the 2x4's on the bench behind it, the top seems like its thinner.
and geez Do you own a forklift or what, how do you move it there's no way I could move that thing around by hand. Any how nice table.

Yes, the plate is recessed. The frame is 1/4" thick angle stock. When I set it down with the engine hoist, it was about 2" away from the wall. I was able to slide it that last 2", but I weigh about 290 and it was all I had in me.

Kent

[dyethor]

Thats a good price. You should put some heavy duty casters on it.

[CGCINC]

I made my table when I took my evening welding classes.
It's portable and is a good size for what I weld on.
It has a 1/2" plate top.

[dyethor]

Here is my table. Never mind the mess. The plate is 3/4", the legs are 2"x3" Its not perfectly flat but it gets the job done. When welding aluminum I like to put down a plate of aluminum on top I find this eliminates the arc spots on my work piece.

[Topgear]

Now that's a nice looking table!

Kent

[charger891]

Very nice table, like the design!

[sportbike]

What clamp are you going to try to use for the sub frame holding?

It may be a little cumbersome, but we typically use round tube, 1/2" or 5/8" diameter (or 3/4" on occasion). Always a pain to hold the miters as they are usually compound.

[jp2code]

I built a kickarse table once years back when the shop supplied the resources and time. I wished I'd taken pictures of it.

[Mike J]

My buddy works as a tech at a hospital, and the stuff they throw out! I have two nice rolling cabinets, all steel with flat steel tops, and one even has large aluminum hooks that are perfect to hang TIG cables, etc.

All I have to do is now extend one with another set of casters to allow for the T-sized bottle of gas that I use.

Cheers,

mike

[bobwills]

I need to build me a good table. Ive got a wooden one and i hate it always catching on fire. How much does your alls tables usually cost in materials and how much for the top and what thickness is the top.