Commercially available welding tables...

[Ryan]

So, I'm a ****** welder. I own a nice little Miller Mig welder, but I haven't used it in months. I do, however, have aspirations of taking a tig class at the local CC.

Anyway, I need a welding table. I have nowhere to weld in my shop... and I don't want to make my own for two main reasons:

1. I'm really busy at the moment with work as well as with another really large woodworking project that's gonna take me a few weeks. If I commit to making my own welding table, I know I won't get around to it for another year. And that's lame...

2. Whatever I do for a welding table, I want it to be flat... I hate the idea of starting with a table that I welded up on my uneven shop floor.

Given all that, I'm starting to think about just buying a commercially available table. I don't want to spend big bucks on something like a strong hand or the equivalent, but I have thought about something like this:

https://store.cyberweld.com/miar60wo.html

Anyone have any experience with these? I hate that it's blue... Irrational, I know... But I do like that it is adjustable from 34" to 36" in height. This would allow me to get it set up as an outfeed table when not in use as a welding table.

Or maybe you guys have another suggestion?

 

[FallibleFlyer]

I am just completing building my own and ran across the certiflat tables, kinda wish I had found these before, price seems good:

https://www.eastwood.com/certiflat-...ng-table-and-leg-kit-with-swivel-casters.html

 

[Ryan]

I am just completing building my own and ran across the certiflat tables, kinda wish I had found these before, price seems good:

https://www.eastwood.com/certiflat-...ng-table-and-leg-kit-with-swivel-casters.html

I had seen their big fixture tables and discounted them as too heavy and bulky for my needs. That one isn't bad though. Thanks for the link.

 

[MoonRise]

The Harbor Freight clone/copy of the StrongHand portable fold-up welding table is actually decent for what it is. On sale, it runs about $60-$70.

No, you're not going to put a D8 dozer blade on it to weld on. And you're not going to 'adjust' things sitting on it with a BFH.

But it is handy. I used two of them to support a steel railing unit (probably 10-12 ft long or so, maybe 100+ lbs or so of steel) that I had to rebuild. Set up the two tables, span railing unit across them, cut and grind and weld and clamp and adjust and paint until job done.

https://www.harborfreight.com/welding/welding-accessories/adjustable-steel-welding-table-61369.html

 

[Chevy-SS]

The Harbor Freight clone/copy of the StrongHand portable fold-up welding table is actually decent for what it is. On sale, it runs about $60-$70.

No, you're not going to put a D8 dozer blade on it to weld on. And you're not going to 'adjust' things sitting on it with a BFH.

But it is handy. I used two of them to support a steel railing unit (probably 10-12 ft long or so, maybe 100+ lbs or so of steel) that I had to rebuild. Set up the two tables, span railing unit across them, cut and grind and weld and clamp and adjust and paint until job done.

https://www.harborfreight.com/welding/welding-accessories/adjustable-steel-welding-table-61369.html

Yeah, this ^^^^^^^^^..... I bought this HF welding table about 6 months ago (along with new TIG machine) and the HF table has been terrific. Folds up for easy storage. And if you need more tabletop area, then just buy two of them and clamp them together!

 

[bullnerd]

Ask motobilt, he's a member here. Maybe he can do a custom laser job now that he has in house laser capability?

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...ture-tables/&usg=AOvVaw3p5nUOwdxIZA7GwRPfYusa

Or the JMR, if they are still available.

http://www.jmrmfg.com/featured-tools/2x4-jmr-fabrication-table-and-leg-kit/

 

[ilovevocs]

I’m voting for the Miller.

Have you looked at one in person yet? May help with your decision.

 

[bullnerd]

I like the miller, but can you sit at it with a TIG pedal?

 

[Htscheg]

++++++ on yhe ceriflat tables!!!

 

[bullnerd]

++++++ on yhe ceriflat tables!!!

He doesn't want to build/weld it.

 

[Lelandwelds]

. . . a welding table, I want it to be flat... I hate the idea of starting with a table that I welded up on my uneven shop floor.
https://store.cyberweld.com/miar60wo.html

Anyone have any experience with these? I hate that it's blue... Irrational, I know... But I do like that it is adjustable from 34" to 36" in height. This would allow me to get it set up as an outfeed table when not in use as a welding table.

I am just completing building my own and ran across the certiflat tables, kinda wish I had found these before, price seems good:
https://www.eastwood.com/certiflat-...ng-table-and-leg-kit-with-swivel-casters.html

I wish I could help you with the irrational aversion to that beautiful Miller Blue. Have you sought professional help?

This guy built a very nice table that can be leveled in two areas to your hearts content.

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=382921&highlight=Welding+table

Those two are some pricey tables. You could get some Blanchard ground platens from the 1940s or so. Acorn makes new ones. Engineering prototype firms use a 3D erector set table for Fortune one hundred clients .

What kind of work does a rookie do that requires such a high level of precision? Anyone ever tell you that steel moves? I suggest you think in terms of "tape measure and framing square" and not "milling machine and micronometer".

Forget adjustable tables and make every work surface the same height. A head down 3/8" or 1/2" carriage bolt with a nut welded to each leg will level any table. If you place a 1/4" or thicker plate (2' X 4' or so) on your floor it will stay remarkably flat. ( this is not a piece of carpet!). Weld a skirt 4" from all edges. Weld pipe legs with levelers to inside corners. Add clamp racks. Flip it over. Tape marks floor location. Level.

Congrats. You own a flat layout surface.

 

[PugetDude]

I hate that it's blue... Irrational, I know... .

Or maybe you guys have another suggestion?

Paint?

Seriously, that's a nice looking weld table. If you don't have time to build one, buy this one so you can spend more improving your welding skills than lamenting your welding skills.

Good luck.

 

[FallibleFlyer]

Paint?

Seriously, that's a nice looking weld table. If you don't have time to build one, buy this one so you can spend more improving your welding skills than lamenting your welding skills.

Good luck.

Building a welding table is real good practice, certainly has helped me It has taken me much longer to build mine (~20hrs) than I initially anticipated, but its also got more going on for it than a basic table.

 

[Ryan]

buy this one so you can spend more improving your welding skills than lamenting your welding skills.

HAHAHAHA... Awesome. Thanks for that.

 

[Lelandwelds]

So, I'm a ****** welder.



1. I'm really busy at the moment with work as well as with another really large woodworking project that's gonna take me a few weeks. If I commit to making my own welding table, I know I won't get around to it for another year. And that's lame...

Knowing yourself is quite a feat but I suspect you are too close. Step back. You are not a crappy welder but merely a new one. You need practice. (I suggest you need practice more than you need the table).

My suggestions have aways been simple. Repair your simple broken things. Then, build grinder or vise stands and sawhorses or tables. Then tackle some "real" jobs. Learn all the ins and outs and gritty details of your current equipment.

Everybody always wants to skip to the end and see how it turns out. (FYI I easily built four 2 ft X 4 ft tables in a single weekend. It took an additional two hours over four days to Ospho and paint.)

(If you want an exceptionally polished table, build a replaceable bar grate style cutting table first. Minor mistakes are hard to spot when plasma or oxyfuel scars up the sacrificial top.)

 

[helterskelter]

I've used that Miller table you linked and it's fine for what it is. It's a little pricey though for a couple plates. If it were my money I would buy a certiflat.

 

[matt_i]

Holy Cats, Leland, where is that stack of acorn platens? I have been wanting one of those for about 25 years...

@ Ryan: Just to get going you can use something easy like a sheet of 12ga and a sheet of plywood and some sawhorses. You can even skip the 12ga but you might roast a few wood fibers. As long as you don't start a fire it will be OK. You could rib under the ply with 2x? lumber to enforce more flatness but the table will get heavier.

Personally I would rather put the coin into the thick ~3/4" top someday rather than having something perfectly flat but thin. Its hard enough to get a weldment flat and square no matter what surface is being used.

 

[Lelandwelds]

Holy Cats, Leland, where is that stack of acorn platens? I have been wanting one of those for about 25 years...

Those probably aren't Acorn brand. There used to be a dozen foundries or more making those domestically.

There are two industrial salvage yards in Houston that once upon a time had 100s of the things. The trick was getting all you needed with the same hole size and workable measurements. Probaby the biggest player left today is Weldsale somewhere in the rust belt. They used to be a turnkey used platen source.

The price is usually pretty negotiable on the things. My best pricing was saying " I need four that match" (or how ever many) and be flexible. If I called out hole size, dimension and thickness, it got expensive in a hurry. I strongly recommend getting grinding on one surface included and building your own frames. Trucking is expensive so try to get a delivered price.

 

[WhiffySpark]

https://store.snapon.com/Welding-St...Welding-Heavy-Duty-Textued-Black-P818845.aspx

 

[Bigblue&Goldie]

I have a Certiflat 2x3 kit with legs/casters. I glued it together with the mig gun and it turned out great. Took me an afternoon.

 

[kazlx]

Certiflats are nice. If you don't have time to assemble this, you won't have any time to weld either. It's as pretty idiot proof as they come and there's not much to assemble. It's literally a couple hours with a mig and some clamps, if that. Lay the top down, fit everything together, throw some clamps on and start gluing with the mig. If you aren't in a rush, they have sales and coupons if you sign up for the mailing list.

IMO the Stronghands are garbage. Tops are ok, but the construction quality is garbage when you see them in person, especially for the price tag. The Certiflats are good bang for the buck, there's accessories and 'wings' you can add to extend your space if need be, the tooling holes are standard 5/8. Short of ponying up for a Demmeler or Seigmund or just building your own to your specs (or a plate and 4 legs if you're looking for super inexpensive), I think it's the best deal going value wise.

 

[kazlx]

Side note, my local metal supplier is IMS, but they sell some pretty bitchin' pre made tables, cut and already welded, complete, for really reasonable prices. You may have a local spot that does as well.

 

[Ryan]

https://store.snapon.com/Welding-St...Welding-Heavy-Duty-Textued-Black-P818845.aspx

This thing is expensive... But pretty great too... Light duty, but good enough for me...

 

[bullnerd]

Certiflat will be my next welding table, Except with no bar at the bottom front. I like to sit like I'm at a desk when tig welding.

I would talk to Motobilt first, ask him to do a custom "garage journal" version.

 

[jimgood]

I only have experience with Miller's folding table. But it has the same type of top and it was not flat. It has a significant crown in the middle. Maybe an anomaly but when you order, tell them the damn table top has to be flat or don't send it.

 

[WhiffySpark]

This thing is expensive... But pretty great too... Light duty, but good enough for me...

I don’t remember what I was quoted. I don’t think it was a grand to be honest.

It’s not that light duty. It’s fairly heavy IMO. I’ll be buying one once I move.

 

[sberry]

I been at this a long time. My table isn't very flat. Get a chunk of 1/4 and put it on a couple horses when you need it. At some point a free frame will come along to set it on.
I have worked in a couple dozen fab shops, never contemplated how flat the benches were. The fab shop in a nuke I was on had plate sitting on horses with planks under for shelves. I have a spot on a bench ain't bad, use it on occasion.
Convenience is everything, can compensate for perfection on occasion.

 

[greenlizard]

The LWS had a Miller table in their showroom that had gathered dust for at least two years. They'd marked it down several times and when it broke $200 I snatched it up. Mine came with a lower shelf, casters, leveling feet, and a flash screen. I've been pleased with it. It is sturdy, doesn't shake, and is pretty darned flat. And yes, you can sit at it for TIG.
I suspect it didn't sell because the clientele is mostly construction site companies, not shops or garage hacks like me.

 

[Lelandwelds]

Certiflats are nice. If you don't have time to assemble this, you won't have any time to weld either. It's as pretty idiot proof as they come and there's not much to assemble. It's literally a couple hours with a mig and some clamps, if that. Lay the top down, fit everything together, throw some clamps on and start gluing with the mig. If you aren't in a rush, they have sales and coupons if you sign up for the mailing list.

After seeing your nice table, I checked out Certiflat. I didn't realize they were tab and slot. I must admit I am a fan of that method. If you are in some sort of limited production environment, these are providing some real value.

I think most people only build one offs and I really consider 1/4" as a minimum top thickness. So, yes, I still think most people are better served by a plain smooth top as a first table. I also don't think most people really consider how much $$ tooling is required to take advantage of that form of table.

Lol. I want one.

 

[Lelandwelds]

I been at this a long time. My table isn't very flat. Get a chunk of 1/4 and put it on a couple horses when you need it. At some point a free frame will come along to set it on.
I have worked in a couple dozen fab shops, never contemplated how flat the benches were. The fab shop in a nuke I was on had plate sitting on horses with planks under for shelves. I have a spot on a bench ain't bad, use it on occasion.
Convenience is everything, can compensate for perfection on occasion.

The blacksmithing forums have threads just like this one. All the newbies are "where can I get a good anvil?" The old farts are " what you need is an anvil like object". "ALO" is even getting some traction as a thread title and search term. All you need is a flat heavy surface to bang red hot steel on. A rock worked in the bronze age.

So how does one convince rookies they need a table like object instead of a tooling compatible engineered surface guaranteed to be flat over a minimum blah blah certified blah blah ? I think "TLO" could catch on.

 

[bullnerd]

Yeah, I don't think working in a production/maintenance-like shop where the owner doesn't care or want to spend on fancy tables or a farm where your making already crooked stuff more crooked is the same as a small welding area for your own personal shop where you take pride in appearance and workspace.

This has been gone over before, the guy just wants to buy a nice small welding table. Just because some one can weld in the dirt doesn't mean everyone wants to.

 

[IndyGarage]

Strong Hand has one called fixturepoint that is more like the Miller one. I have the little folding stronghand - not the Harbour Freight copy. I use it frequently. It was great to learn to tig on - although I'm still not all that good at it.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D3JKUQE/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Edit: Northern tools has a video on the fixturepoint - I think I like it better than the miller version because of the 2x2 grid of holes - and it comes with a set of tools. The top is 4mm which is slightly thinner than the miller, which is 3/16 inch

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200609586_200609586

Personally I might see what's available locally on craigslist - there seems to be all kinds of welding tables here.

 

[Lelandwelds]

Personally I might see what's available locally on craigslist - there seems to be all kinds of welding tables here.

Sounds like a plan. Scrap yards have potential. Find a friendly fabricator and pay above scrap rate. Scrap price is only like $200/ ton. Road plates, shores, heat exchanger heads, chemical storage tanks, I beam drop, military surplus, etc. Any table like object.

 

[sberry]

Yeah, I don't think working in a production/maintenance-like shop where the owner doesn't care or want to spend on fancy tables or a farm where your making already crooked stuff more crooked is the same as a small welding area for your own personal shop where you take pride in appearance and workspace.

This has been gone over before, the guy just wants to buy a nice small welding table. Just because some one can weld in the dirt doesn't mean everyone wants to.

Where do you get the idea we are making crooked more crooked? The part of this that has been gone over before is the idea that some expensive plate punched full of holes makes anyone a better fabricator.
Small shops usually need to utilize instead of specialize. The expence of that could be put in to stuff a guy will really use, common clamps, a bench top that doesn't let grit, welding splatter thru, or spills. Has some use besides a few fitments that it's not needed for anyway.

 

[nutjob]

I don't have room for another table and I am not making parts for the space station.
This works great for me:
https://store.cyberweld.com/miar30weta30.html

Kevin

 

[IndyGarage]

Yeah, I don't think working in a production/maintenance-like shop where the owner doesn't care or want to spend on fancy tables or a farm where your making already crooked stuff more crooked is the same as a small welding area for your own personal shop where you take pride in appearance and workspace.

This has been gone over before, the guy just wants to buy a nice small welding table. Just because some one can weld in the dirt doesn't mean everyone wants to.

Seems like an unnecessarily critical statement. I assume you are talking about the photos Sberry posted. To me, his shop looks like a place that works, not one that thinks about working. It takes a hundred shops like his, and a hundred more that are even more like "working in dirt" to keep guys with Taj Mahal garages fed, clothed, sheltered, and tooled up.

 

[Ryan]

Fellas. It's a table. Not as political stance... Come on now...

Some folks are talented enough to do fantastic work on their knees and in the dirt. Other people aren't. And still more are talented enough, but have reached the point that they don't want to do that anymore. Don't make more of it because of your own self doubt or jealousies or whatever... It's just a table.

***

As for me, I think I'm leaning towards putting together one of those certiflat jobs...

 

[The Tool Tyrant]

As for me, I think I'm leaning towards putting together one of those certiflat jobs...

That table would be great for MIG welding, but if you want to TIG at it, you will be hating the horizontal cross bar after you smack the front of your leg on it a few times. If you're not going to build your own, look for one without the lower horizontal bar.

 

[Ryan]

That table would be great for MIG welding, but if you want to TIG at it, you will be hating the horizontal cross bar after you smack the front of your leg on it a few times. If you're not going to build your own, look for one without the lower horizontal bar.

I've thought about that. Since I don't own a tig or know how to use one yet, I'm not gonna worry about it too much yet. If I get to that point (and I hope that I do), I'll just make my own base.

 

[bimmer1980]

The beauty of metal fab.... take a grinder or a torch and cut out the offending cross member if it is in the way..... Or don't install it in the first place.

Candidly, sometimes things can be "over thought" when a person is not in the shop.

I'm currently using a 2' x 30" 1/2" plate that was attached to some pipe legs that I got for free from my wife's uncle. It had a vise mounted to it.... To really make it work for me, I did the following:
-Added two brackets for hanging hammers--one on each side. I have about 8 hammers with easy access: Ball Peens of various sizes, Chipping hammer, dead blow hammers.
-Bar for hanging clamps. I have about 20 C-clamps and 5 vise grip style welding clamps with easy access.
-I added a material shelf for random drops and pieces.
-Attached some heavy duty casters to the pipe legs.

The 1/2" top has sufficient space around the perimeter for easy clamping. I'm not afraid to weld something to the table and grind it off later. I also grind it on occasion to remove any random weld spatter.

For bigger projects, I set up a couple of saw horses or use one to support any excess off the welding table.

On the list still to do is a bracket to hold a selection of grinders for prepping weld joints.

This weld table is not exactly pretty, but it functions well for the various projects I have current worked on.

The big question is, what are your welding projects? how much space do you need?