Help me choose the correct metal thickness

[Pingel85]

Hopefully the image below works, I stole it from the welding projects thread. I am looking to make the "stool" below, but will be using it as a table for an outdoor planter. It will be steel (not stainless or aluminum) and mig welded. I am new to metal fab, and so where I am struggling is choosing the correct thickness of metal for this square tube. My supplier carries everything from 18g to 1/4" thick. I dont have enough experience yet to determine if 18 or 16 gauge would be sufficient for this or if I need something thicker. Please guide me on this.

 

[gmwelder86]

How heavy do you want it. It’s just a table to Hold plants. .065 would probably work. I typically use .120 wall as it’s heavy enough to weld easy and strong enough to hold just about anything and easy to come by without being to heavy.

 

[harley jim]

For a plant stand 18 ga. Should be fine.

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[Monza Harry]

For some perspective check out the old weight lifting benches, stacking chairs, '70's metal furniture, mostly 16 gauge material often in 1" X 1", 14 gauge will be stronger and easier to weld without burn though. That way when your drunk #300 BIL decides to stands on it your furniture will not be the reason for the ER visit! Harry

 

[sberry]

That's screams 16.

 

[fordkid88]

For a plant stand 18 ga. Should be fine.

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18g maybe difficult for some to weld

 

[matt_i]

I would go with 14ga minimum (.075"). But the 11ga will be a lot more forgiving when it comes to filling gaps from fitment.

Are you going to bend the top like a pan or weld the sides onto the flat?

 

[jack stand]

But the 11ga will be a lot more forgiving when it comes to filling gaps from fitment.

+1 with your self described inexperience. Matt's given you good advice.

 

[sberry]

I agree heavier is easier to weld and finish. But that **** cost a lot of money,, ha. One of the huge things a small welder is good for is salvage. You can get so many unusual shapes that would be so hard to reproduce.

 

[sberry]

Heavier would make seamless finishing a lot easier.

 

[metlmunchr]

As sharp as the outer corners are on the tubing, I'd say it's 16 or 18 ga. But for a beginning fabricator, 11 or 12 ga would be much easier to weld.

The fit up would be more forgiving as well when you need to add a bit more filler metal to bridge a less than perfect gap.

 

[Sweetcorn]

If I were new to this kind of work, I'd start out with some 16 ga sheet and I'd go with a smaller diameter mig wire, like .023"

 

[Sweetcorn]

FYI, you can pick up a small spool of the .023 wire to try it out. I suggest it because if you are new to welding thinner gauge material, you'll be less likely to burn through it with smaller wire. Have fun with it!

 

[danielbuck]

I've made alot of furniture out of 1"x1" square tubing with 1/16" wall (16 gauge?).

Definitely use a thin mig wire, .025 is great for this. And if you're having trouble blowing through the metal, use a series of tack welds, or elongated tacks or short stitch welds back to back instead of trying to get it in one run.

 

[kazlx]

Agree with pretty much everything said already. Basically anything you can buy is going to be more than enough for what you want to build given the design is halfway decent. That being said, most beginners will have the easiest time starting with something in the 11g - 1/8" realm You start getting into lighter gauges and you're going to get frustrated quickly. You need tight fitups along with a decent skill set to not just make a mess of the whole thing. You most likely don't need a ton of material, so it would be wise to spend a little more money, buy some 11g and get started.

If you decide to go thinner, definitely use .023 wire.

 

[gte718p]

That's screams 16.

I rarely agree with sberry but I'm thinking 16-18. I generally have more 4130 the mild steel laying around. In 4130 I would do .035 and not think twice about it.

Agree with pretty much everything said already. Basically anything you can buy is going to be more than enough for what you want to build given the design is halfway decent. That being said, most beginners will have the easiest time starting with something in the 11g - 1/8" realm You start getting into lighter gauges and you're going to get frustrated quickly. You need tight fitups along with a decent skill set to not just make a mess of the whole thing. You most likely don't need a ton of material, so it would be wise to spend a little more money, buy some 11g and get started.

If you decide to go thinner, definitely use .023 wire.

Definitely .023 for light steel. Also preferably gas instead of flux. Small welds.

 

[Pingel85]

Thanks for all the replies. It will be .023 wire. I already made a cordless battery shelf out of 16 and welded decent. I’ll add it to the ever growing project list, and post it up in the welding thread if I get to it.

And to Matt I, the top will be a composite wood box for the plants, not a metal top as shown.

 

[sberry]

I also agree with a couple others that this isn't a production design, the cost of the extra is moot here.
The finsh time, the ease of welding would/could eat up any savings in a hurry.