DIY "Stronghand" type modular welding table?

Richard D · Sep 28, 2012

Been drooling over the Stronghand Precision welding table and fitures. But a five thousand plus for the table and fixtrue kit, I'll have to build my own. Anyone else seen these, and did something home-built that is similar?
http://www.stronghandtools.com/buildpro/index.php

Journaler · Sep 28, 2012

I've seen rough approximations all over the 'net, but nothing nearly as precise.
The way I look at it, if you *NEED* the features that it offers (specifically, the flatness of it) then you aren't going to blink at the price.

srmofo · Sep 28, 2012

I've seen a few tables made in a similar fashion. The frame was built, and several pieces of c channel was used for the top. The channel was spaced apart from each other and was bolted to the frame rather than welded. This allowed the use to remove pieces as needed for irregular items.

I'll post some links when i get home

rodm1 · Sep 29, 2012

srmofo said:
I've seen a few tables made in a similar fashion. The frame was built, and several pieces of c channel was used for the top. The channel was spaced apart from each other and was bolted to the frame rather than welded. This allowed the use to remove pieces as needed for irregular items.

I'll post some links when i get home

http://www.practicalmachinist.com/v...g-new-weld-fab-table-how-would-you-do-179769/

http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?t=149761

Richard D · Sep 29, 2012

The practicalmachinist link doesn't work.

rodm1 · Oct 1, 2012

Richard D said:
The practicalmachinist link doesn't work.

The hole sight seems to be down? I'm hopping it will return and link. In the mean time the Weldingweb link will have to do. I think I archived more photos then on Weldingweb.

I think that is the table srmofo is talking about maybe he has another link.

fflintstone · Oct 1, 2012

You can clamp things as precise as a strong hand without the table. It is not a quick or easy. The table is for people who MAKE money welding. You have to look at how much you fab stuff. Jody at weldingtipsandtricks.com uses one. If making a precision table was cheap and easy they would sell them at harbor freight.

wnstwolf · Oct 1, 2012

Now I have to go drill a bunch of holes in the table I just built.. Wow that thing is sick. As a very unseasoned rookie that is way overkill for me which just about makes it Perfect! I am sure I will come to the point of wanting to set up a jig and with no holes I will be at a loss!

Richard D · Jan 29, 2013

AMCGuy is building a table similar:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=180145
Has anyone actually used the Stronghand model personally? I'm planning a table of my own. I am considering making it compatible with the Stronghand fixtures; I can afford to buy some fixtures piece by piece, but I can't afford five grand for a table.

brownbagg · Jan 29, 2013

i be afraid of screwing up the table with cutting drilling welding

Richard D · Jan 29, 2013

I can build mine for less than a grand in materials. They sell for five.

metalmagpie · Jan 31, 2013

I just bought a used milling table for a little more than scrap price. Yes, it has some marks on it. But it was dead flat once, and has 5/8" T-slots for clamping parts very strongly. For critical joints I will be using this as a jig. For normal work I just clamp to the edges of a 30x30x3/8" piece of plate.

If I wanted one of those fancy portable welding tables I'd have a waterjet guy make me the top and I'd make all the rest of the table, and buy fixtures as needed.

metalmagpie

CNGsaves · Jan 31, 2013

Richard D said:
AMCGuy is building a table similar:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=180145
Has anyone actually used the Stronghand model personally? I'm planning a table of my own. I am considering making it compatible with the Stronghand fixtures; I can afford to buy some fixtures piece by piece, but I can't afford five grand for a table.

^ ^ ^ ^This . . . Last update I read about rugged Ultimate Welding Table that AMCGuy was building, he said he had $350 in materials invested thus far.

I'd go with AMCGuy welding table and keep over $4K in my pocket!

Richard D · Jan 31, 2013

If I had deep pockets, I'd pony up the 5K for a Stronghand, and another 5K for the fixtures; I really would. I've watched several videos of the table in use, and I would love to have one. I'm modeling up a similar table of my own design in AutoCAD, but as the surface will be hot rolled steel, it'll never be as flat as the precision ground plates the Stronghand is made from.

Flounder_Pounder · Jan 31, 2013

Here is a couple of videos from a reputable guy.

dbabicky · Feb 1, 2013

Have any of you looked at/used the portable welding tables availble from Northern Tool?
Any comments, likes/dislikes?

Richard D · Feb 1, 2013

Some AutoCAD models:

Some tooling fixtures:

The black strips are magnetic threaded inserts for fine adjustment screws to get a better fit on weld gaps:

Here you can see the round V-blocks for clamping round stock:

Here you can see the plates with the red magnets floating in space:

Alternative top plate arrangement. I spaced the plates 2" apart, and the hole pattern 2", so they can be arranged anjust about any combination:

Still pondering the best way to attach the plates to the frame. I want to be able to level them individually.

bsaint · Jun 21, 2013

Isnt an acorn table easier?

kazlx · Jun 21, 2013

Here's mine. I didn't do the slats thing because I didn't want to deal with the alignment. I built it so that Stronghand tooling fits.

DpSyChO · Jun 21, 2013

Kazlx, your table looks very similar to mine. I used 3-1/2" x 3/8" angle for the frame (because I bought it at scrap price) and 3/4" plate for the top, again because I bought it at scrap price, I think it is 37" X 39". The casters I had to pay full price for. I used a mag drill to drill the holes and align the 1/2-1/3 tap. I only put one reciever on mine, I wish I'd put one on either side like you did. One tip for those that do something similar, buy a bag of short set screws to plug the holes flush with the top when you dont have a fixture bolted down.

kazlx · Jun 21, 2013

Mine aren't tapped. They are 5/8" through holes like the stronghand. The top was cut on a water jet.

Richard D · Nov 27, 2013

I finally built it:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=225206

72Anthony · Nov 28, 2013

Nice job!

Looking forward to seeing a few more pics.

Would it be worth it, or even necessary to take your plates to a machine shop and have them sent through a precision surface grinder?

Regards,
Anthony

Richard D · Nov 28, 2013

Not for use as a welding table.

kazlx · Nov 28, 2013

Depends. It definitely makes it easier to build things straight and flat. Is it a requirement? Nope.

DIY "Stronghand" type modular welding table?

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