My welding / layout table build. A nod to NastyZen

desmato · Apr 2, 2017

Ok, so finally got all my poop in a group and started on the table. I want to thank everyone who posts their tables and designs with a special thanks to Claude (Nastyzen) as my build closely mimics his design.

To start, I scored a 1" thick 4x8 plate for 1/8 the cost of new. The legs are 3" 1/8 wall and the rest is 2" 3/16 wall.

I will be supporting the top with bolts like Claude did and also drilling / tapping 1/2 x 13 holes on 6" centers. It's pretty flat but nothing is perfect so the support system will be great to keep it plumb. I am using 1" cutoffs to plug the bottom of the legs and drill + tapping for 3/4 x 10 bolts as feet. No provision for casters as it will be stationary.

Since I don't need nor have the room for 4x8, I had it cut to 4x6. The base structure will be 3x5.

I will be posting pics of course.

sberry · Apr 2, 2017

4x6 is good. I don't care for too big. Too hard to reach across and to walk around.

ddawg16 · Apr 2, 2017

I've been to Natzy's place. Fantastic metal skills....and a really cool garage...both of them

And you should see his tree house....

joe49 · Apr 2, 2017

Couple of things, A shelf with or a center post so you can move your table with a floor jack. Also only 3 of the legs need be adjustable, then any heavy hammering can be done over the solid leg. I think it would be better to level vs plumb your table.

desmato · Apr 3, 2017

Joe, since my floor has ~ 1/4 - 1/2" pitch, I wanted all 4 legs to be adjustable + I wanted to be able to tweak the top plate to as flat as possible (Plumb ?) It will have a lower shelf and cross bar in case I need to jack it up. I just didn't want all the hassle of casters and a movable system plus the clearance issues they present. the old KISS method.
I am a blacksmith and have 3 anvils + 5 post vices, I got the hammering thing covered :thumbup:

sberry, I'm 6'3" and still thought that 4' would be a stretch but where it's going, I will have access to the other side.

PICS !!!!

The "PLATE" .... good thing I have a hoist ! question, how do you build a welding table without having a welding table?

desmato · Apr 3, 2017

I cut a slice off the 2' drop from the original 8' section. these will be used as plugs in the leg bottoms. tapped to 3/4-10 and using bolts for the feet. I wanted a smooth leg with no plate to catch **** on the bottom so I am plug welding these in. Man that took some time to cut, square, drill, ream and tap ... If only I had a MILL !

No I didn't use the cutoff wheel and yes I know it has the guard removed, don't judge.

You can just see one of the porta-band saws I have in the background (painted yellow) which is what I used to make the slice. not perfect, but both my oxy bottles were empty and my plasma wouldn't come close to 1"

desmato · Apr 3, 2017

Steel, lots-o-steel...

Glad I have that horizontal bandsaw ! it's a Wilton but made in Taiwan.... go figure.

desmato · Apr 3, 2017

Here's the layout (top view) showing the plate as the outline, and the support structure. this is where the similarity to Claude's build starts to show.

desmato · Apr 3, 2017

Progress for the day.....

gahrajmahal · Apr 3, 2017

Hey hey, Karman Ghia!

NASTYZEN · Apr 4, 2017

Hey Desmato! Your using some of my design. Cool!
Looking forwards to see it come together. Have you considered mid height receptacles?

desmato · Apr 4, 2017

I knew someone would spot the elephant in the corner. that Ghia is a '67 on a '69 pan. I wish I had the orig pan since the numbers don't match but alas, I have a Ghia. I just finished the entire bottom (Pan, suspension, drivetrain etc.) and now moving on to the body, which was on the hoist a week ago but needed set back down for the table build.

Claude, It will have power and air at some point. right now it needs finished and put in it's spot. the compressor sits 2' from where the table will be (noisy for sure) and I have 110 and 220 plugs about the same distance so I am good for now. Or are you referring to the tube receptacles like you have ? I did give those some serious thought and I love the way your tables turned out. I may regret not doing them..... I can always add them later and may, but for now it will stay simple.

NASTYZEN · Apr 4, 2017

Yes, tube receptacles is what I meant. I'm constantly using the mid height ones I have. Wish I had added more. Great for hand drilling stuff without having to stand on something to get some weight on the drill.

Hey John, the tree house is still up after 15 years or so. But it's starting to fall apart. I have to tear it down if the snow ever melts.

desmato · Apr 4, 2017

progress for the day, again, for the 2nd time...

Claude, you talked me into putting 3 receivers in the legs, simply because I only have enough scrap from the two 24' bars for 3.

Everything is welded except the receivers and "biscuits" which I just finished cutting. need to grind a few of the welds on top so the biscuits sit flat.

Ran out of wire and gas plus was missing the 3/8 flat stock for the biscuits, so..... road trip. got the new 12lb spool of wire out of the box and promptly dropped in on the floor !!!!! DOH. now the plastic spool is split and won't feed without constant attention and it shows in some of my welds. gunna try to wind it all on the old spool, AFTER I'm done with the last bit of welding.

That all said, here's a pic of the stand, on the plate, on the hoist. hopefully tomorrow, I will have that order reversed and in it's final resting place.

Todd

gte718p · Apr 4, 2017

That is an awesome start to the table. I would consider spending the money to get it ground flat. It is not 100% necessary depending on the kind of work you plan on doing on the table. However, once you have worked on one it is hard to go back.

MarkG · Apr 4, 2017

I never understood the obsession with precise 'flatness' on a welding table, since every weld you make distorts the work or puts some tension in it. Unless the idea is simply to use it as a reference to see how much that last weld really distorted the workpiece......

gte718p · Apr 5, 2017

MarkG said:
I never understood the obsession with precise 'flatness' on a welding table, since every weld you make distorts the work or puts some tension in it. Unless the idea is simply to use it as a reference to see how much that last weld really distorted the workpiece......

It appears you do understand. When you are doing layout or aligning pieces, starting with a flat surface makes everything easier. Good work starts with a good base. You also have a good reference if things do move as you weld. A flat table also adds to repeat-ability. If you lay out pieces on different areas of the table, they fit together the same way.

dr_clyde · Apr 5, 2017

MarkG said:
I never understood the obsession with precise 'flatness' on a welding table, since every weld you make distorts the work or puts some tension in it. Unless the idea is simply to use it as a reference to see how much that last weld really distorted the workpiece......

It makes fixturing easy. Yes, weldments distort. But it is easier to mitigate with a good clamping system.

The flat table is a reference surface. Think of it as a large, conductive surface plate. Measuring from a constant, flat plane will make it much easier and faster to lay out and fit up all kinds of frames, boxes, and other increasingly complex weldments.

For general repair work, unrestrained welding, and "agricultural" welding, it is not needed. When your customer gives you a tolerance to hit, being able to measure and fixture to a consistent surface makes it fast and easy to make good work.

MarkG · Apr 5, 2017

Makes sense.

desmato · Apr 5, 2017

The cost and necessity of having it ground are just not there. I am not a fab shop nor do I do precision work. I needed a large-ish, close to flat as possible table to do all sorts of welding and layout of larger smithing projects if the need arises. It will also provide a large work "bench" since I'm a gearhead and do ALL sorts of stuff in the shop. I am working on 4 cars and 1 motorcycle so the possible use of it is wide open.

In the attached pic, you can see where I had to ratchet strap the legs to the hoist posts to pull them apart 1/8" to get the bottom bars in place. My welds are square but it's the slight bow in the plate while being suspended from the hoist that caused it. I understand how welds move around and accounted for it in the plans, I just can't see the need for blanchard grinding it..... until I need it !

The top weighs 960# and with 24 suspension points, each will be supporting 40#, which is how much the 1" plate weighs per sq foot. nice simple math.

APEowner · Apr 5, 2017

That is a serious structure! Nice work.

desmato · Apr 5, 2017

got all the top biscuits welded on and 2 of the 3 tubes tacked in the legs. sorry, no pics tonight.

Farmall450 · Apr 5, 2017

desmato said:
got all the top biscuits welded on and 2 of the 3 tubes tacked in the legs. sorry, no pics tonight.

I look forward to seeing some, subbed. :beer:

jarhead · Apr 7, 2017

subscribed

desmato · Apr 7, 2017

All de-spattered, wire wheeled, wiped down and ready for paint. It dropped to the low 30's yesterday and we got 2" of snow but is supposed to be in the 60-70's and sunny tomorrow/Sunday so paint will happen then.

I'm thinking of covering the top with sheet and I need a sheet for the lower shelf as well. My TIG, MIG and plasma will reside on that shelf so covering the top may be a good idea, just more $ and time

Todd

Shootinok · Apr 7, 2017

That is a thing of beauty !
Great thread here.

inspiring :bowdown:

desmato · Apr 8, 2017

It's really nothing more than a copy of Nasty's build, 'cept more basic. The inspiration came from him and the others on this board. I just took the design items I liked and put it together for my build.

Got some sheet for the top covering and bottom shelf. Gunna get them on then prime/paint. no pics until it's at that point which will likely be tomorrow.....

Sorry, just have to wait.

desmato · Apr 9, 2017

Painted and in place.....

Now need to drill, countersink & tap the 24 holes for the suspension. drill the nuts/bolts for roll pins, then lift the top off and install the 24 bolts, nuts, washers and roll pins.

Excuse the mess in the shop. much moving of stuff had to occur and everything is just scattered around. And for the record, moving 1240 lbs of steel around is not for the faint of heart !

NASTYZEN · Apr 10, 2017

Making good progress there Desmato, looking great. There will be much less mess once your done with it. Gotta break eggs to make an omelette. (or something like that)

desmato · Apr 10, 2017

Claude, the oddest thing... While drilling holes today, I was thinking "gotta break a few eggs". NO JOKE !!

Got the 24 holes drilled and tapped. thank GOD for that mag drill !!!!!! the process was:
* drill all holes to 27/64 through both plate and support for proper alignment, installing unused 27/64 drill bits in holes to keep alignment.
* enlarge holes in plate to 1/2 to allow clearance for tap and 1/2 - 13 bolts plus pilot for ream/counter bore bit
* tap all holes through plate since I was NOT moving it !
* fill 2 gallon bucket with sharp curly metal scrap.
* prepare 3 flute counter bore in mag drill for another round of sound-n-chips some day, just not today.

Need to stop at the local bolt co. for the allen bolts, nuts, washers & roll pins. then done except for bending steel for bottom shelf.

I'm beat, time for whiskey and bed :beer:

Todd

desmato · Apr 21, 2017

OK, too l much time has passed and i'm sorry but as most know, life takes over sometimes..... darned responsibilities !

Here's the "final" update to the build. I did not drill/tap all the 1/2 - 13 grid holes and I may not, at least for the time being. Once I make, buy all the clamps, I'll rethink that or if the need arises. I'm still not sure if I want that or the stronghold type system, so....

Here are pics of all the '*******' and of the top, sans removal of the millscale. I guess I still need to set the bottom shelf on as well.

I learned that the top plate is MUCH stronger that the entire sub structure as I am actually tweaking the legs out of square/plumb when 'adjusting' the bolts to make the top flat. Shoulda used a thinner plate !

Todd

My welding / layout table build. A nod to NastyZen

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