A Basic Welding Table

[Doms]

A little while ago I picked this beauty up at an auction for $40. It's really nothing to look at, but it's a good starting point to work with. The top is 1/2" thick, tubing is 2.5" square, and it has an English made record vise that has seen better days.

I started by spending some quality time with the grinder and sliced the top down to 28" x 48". 4 disks later and this is where I was at. I really hate the smell of cutting abrasives...

After the top was cut down, I started hacking the frame into manageable pieces that I could fit into the bandsaw.

Then I cut everything to length and cleaned up the ends for welding tomorrow.

Typically I prefer using new steel rather than hacking everything up, but for the price this seemed worth it. The only real down fall is the fact that the size is pretty limited by what is already there. I've got it all together in my head and it will serve its purpose as a basic functional work surface.

 

[Thumper68]

Have no idea what your pics are, you may want to resize them.

 

[t100]

shouldn't have cut the plate, you can never get big enough table. the notch isn't bad, always have a overhang for clamping.

 

[Thumper68]

Looks like a good start, I too prefer new steel, but use lots of old stuff due to cost.

 

[Doms]

I got back out to the garage again today to continue on with things. I had to finish wiring the circuit for my welder in the panel, and then get everything all set up again. Everything was disassembled because I just recently brought the welder in from my parents place where I had been keeping it. Once it was all hooked up I got right into tacking all my pieces together.

Once I had it tacked and squared, I started welding everything out. I like to keep things in position when I weld because I find it's good practice. A lot of times in the real world you don't have the opportunity to put things into a more convenient position.

Here are a few shots of some of the welds:

Vertical down and horizontal

Overhead tee's

And then I got into the vertical up tee's. This was my first of the day and I thought it was pretty bad...

...until I did this.

After that monstrosity I quit being stubborn and adjusted my settings.

Here it stands all welded up with the top temporarily set on top. This thing is not light. I still have to sand everything down to paint it, give the bottom of the legs some adjustability, and put a piece of tubing between the legs on the side so I can put my clamps there.

Oh, and by the way, I ground that weld out and fixed it haha.

 

[LXCam]

Dude, shrink your pictures.

 

[Doms]

Sorry guys, I was using my phone to post everything and it showed up ok. I changed the sizing. Let me know if thats better.

 

[Farmall450]

Looks great OP, the welds look pretty damn good in my opinion.

 

[LXCam]

WAAAAAAAY better, thank you. Now we can follow along. So far it's looking pretty stout.

 

[Doms]

A little bit of an update tonight. Not much, but I had a few minutes to head out and do something to get some adjustability for the legs. I started with some 1" bolts and 2" x 2.375" plate. I drilled a hole in each to allow the bolt to pass through to the captive nut welded on the back side.

I tighten the nut I intended to weld to the plate in the orientation that I wanted it, and welded it up.

4x

I flipped the table over onto the top, welded all the adjusters into place, and then cleaned everything up with the flap disk on the grinder. The only thing that I would have done differently here is use a sacrificial bolt in the captive nut to avoid any chance of spatter getting in there. I had one get a little bit in it and made the bolt a little difficult to thread in. I forced it with a wrench, but I couldn't do it by hand. Unfortunately I don't keep a 1" tap on hand.

Back onto the floor the right way and adjusted.

This weekend I'll hopefully finish up all the welding and then get ready for paint.

 

[csp]

Wouldn't it have been easier to reposition the table instead of forcing yourself to do vertical and overhead welds? I can understand if you wanted the practice.

 

[jp828108]

looking good. I don't think i saw where you mentioned the overall size. What are the dimensions ?

 

[Doms]

Wouldn't it have been easier to reposition the table instead of forcing yourself to do vertical and overhead welds? I can understand if you wanted the practice.

I do it solely for the practice. Its much easier to move the table into a more manageable position, but this is more fun for me. I love molten metal dripping down my sleeve haha.

looking good. I don't think i saw where you mentioned the overall size. What are the dimensions ?

Table is about 48" long, 26" wide and I haven't measured the height with the bolts in it, but its probably around 34" or so.

 

[Doms]

I should clarify, the nut welded to the plate is captive on the INSIDE of the leg. The nut you see on the outside is just a jam nut to keep the bolt in position.

 

[BBChevro]

Welcome to the forum Doms, I could really use a table like that - nice work.

 

[BBChevro]

...Oh, and by the way, I ground that weld out and fixed it haha.

I'm pretty used to producing some ugly welds at times, but I really hate it when I do it on an inside corner that I can't get the grinder into.

...

After that monstrosity I quit being stubborn and adjusted my settings.

...

None of my welds are as pretty as yours.

 

[d.mcfarland]

$40 is a steal!

 

[machine_punk]

Great job. That welding table is going to serve you well.

Welcome to the forum.

Kev

 

[matt_i]

Nice project, I wouldn't have seen that table in the original thing

Having the jam nut on the foot is a really good idea. Also, when I have done this for leveling mounts, I try to weld all 6 sides of the hex, or also, tap the hole. Smash down hard on the leg on something you are trying to finely tune with a hammer (read: beat into submission )and the 2 short mig welds in tension can be an issue.

Also nice out-of-position welds, I could never get that nice of a result.

 

[dypen]

A lot of talk about the environment and recycling, in addition the welding table will be exactly as you want

 

[AMCguy]

I like it. Very basic, compact and sturdy as hell.

If you haven't already, grind the markings from the heads of those bolts so they don't scratch up your nice concrete floor.

 

[bluebolt]

A little bit of an update tonight. Not much, but I had a few minutes to head out and do something to get some adjustability for the legs. I started with some 1" bolts and 2" x 2.375" plate. I drilled a hole in each to allow the bolt to pass through to the captive nut welded on the back side.

I tighten the nut I intended to weld to the plate in the orientation that I wanted it, and welded it up.

4x

I flipped the table over onto the top, welded all the adjusters into place, and then cleaned everything up with the flap disk on the grinder. The only thing that I would have done differently here is use a sacrificial bolt in the captive nut to avoid any chance of spatter getting in there. I had one get a little bit in it and made the bolt a little difficult to thread in. I forced it with a wrench, but I couldn't do it by hand. Unfortunately I don't keep a 1" tap on hand.

Back onto the floor the right way and adjusted.

This weekend I'll hopefully finish up all the welding and then get ready for paint.

Nice job on the table. On a workbench I just picked up that had torch cut 2" square tube leg bottoms I made a new even cut, welded on a 3/4" nut to a 3/4" washer with a 2" diameter to the bottom of the legs and then used 3/4" bolts for adjustors. Using the washers save a bunch of fabrication time.

 

[Doms]

I like it. Very basic, compact and sturdy as hell.

If you haven't already, grind the markings from the heads of those bolts so they don't scratch up your nice concrete floor.

Great idea. I'll do that before it gets slid into position. That's something I'd think of AFTER I dragged it across the floor haha.