Another welding table build - Complete Novice

[BAMFHobbyist]

I have been perusing this site and have seen some pretty incredible work of all sorts from amateurs to experts. Awesome. I am just a hobbyist and a novice at welding for the past 30 years.......probably because I don't weld often enough to keep practiced. My welder is an entry level mig welder that might weld 1/2" steel if I was lucky or good enough. I have been fabricating things for a very long time but without proper tools. So a 1 hr job usually took me 5 times that to complete......I guess I like to work harder not smarter.....

Anyhow, my journey started 3 years ago and I had high inspirations on building a welding/work bench. Well, I came across something to get me started and quite the headstart. Did I mention high inspirations? I found 2 of these and snagged them up for a fair deal at $250. I am on my way to a place I cannot come back from.

 

[BAMFHobbyist]

So there is the basis of my build. This contraption was used for plastic molds. The base is pretty darn stout as far as support. Designed to take a ton of weight and abuse. I cut off the extra leg support so it is a standard 4 leg table frame. 2"x2"x1/4" square tubing along with 3"x2"x1/4" corner supports vertically and horizontally. Pretty beefy. Also in the middle is a small square plate that is 1/2" thick.

My original plans were to be like these drawings so it would fit under another one of my taller computer work benches. I wanted it to be versatile on height depending on the project I would working on. So it is telescopic from 34" to 44" with casters.

 

[Ilikeike]

Looks like a pretty stout start.

Have fun

 

[BAMFHobbyist]

Apart after torching the box from the frame

 

[fordkid88]

Nice reuse of material I like it!

 

[sberry]

Get a plate about 8 inches wider/longer and tack it on there and good to go.

 

[BAMFHobbyist]

Yea I like saving money where I can but did by new 2 1/2" steel square tubing though for the use of making the telescopic capabilities. One of my best investments was getting a better chop saw and get away from the weak saw and abrasive wheel.

 

[BAMFHobbyist]

I ended up selling the left over boxes and the smaller table frame. I ended up making $75 over the original $250 I spent......but after buying the new steel tubing 2 1/2"x2 1/2" 1/4" square tubing, that changed......still close to breaking even there.

 

[BAMFHobbyist]

Nice reuse of material I like it!

Thanks!! I try and get lucky on occasion.

Get a plate about 8 inches wider/longer and tack it on there and good to go.

Well I will get to that here shortly

 

[Koelsch]

Yea I like saving money where I can but did by new 2 1/2" steel square tubing though for the use of making the telescopic capabilities. One of my best investments was getting a better chop saw and get away from the weak saw and abrasive wheel.

Hello

Nice work! Just curious, how does that vacuum work at the back of your saw? Did you get tat directly from EVO?

 

[BAMFHobbyist]

Hello

Nice work! Just curious, how does that vacuum work at the back of your saw? Did you get tat directly from EVO?

No I fabbed up a plate and oil funnel to connect to a small wet\vac when I do a lot of cutting. Helps a lot gets about 50% of the shavings. The built container gets 40% and the last 10% is everywhere else.

 

[BAMFHobbyist]

More

 

[Koelsch]

Very cool! Thanks

 

[sberry]

I would splurge a little on the top and skip fuggin with the telescope. Almost ideal is stand straight reach down and put palm with open hand on the top. Is so you can reach and get a soapstone without bending over.

 

[BAMFHobbyist]

Well I got a top. Was going to get a new 1/2 plate cut as I wanted to fit under a current workbench. I wanted the ability to store it away to save some space. Well I got lucky and found a used steel plate where it is 5" too long and 5" too wide. But I may still cut it. Don't know yet. The plus side is I got it for $150, the other plus or maybe the negative side it is 1" thick. 69" x 39" x 1". Almost 800lbs.

 

[BAMFHobbyist]

Telescopic was for the reason of standing or sitting or depending on the project requirement. All about the creature comforts plus I really do not know what projects I will be dealing with in the next 20 years so figured have options. And if you do not like that well I am also making the casters retractable too.....

So the top is not is currently welded or fastened down. Not like 800lbs might slip off by itself. I decided to just bolt it down with 1/2" SS bolts/nuts. Table is already drilled for it just need to drill the top and countersink. I bought the bolts a long time ago for this so I am sticking with it.

After drilling is done, I will need to descale and sand both sides of the plate to make it nice. I suppose WD40 wipe down should suffice. Living in the Southwest we do not have any rust issues.

 

[sberry]

There is nothing wrong with an inch top at that price. Only drawback is it may add a little to clamp adjustments with common clamps on occasion but it's not a big deal. Casters are good, got to move it although I might use 2 fixxed steel wheels on one end and legs with cross brace on the other to use a floor jack.
Now,,, as for the next 20 years,,, I have that hindsight and 20 more. Have built 200 benches, maybe more,,, grant that 180 were for one job. Worked on another 50 in shops, garages and job shops, fab shops. But,, while I can sit at a welding bench I never do. I have, have seen other trade level bench users do it did with a stool most of the time. I have seen a couple production types sit but not many in a hobby garage are welding or working at them hours a day.
Number 1 and 2 features, 4 inch overhand, square end for use as a square and shelf under to toss stuff, hangers for hammers and clamps. If I need hole in it I have them in the overhang, drill AS needed as there type of benches become all purpose in a small shop,,, mine too and don't want spills and dirt thru the top, it happens.
If you cut a lot a catch box on the end saves a lot of mess.

 

[sberry]

Heavy is good, wouldn't need to bolt to the floor.
I got to admit I am jealous. The ability to sell that stuff for that much more than you paid is a gift. Wish I was that good at it. I got a couple buds are good, they will buy and sell almost anything and that is really bigger than the real biz they are in .

 

[sberry]

I see the pics, that looks really good, very nice. Design changes I might consider [depending on storage] but in general,,, cut the braces out of the end legs. Cut that single long one out. Raise it a bit for a shelf and add anotherr long one for it, extend legs for height. Make 2 heavy steel wheels for the one end and a niche for a floor jack on the other to move it.
That's a super nice top, good size, right size.

 

[BAMFHobbyist]

There is nothing wrong with an inch top at that price. Only drawback is it may add a little to clamp adjustments with common clamps on occasion but it's not a big deal. Casters are good, got to move it although I might use 2 fixxed steel wheels on one end and legs with cross brace on the other to use a floor jack.
Now,,, as for the next 20 years,,, I have that hindsight and 20 more. Have built 200 benches, maybe more,,, grant that 180 were for one job. Worked on another 50 in shops, garages and job shops, fab shops. But,, while I can sit at a welding bench I never do. I have, have seen other trade level bench users do it did with a stool most of the time. I have seen a couple production types sit but not many in a hobby garage are welding or working at them hours a day.
Number 1 and 2 features, 4 inch overhand, square end for use as a square and shelf under to toss stuff, hangers for hammers and clamps. If I need hole in it I have them in the overhang, drill AS needed as there type of benches become all purpose in a small shop,,, mine too and don't want spills and dirt thru the top, it happens.
If you cut a lot a catch box on the end saves a lot of mess.

I use the vacuum to help **** a lot of it so it doesn't make such a mess but I am now going to use magnets in the built in catch tray underneath. That will help as well. On top of the saw I may strategically place other small magnets to see how much more I catch........of course not going to catch aluminum all too well ....but depending on where I cut (currently outside on the ground) rather use the table now, I will probably build a catch can as you suggested......it will definitely take up less space....

Right now it has 5.75" hang over on the long side and 4" on the wide side.

Heavy is good, wouldn't need to bolt to the floor.
I got to admit I am jealous. The ability to sell that stuff for that much more than you paid is a gift. Wish I was that good at it. I got a couple buds are good, they will buy and sell almost anything and that is really bigger than the real biz they are in .

Well. Let me stop you there. I am sure this project appears to be one moving along here in the past week or so when in fact it has been about 2 years in the making. Life events, waiting to find used steel as well as way too many car and motorcycle projects has kept this as a slow project......not to mention limited space in the garage. I am saving up to buy a fairly big workshop/shed, no time to build what I want plus with how slow I work in general would probably never get done

I see the pics, that looks really good, very nice. Design changes I might consider [depending on storage] but in general,,, cut the braces out of the end legs. Cut that single long one out. Raise it a bit for a shelf and add anotherr long one for it, extend legs for height. Make 2 heavy steel wheels for the one end and a niche for a floor jack on the other to move it.
That's a super nice top, good size, right size.

I think that top plate was used to cover something in the ground or perhaps a temporary street construction cover. It has slots and holes on both sides that I imagine was to be able to lift up with appropriate hooks/chains. It will work just fine for me......just gotta clean it up

I will keep all that in mind when I am in that area of the build. Thx!!

 

[jeepinerdeep]

Nice job so far and good find on that heavy plate. Unless it's really killing you, I wouldn't cut it down. I've often wanted for more overhang when clamping but never less.

 

[sberry]

Yes, a lot of them were road plates. Seems I used a couple somewhere. The over 5 overhang is great with inch it's not any kind of deal, the 4 was a standard, somewhat minimum sort of if it makes sense.
I do consider time, I didn't understand this was a 2 year venture. You got a frame with a lot done, all that corner **** finish takes a lot of time.
I have custom built, it can take a lot of time and some experience can speed it with design. I remember hiring on and one of my first jobs was a bench. It was a small job shop and they had a couple steady but wanted a guy for upcoming work. They had one of them build a thing a while back. The owner was really surprised when he came after lunch and it was standing workable, last guy fuggin with it for 2 weeks

 

[sberry]

You can plug holes with lighter plate.
I mentioned I build a bunch for a job. It was an auto parts rebuilding outfit. I made them modular, all 2 ft wide but various length, most 2 to 5 ft. I had a jig for the leg/ends and used angle for the top stiffeners, they wanted had heart set on tube legs, I got them to trade a little size for thickness and my prototype was a step above the one looked like a school kid built. We got making them along with a gob of other stuff and some Proto work I tended to finish at night.
We got a system for the benches, required I square line and plumb one set of legs and the rest landed together. I cut tops from cheat sheets with supplier shear and gang cut 10 pieces of tube at a time in their saw, most of it was simple assembly. Used to go 3x a week with my pickup and get parts.
Took a guy about an hour including sanding sharp edges, was designed for building, my helper would wake me, ask how many and could build about 3 in an esy morning, he even welded them out, all hidden as simple.
Thought maybe I had a pic but dont.

 

[BAMFHobbyist]

Yes, a lot of them were road plates. Seems I used a couple somewhere. The over 5 overhang is great with inch it's not any kind of deal, the 4 was a standard, somewhat minimum sort of if it makes sense.
I do consider time, I didn't understand this was a 2 year venture. You got a frame with a lot done, all that corner **** finish takes a lot of time.
I have custom built, it can take a lot of time and some experience can speed it with design. I remember hiring on and one of my first jobs was a bench. It was a small job shop and they had a couple steady but wanted a guy for upcoming work. They had one of them build a thing a while back. The owner was really surprised when he came after lunch and it was standing workable, last guy fuggin with it for 2 weeks

Yea I really got lucky IMHO. The work on it is really good by a pro indeed. It is more than I originally needed except now I appreciate it more since I got the 1" plate.

Being that I am an essential employee, I have been tasked with more OT I care for these days so with weather going in and out on warmness along with stupid winds, lately been on hold for the next task. Maneuvering this big ol beast plate to clean it and then drill the holes to match the table.

I won't mount it back onto the table until I finish up the legs/casters.