Another welding table build

[murchies]

Hey guys long time lurker first time post. I want to build a welding table for my garage I’m looking to keep under 500$. I have 2 peaces of 5” C Chanel 8 feet long I was thinking of using as the table to frame/ support. Going to make a 3’x6’ table. Thinking about getting a 1/4” top plate.

Any suggestions of what to use as the legs and bottom shelf to go with the c Chanel or even another way to use the c Chanel.

I hope that’s clear and thanks

 

[bdbecker]

What type of projects do you envision welding on this table?

Generally speaking, my advice is to find a local steel yard that will sell to the general public and browse their website/catalog for the type of materials and shapes they have available. If you are lucky, they might even have off-cuts available at a discounted price. Once you know what materials you can get your hands on, this will make designing the table much easier.

 

[XJSuperman]

If you plan on doing any heavy work on it, I would suggest a thicker top.
That channel sounds good, would make 4 nice tall legs/feet for the table.
Post pics as you make progress.

 

[murchies]

What type of projects do you envision welding on this table?

Generally speaking, my advice is to find a local steel yard that will sell to the general public and browse their website/catalog for the type of materials and shapes they have available. If you are lucky, they might even have off-cuts available at a discounted price. Once you know what materials you can get your hands on, this will make designing the table much easier.

Mostly tubing work to make table legs and stuff like that. I forgot to mention it’s gonna be on casters. I live in a small town so we mostly get steel from local contractors

 

[tarmy]

Used 1/2” for that top… you are going to want to clamp stuff FLAT to assemble.

 

[imagineer]

Definitely go with a thicker top. My weld table is 3'-2" x 7'-2" with a 1/2" thick top. The horizontal frame is 4" C channel and the vertical legs are 2" square tube. I have the top drilled with M10 nuts welded underneath.

I hindsight, I should have made the table smaller (more like only 4' long) and gone with clear holes in lieu of welding nuts to the underside (would make bolting stuff down easier).

 

[rattle_snake]

I have a 1/4 top and it is fine for general metal fab. A thicker top wouldn't help me. Make sure you don't warp when welding it on. Use tabs or some other method.
If you need flatness better than 0.010" get a thick top and have it Blanchard ground.

Just a sheet of 1/4 may cost $500

 

[murchies]

Definitely go with a thicker top. My weld table is 3'-2" x 7'-2" with a 1/2" thick top. The horizontal frame is 4" C channel and the vertical legs are 2" square tube. I have the top drilled with M10 nuts welded underneath.

I hindsight, I should have made the table smaller (more like only 4' long) and gone with clear holes in lieu of welding nuts to the underside (would make bolting stuff down easier).

Used 1/2” for that top… you are going to want to clamp stuff FLAT to assemble.

That’s a nice table

I have a 1/4 top and it is fine for general metal fab. A thicker top wouldn't help me. Make sure you don't warp when welding it on. Use tabs or some other method.
If you need flatness better than 0.010" get a thick top and have it Blanchard ground.

Just a sheet of 1/4 may cost $500

True enough about the money lol. I fab at work on a 30 year old 3/8 plate it’s fine for. Just jobs.

Definitely go with a thicker top. My weld table is 3'-2" x 7'-2" with a 1/2" thick top. The horizontal frame is 4" C channel and the vertical legs are 2" square tube. I have the top drilled with M10 nuts welded underneath.

I hindsight, I should have made the table smaller (more like only 4' long) and gone with clear holes in lieu of welding nuts to the underside (would make bolting stuff down easier).

any pics of your table?

 

[bb29510]

1/4 fine

 

[imagineer]

That’s a nice table

True enough about the money lol. I fab at work on a 30 year old 3/8 plate it’s fine for. Just jobs.

any pics of your table?

This demonstrates why I should have built a smaller weld table...at this size, it becomes a convenient catch-all for clutter and other projects.

The 1/2" thick top is drilled with 189 - 5/8" holes on 3" centers. Later I welded M10 flange nuts to the underside of the top and each hole is plugged with a short M10 socket head screw. I went with that size fastener because the bolt head closely fit the drilled hole. The idea was to have lots of options for fixturing, and not have a bunch of open holes for stuff to fall through. In hindsight I should have left the holes open.

Funny story about the plate for the top. I was buying it from a local weld shop and was going to carry it home in my '96 Chyrsler Mini-Van. The weld shop guys said it would crush the van suspension and were having quite the giggle at my expense. I bet them the cost of the plate that not only could the van carry it, but I'd also buy about 300lbs of of 4 " C-channel and carry it home too. I got the plate for free.

 

[nadogail]

That was a very good bet on your part.

 

[murchies]

This demonstrates why I should have built a smaller weld table...at this size, it becomes a convenient catch-all for clutter and other projects.

The 1/2" thick top is drilled with 189 - 5/8" holes on 3" centers. Later I welded M10 flange nuts to the underside of the top and each hole is plugged with a short M10 socket head screw. I went with that size fastener because the bolt head closely fit the drilled hole. The idea was to have lots of options for fixturing, and not have a bunch of open holes for stuff to fall through. In hindsight I should have left the holes open.

Funny story about the plate for the top. I was buying it from a local weld shop and was going to carry it home in my '96 Chyrsler Mini-Van. The weld shop guys said it would crush the van suspension and were having quite the giggle at my expense. I bet them the cost of the plate that not only could the van carry it, but I'd also buy about 300lbs of of 4 " C-channel and carry it home too. I got the plate for free.

Haha that’s a good story. Mini van can handle 6 adults that’s over 600lbs depending.

I like that table it looks about as organized as my wood one right now.

 

[tarbellb]

This demonstrates why I should have built a smaller weld table...

Funny story about the plate for the top. I was buying it from a local weld shop and was going to carry it home in my '96 Chyrsler Mini-Van. The weld shop guys said it would crush the van suspension and were having quite the giggle at my expense. I bet them the cost of the plate that not only could the van carry it, but I'd also buy about 300lbs of of 4 " C-channel and carry it home too. I got the plate for free.

That's a helluva deal on the plate, and a helluva van!

 

[BD1]

Check out the WELDINGWEB welding table picture thread. https://weldingweb.com/vbb/threads/377311-Welding-table-picture-thread

Here's one I built with one of my students. https://weldingweb.com/vbb/threads/...g-welding-table?highlight=welding+table+build

 

[nadogail]

That was a very good bet on your part. The