Brilliant idea for a welding table!

[fredybender]

Just loving this, keep the ideas flowing, but the concept is the key!
Cheers!
Fred

 

[hawkeye2]

Google 'bowling ball vise'. For more examples, there's a company selling one just like the video.

 

[danallen]

I really like this idea for gtaw and small odd shaped parts.

 

[piperman12]

Hi , My name is Claude Ouellet (My english is not the best, I usually speak french)

I`m the builder of the welding table you saw in the video. I don`t want to take credit for the idea , i saw a similar table used to repair musical instrument on the net a few years ago and decided to use it for welding.I like to build all kind of things out off recycled stuff i find. You can find a few videos of the things i have built on youtube ,just type : claude ouellet channel.

Now:Some of you have tried to figure out that bottle jack so i took some pics, can someone explain how to put the picture from my pc to this reply?

 

[steel 35]

I can't explain the pictures but I cant wait to see them either....

 

[dieselgarage]

Cool that you found this thread about your video.

Pictures are easy. Click the "Go Advanced" button then go to "Manage Attachments"
And up load your pictures. This is provided you already have the pictures saved on your computer.

 

[brianh]

I made one years back for my carvings using a bowling ball I have a different quick release system but the general idea is there using it I never have to walk around a piece while working on it.

It gets a lot of use

The hydraulic jack setup is really cool.

 

[Richard D]

Claude-if you send the pictures to me via email, I'll post them for you.

 

[piperman12]

Thanks,
I found your forum because the number of views on the video went crazy.
I think i found how to post pics with your help.

The jack come from a motorcycle lift sold by mastercraft( canadian tire store),it has a special valve to release the pressure.
If you build with car disk brake, make sure you bevel the side in contact with the ball. My ball look bad because i broke it trying to push the 1 inche shaft of the table to tight in one of the finger hole, i did a repair with bodyshop bondo (body filler) and sand it . So i decide to glue my shaft with bondo in another finger hole.
I like the idea of springload, maybe hinges on one side a tension springs on the other side!!!

 

[Richard D]

I made one years back for my carvings using a bowling ball

What is the material in contact with the ball?

 

[brianh]

What is the material in contact with the ball?

It is Sapele an African hardwood I ran a 45 degree chamfer for the contact surface.

I found some pictures from the day I made it I have since cut the front to allow it to lay horizontal.

It was made out old bed angle iron and assorted scrap

DSCN3458 by Brian Harnett, on Flickr


DSCN3457 by Brian Harnett, on Flickr

 

[AussieDan]

Cool idea, and I like your clamping arrangement brianh, my first thought on seeing the OP version was that you should be able to do the clamping with a lever that goes over-center on lock which would save the cost of the bottle jack.

 

[Guster]

Here's mine:

 

[Mr.N]

Brilliant idea

Here's mine:
http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8475/8397513650_fe4c783eba.jpg

Nice small clamp!

 

[Mr.N]

I`m the builder of the welding table you saw in the video.

Claude, Thank you for posting the video.

Now I feel like I have to build one...

 

[R.Anderson]

Now that's ingenuity. I'm definitely going to build one, it would be perfect for TIG welding odd shaped parts.
I have been sitting on a few 15# undrilled bowling balls for a couple of years now, just waiting for a useful/safer project to use them for. Glad I didn't build a cannon to fire'em out of (the first thing I thought of when I bought em for a buck a piece)
Ill try ert01 bit- suspension spring from a car/truck, mix in Guster's slim design some how, and try to make a ring pedal that goes all the way around the base (have not figured this one out yet). Its going to be a fun project when I find the time.
Another thought, instead of using a bottle jack use a pneumatic cylinder, I'm guessing 3" or more diameter with 100-125 psi would work(some mathmatics may be required lol)

 

[sberry]

While I wont build one unless I have a particular project in mind its a great idea. Only reason it wouldnt work for me as a weld table is its not brutal enough for a vise and just plain dont want additional equipment sitting around.

 

[Guster]

Surprisingly it does not require a lot of clamping force as long as there is enough surface friction in the design.

A good quality drill press vice might be a better option so the setup is not so high. I simply used what I had which is a cheap little vice I picked up on the side of the road. The weight of it can make adjustment tricky once the clamps are loose.

Improvements I would make to mine is to weld the bolt in place and machine up a little cam lock nut to aid adjustment without need for a spanner. Also I want to drill the base to add a knuckle hinge adaptor for a receiver tube workbench setup. I weld a lot of stainless tube in odd angles and joints and being able to work off the side of the bench would suit me well.

 

[rslaback]

Since we have the maker here... on the portable sawmill, can you show some more detail of how the wheels ride on the rails of the ladder?

 

[24hours]

Awesome job Piperman12!

 

[R.Anderson]

Just need to find the time to build it.
This is just a concept drawing.The dimensions depend on the materials used.

 

[Paticus]

What would this table be used for?

Other than the cool factor, I'm not sure what I would use one for. It is very cool.

 

[Bruce4310TX]

I gotta have this, have all the stuff here already

 

[Hephaestus29]

Why would the bowling ball wear out? You're not gonna constantly move it like that guy. Unless it was in a full time dedicated fab shop, you'd get years out of it before that ball wore out.

The only thing that I can think of that would cause the ball to wear out would be the weld splatter. They are made of some kind of plastic aren't they maybe something similar to pool balls. I machined a snooker ball once & put it on my shifter, it machines very easy maybe similar to hardwood.

 

[hh76]

I don't think I'll rush out and build one, but I think it would be nice to have something similar that could attach to the side of my welding table. Could be used as a small extension when in the horizontal position, and could be rotated down to help clamp angled pieces.

 

[taumac]

That's a great idea.... When I get a chance I got build one



Have a good one, Gerard

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