Building a compact welding stand.

[chevy_tech]

Well, I recently got myself setup with a Lincoln AC225 stick welder at home. I use about half of my two car garage as my shop. I would like to have some type of small welding stand to use as a welding table for small projects. I don't have a lot of room to house a decent sized table. I was thinking of building a small stand with a truck wheel as a base. I would then weld a tube for an upright to the wheel with a plate on top for a work top. Hopefully could be comprised of scrap pieces. Anyone have anything like this?

 

[brownbagg]

i made something like that to practice my overhead welding, its a brake rotor a pipe and a flat plate on top. i also use it to change oil. the pipe will espand with a lock bolt

 

[MJD1]

I have a flat base that I ran a 2" pipe that runs underneath and protrudes out one end. I place that on top of a rigid pipe vise, tri stand

 

[Zeke]

Welding tables are overrated for the casual home welder. I've never had one really and I have all 4 welding processes. One thing I did make was a plate with angle iron tacked to the bottom. I use this in my vise. And it protects the vise from splatter. Clamp up one joint at a time on a 2' x 2' plate. You don't even need holes in it as many clamps will reach in far enough.

When you outgrow that, well, you outgrew it. Go bigger. But you can take it out of the vise and lean it against the wall — no space lost.

 

[goodysgotacuda]

http://www.harborfreight.com/adjustable-steel-welding-table-61369.html


Goes for $60 all of the time, folds up and out of the way, light weight and adjustable. I haven't bought one yet, but for my house, I can't see a need for anything more than that in a normal "home use" situation.

 

[toomanytoyzz]

What do you foresee as future welding projects? Even though you could make it a pretty stout table having one truck rim as a base could make it top heavy especially since welding projects tend to pack on the pounds with ease. You may also find yourself moving said pounds around on the table for position only to have it hit the one unbalanced corner which brings it crashing to the floor and possibly on top of your foot.

I'd personally try and fab up a four legged version. You can make it collapsible fairly easy if room was a concern.

 

[Nor'Easter]

http://www.harborfreight.com/adjustable-steel-welding-table-61369.html


Goes for $60 all of the time, folds up and out of the way, light weight and adjustable. I haven't bought one yet, but for my house, I can't see a need for anything more than that in a normal "home use" situation.

Ha! I took a video once of that thing. I could get a 1/2" of play out of it with a thumb and a finger. I'd rather weld on a cinder block or a piece of plywood.

 

[BD1]

Here's a small one I use for my artwork. Flanges top and bottom. Top has studs welded to it and drops into flange holes then bolted down.

 

[BD1]

Oh, here's the underside view.

 

[tarbellb]

Grab a couple of decent saw horses or that Keter folding work table from Costco, then a 3/4" piece of ACX ply (maybe 24" sq) and a matching piece of 1/4" plate.

You can pack it away in pieces and pull it out whenever its needed.

The most important part is that you can clamp around the edges. That and moderately flat.

 

[zkling]

I'd avoid the coctail type tables unless you make it heavy like BD1. There are a number of different collapsing tables depending on what all your needs are. I've seen a few slick cart/tables made for the AC225 series, out of a dolly, welder on the bottom and then a flat table section above. If you can find a decent old ironing board those can make a good table as well.

Can be a bit space consuming, depending on the model you get, but an old cast iron table saw top makes a handy welding table, although you can't beat on it like a steel table.

Welding tables are overrated for the casual home welder. I've never had one really and I have all 4 welding processes. One thing I did make was a plate with angle iron tacked to the bottom. I use this in my vise. And it protects the vise from splatter. Clamp up one joint at a time on a 2' x 2' plate. You don't even need holes in it as many clamps will reach in far enough.

When you outgrow that, well, you outgrew it. Go bigger. But you can take it out of the vise and lean it against the wall — no space lost.

That is a great solution for limited space and friends shop that has no welding table and expects you to tig small parts on the concrete floor.

Here's a small one I use for my artwork. Flanges top and bottom. Top has studs welded to it and drops into flange holes then bolted down.

What are the dimensions on that plate? Looks like a very nice setup.

 

[gorilla]

IMHO a welding table needs to be set up so that you can walk all the way around it and the top should overhang the frame far enough so you can clamp things down. Since you have a Lincoln buzz box I suggest that you build a simple angle iron frame for the welder to set on with 4 casters, 4 legs to support a piece of plate for a welding surface above the welder. This saves you some floor space and the weight of the welder makes the table more stable.

 

[MarkG]

It sounds like size and portability are your concerns, so if that's the case, you might as well get a Stronghand Tools 'Nomad' (it's like the Harbor Freight one shown----that's a copy of Stronghand's design) since a huge weight capacity probably won't be needed on 'small' projects that you mentioned.

 

[BD1]

Originally Posted by BD1 View Post
Here's a small one I use for my artwork. Flanges top and bottom. Top has studs welded to it and drops into flange holes then bolted down.
What are the dimensions on that plate? Looks like a very nice setup.

The top is 20'' X 20'' and 3/4'' thick. 4'' schedule 40 pipe with 4'' pipe flanges on top and 8'' on bottom.

 

[f150skidoo]

If i were you I would build a little welding table. Some thing 24"x 36" with a 1/4" plate top, a simple angle iron frame with 4 castors. A welding table will quickly become your primary working table since you can beat the **** out off it. I use to have a wood workbench but once i made a welding table all the wood bench was for is setting stuff on and the welding table was the work table.

 

[dwp99]

Well, I recently got myself setup with a Lincoln AC225 stick welder at home. I use about half of my two car garage as my shop. I would like to have some type of small welding stand to use as a welding table for small projects. I don't have a lot of room to house a decent sized table. I was thinking of building a small stand with a truck wheel as a base. I would then weld a tube for an upright to the wheel with a plate on top for a work top. Hopefully could be comprised of scrap pieces. Anyone have anything like this?

Hey Chevy Tech, I'm in the same situation that you are in. I have a two car garage that has to hold 2 vehicles and motorcycle plus all my tools.

Here's what I came up with. A stand with a 20" x 20" piece of 1/2" plate on top.

You'll notice that the base is bolted to a piece of 3/4" steel with holes drilled in the corners. my plan is to anchor the 3/4" plate to the floor, then I can unbolt the post from it to attach other attachments to the floor if needed.


Speaking of Lincoln 225 welders, here's mine I refurbished.

 

[Carves]

Welding tables are overrated for the casual home welder. I've never had one really and I have all 4 welding processes. One thing I did make was a plate with angle iron tacked to the bottom. I use this in my vise. And it protects the vise from splatter. Clamp up one joint at a time on a 2' x 2' plate. You don't even need holes in it as many clamps will reach in far enough.

When you outgrow that, well, you outgrew it. Go bigger. But you can take it out of the vise and lean it against the wall — no space lost.

I'm only a, casual, home welder ..

So ... X 2 on a piece of plate leaning against the wall.

When I need more than the vertical and horizontal clamping this thing allows,

..... I throw the plate up on it.

I also plated the top of the post as a beater section.

Vice and grinder, store on the bottom rail until needed.

Its been mobile for a while now .... and is as stable as a bench, but has the work access of a post mount.

 

[machine_punk]

Here is what I did. A small table with a slat top for ease of clamping. Slats are 1/4" x about 4.5". I usually use this table sitting...you could make it taller, if you like to stand.

Kevin

 

[NUTTSGT]

I started with a two wheeled dolley and made top that folds down. I originally used expanded metal for a top but changed that to some 1/4" steel.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43628

 

[bullnerd]

Nutts that dolley table is sweet! Very innovative.

 

[ratdoggy]

http://www.harborfreight.com/adjustable-steel-welding-table-61369.html


Goes for $60 all of the time, folds up and out of the way, light weight and adjustable. I haven't bought one yet, but for my house, I can't see a need for anything more than that in a normal "home use" situation.

I have that and also a piece of 1/8" plate that I can use also

 

[RogueFab]

Google "bowling ball welding" - its a youtube video of a really interesting ball pivot welding table. I don't think I want one in my shop, but it's a cool idea.

 

[lilredex]

My main table was put together with meter boxes from coin-op washers, but I use that "third hand" a bunch for smaller projects too. And, another is available for larger projects. All units are easily pulled outside.