Fab / welding table rehab.

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I picked this up from a buddy last week. It's a 4' x 6' t-slot table. I didn't really know what I was getting until I picked it up. Turns out it was built like a brick Sh!t house. The top is two sections of old t-slot table 2' x 6' x 2.2" thick. I disassembled the top this weekend and it super stressed out my engine hoist. I'm guessing that each half of the top is around 800lbs. I was going to build a new base but decided to re-do it and add wheels and new leveling legs.

This weekend I cut off 6" of the legs. Now I sit waiting for wheels and leveling feet from eBay.

I'd like to do like some of the table builds on GJ with slide out extensions for mounting a cold saw (some day) and a slide out plasma table. Also would like to add a tool box below to hold some t-slot tool clamps etc.

Here's some pics. My shop's a mess right now.

 

[fluid power]

Awesome table. I have an old fixturing table I bought from a guy in Detroit. 1/2 inch holes drilled and tapped on 2" square. I had the same trouble you did! Getting it out of the truck and onto the stand I made was a challenge for the old hoist! Great table though. Yours looks to be as stout!

 

[4 FN 27]

I picked this up from a buddy last week. It's a 4' x 6' t-slot table. I didn't really know what I was getting until I picked it up. Turns out it was built like a brick Sh!t house. The top is two sections of old t-slot table 2' x 6' x 2.2" thick. I disassembled the top this weekend and it super stressed out my engine hoist. I'm guessing that each half of the top is around 800lbs. I was going to build a new base but decided to re-do it and add wheels and new leveling legs.

This weekend I cut off 6" of the legs. Now I sit waiting for wheels and leveling feet from eBay.

I'd like to do like some of the table builds on GJ with slide out extensions for mounting a cold saw (some day) and a slide out plasma table. Also would like to add a tool box below to hold some t-slot tool clamps etc.

Here's some pics. My shop's a mess right now.

I'd love to have that as a Top!!!

Very cool!!!

 

[[email protected]]

It is SUPER heavy duty. I like the idea of a cast iron table for welding. Cast iron doesn't seem to have as much of the welding snot stick to it as much as steel. But there is no truly ideal table for me. I've already got a bunch of t-slot fixturing to use with it from my mill, so there's that. I don't like the prices of the new style clamping devices for the tables with the smooth holes. They may be quicker to set up, but at a cost. I wouldn't turn it down if it were given to me though.

The base is pretty stout as well. all the legs are 3/8" x 4" tubing. The top is going to take a weekend to clean and dress too.

My wheels and leveling legs came in today so no reason I can't do something with this soon now. although the mounting base for the wheels aren't quite what I expected. Was advertised as a 3" square mounting base. Not quite, and with 3/8' tubing no room to drill and tap the bottoms of the legs. I guess I'll have to do some trimming and welding instead. Hope the wheels never go bad. I don't want to take this thing apart ever again.

 

[8mpg]

Awesome score

 

[[email protected]]

OK so I'm at a stand-still here.

The leveling legs I bought off of eBay are not at all what they were advertised. They aren't 3/4 - 10 thread but M20 2.5. FUDGE!

Now what to do. Order another set of levelers or say to hell with them altogether?

 

[Lindley]

Bad *** table. Good luck!

 

[1/2 Cup]

[email protected] that is one awesome table.

Your wheels are the same as mine and I luv them..


View media item 35879

 

[matt_i]

You could just order new 3/4-10 leveling feet (check McMaster Carr) or order some M20 nuts or an M20 tap and the proper tap drill.

I wouldnt build anything that didn't have those in the design. That way you can account for any concrete condition anywhere in the building and level it up, which is more for setup reasons where you can then use the level as a remote gage to assure parallelism with the tabletop.

 

[[email protected]]

I found some leveling feet reasonably priced on Zoro last night. But I may just use what I have....... Dammit I hate indecision!

I may just go to the steel place next week and start over with this idea.

Nice table 1/2 cup.

 

[[email protected]]

On hold through the weekend. I gotta go see some friends in the Black Hills through Sunday so plenty of time to stew about this.

 

[XJSuperman]

Thats why I don't buy hardware on ebay. Id rather be able to confirm it is what they say, or be able to hold it in my hands.

I love the table. I too agree you need the levelers. I've never used the T-slots, but if you already have the stuff for it, then thats pretty slick. What Im wondering is what did your buddy do that put those 2 big dimples in the table top? (last pic, first post)

 

[[email protected]]

Thats why I don't buy hardware on ebay. Id rather be able to confirm it is what they say, or be able to hold it in my hands.

I love the table. I too agree you need the levelers. I've never used the T-slots, but if you already have the stuff for it, then thats pretty slick. What Im wondering is what did your buddy do that put those 2 big dimples in the table top? (last pic, first post)

Yea, the top has seen it all. I'm not sure how it got dimples like that. He got it from a machine shop he used to work at. I think for free. He's now got an automotive suspension fab shop.

T-slots are cool, but I can see the advantages of other hold downs too. I just happen to have stuff.

This isn't the first time I've been burned on eBay. I should know better, but I'm always looking for the best deal.

 

[[email protected]]

[email protected] that is one awesome table.

Your wheels are the same as mine and I luv them..


View media item 35879

I'm not sure how heavy your table is with those wheels. Do they get a flat spot at all after sitting for a while?

 

[4 FN 27]

Gents don't take this the wrong way but I cannot fathom wanting Casters on a Welding Table??? We have maybe 50 tables at our Fab Shop. Any of them that are on Wheels either have a square plate cut with a slot for the Caster to sit in or they have Visegrips clamped on them to keep them from rolling around. Even if they have brakes on them.

Even in my person shop at home I tried Casters...just wasn't stable enough for me.

So just in case your table wants to get away from you the Plates with a Slot in them work great!!!

It is still a very nice Table...

 

[[email protected]]

Gents don't take this the wrong way but I cannot fathom wanting Casters on a Welding Table??? We have maybe 50 tables at our Fab Shop. Any of them that are on Wheels either have a square plate cut with a slot for the Caster to sit in or they have Visegrips clamped on them to keep them from rolling around. Even if they have brakes on them.

Even in my person shop at home I tried Casters...just wasn't stable enough for me.

So just in case your table wants to get away from you the Plates with a Slot in them work great!!!

It is still a very nice Table...

No offense at all. I only really need them in my small shop because the dang thing is almost 2000lbs. I don't have any fancy equipment to move stuff around either. I'm only in a 28x36 garage so I doubt I'll move it more than once every couple of years for the bi-annual hose down of the shop. I definitely will not have any weight on the wheels unless I'm moving it around. I've decided for sure on the landing legs. Just may have to ditch the old for some new tubes.

Thanks for the input. I'm just paralyzed with indecision right now.

 

[ZRX61]

The top is going to take a weekend to clean and dress too.

DA sander with 2 or 3 different grit discs. Keep the pad flat to the table. Won't take long at all, wear a mask.

 

[1/2 Cup]

I'm not sure how heavy your table is with those wheels. Do they get a flat spot at all after sitting for a while?

rats@mchsiI am not sure how heavy my table is but I cant lift one end put it that way. I do not have any issues with flat spots at all.

 

[rvieceli]

On the current casters, why not just use thicker plate for the leg bottoms? Drill and not do a through hole and tap. Or maybe double up the plate you have. Weld a piece to the leg bottom then drill and tap another piece and tack that piece to the plate welded to the leg.

Ron

 

[[email protected]]

OK, Got some things done this weekend.
I notched in some 2.5"od receiver tubing into the legs.



Also chopped and welded back on the bottom of the legs for the proper height for me. Also drilled and tapped some 1/2" plate for the wheel plates. [/ATTACH][/ATTACH][/ATTACH]

 

[[email protected]]

Got it painted and spent a couple hours getting the top back on. I tried everything on this cast iron. Finally remembered how well floor stripper worked on old grease and crud. That did the trick. Also started knocking down the high's with my trusty body file, piece of cake.

 

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I'm not done yet though.

 

[bullnerd]

Nice!

I like your caster solution.

Those aircraft body files are awesome! Closest thing to a hand plane for metal.

 

[[email protected]]

Nice!

I like your caster solution.

Those aircraft body files are awesome! Closest thing to a hand plane for metal.

This this is like pushing a freight train. Every time I need to move it I have to jack it up and aim the wheels. I’m thinking maybe I should shim the middle wheels 1/4”. Or I’ll just have to dig out my pallet jack to move it around. I’ve seriously been able to push a car around using wheels carts way easier than this table.



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[bullnerd]

That stinks.

How about a set of straight wheels set VERY close to the floor on one end and jack the other end with that jack in the pic? Maybe a pin or "hitch" type setup on one end so it can pivot.

I have a set of machinery dollies with roller bearings, no rubber coating. Can push the bridgeport with one hand when its on them.

 

[[email protected]]

That's a possibility. I don't foresee moving it more than once a year to hose the shop out.

 

[[email protected]]

Productive weekend so far. Made a slide out plasma table frame. Of course I forgot to cut the slots in the tube before I welded it up.

 

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Little more work last night

 

[sixty4]

Great table! So who did you order the wheels from?

 

[[email protected]]

Great table! So who did you order the wheels from?

I got em off of eBay. Here's the seller.

https://www.ebay.com/usr/creativeindustrialsales?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2754

 

[sixty4]

Thanks!!

 

[[email protected]]

Hey it all fits. Now it's definitely time to clean the shop

 

[[email protected]]

finally in place and already stacking **** on it. Need some better shop organization.

 

[metalmagpie]

I have 4x8 casters on my 2000 lb welding table. When I need to move it, I just stick a crowbar in the side of the caster and pull it around by brute force.

A few strategic anchors in your shop floor can be good places to pull with comealongs from.

metalmagpie

 

[Stuart in MN]

That pull out plasma table is a pretty slick idea.

 

[1/2 Cup]

[email protected] awesome work.

 

[[email protected]]

Thanks.
Now I've got to start making some tool holders for the receiver tubes at the end of the bench.

 

[jonemark401]

Couldn’t function without my casters..... they don’t have brakes but I’ve found if I lock every other one at 90 degrees it won’t budge. I move my table around all the time.

 

[[email protected]]

Monster wheels. I bet those are nice


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[jonemark401]

Monster wheels. I bet those are nice


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Yes.... got them by accident. Got a pair of nice casters for a project on eBay and the seller asked if I’d be interested in these.. paid $25/ea and have been really happy since. They are rated at 5,200 lbs each and have no play in them which I like because they are always supporting the weight of the table. Moving it is very easy. I hadn’t planned it this way... was thinking of casters that could be lowered only when needed as others have done but I’m really happy with how it turned out. Very stable and easy to move in a simple design.


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