Fabricating Welding Table/Workbench

[jakgop21]

Well I finally got around to starting my welding table/workbench . Material thus far is 1/8" square tubing 1x1 and 1/8" angle iron 1x1 . After some wonderful help from the members on this forum i was able to get the 45 right on my chop saw. I made the top shelf measures 5' long by 2' wide held it together with magnets looks to be good. Only thing holding it back from being square is a couple burs i have to grind in the morning hopefully. Still have to check it with the speed square after grinding

Going to cut the legs in the morning . Next plan of attack would be to weld in the legs to top. Then make the second shelf to weld in between the legs. Add some flat stock at the bottom for the casters i am going to get maybe ill get some interlocking casters if they are not too expensive .This is kind of a budget build .

Drop in any of your thoughts, comments, or suggestions. This is my first fabrication project of this size . I am a beginning welder . Ill be using a Miller 135.

 

[machine_punk]

Congrats on your starting your first project...a welding table is a GREAT place to start. Then, you'll need to make a cart for your welder.

Keep posting pics of your project.

KDub

 

[Mike W.]

Great start! Keep us posted!

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[jakgop21]

Got some last minute help from a friend who helped me layout the angle on his saw horse/plywood to grind it down with a vertical belt sander and make the frame square. Doesn't look much different from yesterday but had it welded and i ground it down. I couldn't shoot sparks because i didn't bring my helmet. I originally just wanted to have it cut there but my friend said went this far might as well weld it .

These projects make me realize how badly i would like a truck. Learned how to square by measuring corner to corner, also how to properly grind / sand.

Going to get flat stock and casters this week. Plan is to have it as a roller by next Sunday hopefully.

Took a pic of a vice stand we made with scrap. Planning on putting casters on it have to move it with a hand truck . What do you think?

 

[bluebolt]

Took a pic of a vice stand we made with scrap. Planning on putting casters on it have to move it with a hand truck . What do you think?

Put a pair of casters on the back on a piece of angle iron so they only hit the ground when it is tilted back. Local technical school has it set up that way.

 

[jakgop21]

Picked up my steel 5 X2 greased casters yesterday .

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[AMCguy]

Looks like you're off to a great start.

You'll like being able to do your work in front of you on a table instead of the floor or on jack stands.

Here's a link to the one I built.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=180145

 

[jakgop21]

So today was a bust . Didn't get to do any work , because my buddy says the casters I got are way overkill for the table I'm building out of 1/8" 1x1 square stock and angle iron

Have to see if I can find a smaller steel caster if not I'm going to go with a neoprene one .

What are your thoughts ?

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[raddksn]

"my buddy says the casters I got are way overkill for the table I'm building"

I didn't know this was possible!?

 

[brownbagg]

over kill is good

 

[raddksn]

your casters look a lot like mine! mine are only 4", A 5" will roll easier just adjust your legs your to suit your work height! sorry about being sideways!

 

[jakgop21]

Thank you for sharing your pics your table looks more robust than mine is going to be . Mine the legs will be 1/8" thick square stock 1 x1 . Frame for the shelves is 1/8" thick 1x1 angle iron . The casters I currently have are rated for 700 lb each and were $21.87 each .

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[raddksn]

it's not so much the weight of the table as it is what your going to put on it! overkill will never hurt you cheeping out often does!

 

[jakgop21]

So you don't think it will look funny or unproportional ?

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[machine_punk]

No more funny or unproportional than anyone's first welding table.

You have the casters and the desire to get it done...you'll want a bigger table someday and you can reuse these casters.

Looking forward to pics of the finished table.

KDub

 

[raddksn]

^^^^^^^^^ this also!^^^^^^^^^^

 

[ilovevocs]

Despite a smaller caster being sufficient to hold the weight the larger wheel makes rolling around exponentially easier on uneven surfaces.

Good casters aren't a bad investment. Supporting what Kev said, Bolt them to this table and use them for the next one. Unless you get out of the home shop hobby they won't go to waste.

Just relax, have fun with this build, enjoy yourself and most of all look at mistakes as lessons learned.

 

[jakgop21]

The plate that I intend to use for the casters is larger than the casters itself . So what my buddy was saying was that if i went with neoprene or a similar material there would be "roof " for the sparks .

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[jakgop21]

What are your thoughts on the steel vs other material ?

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[jakgop21]

What are your thoughts on attaching the 2nd shelf of the table to the legs to provide the most stable /maximum welding surface ? Should I miter them like the top shelf ? But that would only allow it to be welded from the back of the angle iron ?

What are your thoughts ?

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[Duker]

What are your thoughts on attaching the 2nd shelf of the table to the legs to provide the most stable /maximum welding surface ? Should I miter them like the top shelf ? But that would only allow it to be welded from the back of the angle iron ?

What are your thoughts ?

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Tossing a few thoughts in since my table is mobile as well. Anything you can do to add bracing to keep the table from racking is a plus. Interior shelving etc can help in that regard so tying it into the legs would add rigidity. As for shielding the casters, mine are Polyurethane and I have not had any issue with sparks or slag as most of my welding/grinding is on top of the table and I have a 3"+ overhang of the table top from the base. I did make the plates so that I could bolt on/remove the caster if there was any damage.

*

 

[brownbagg]

get some smaller square tubing that will fit inside your legs, drill holes in it about every five inches. weld your caster to it. that way if you need to raise the height of the table, just jack it up and put bolt through the holes

 

[jakgop21]

This is what we got done today .

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[jakgop21]

Well this is what we got done last weekend . Have to get expanded metal , friend gave me an idea of adding a handle , cutting torch holder .

Anybody have a cutting torch holder on their table that they have made ? What does yours look like ?

Still have some touch up paint to do .

Any suggestions for what my next project should be ?

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