How much does a steel welding table go for?

[Hobby_Man22]

Say one with a 1/2" 4ftx8ft plate top and square tube framing. I see them for sale for $1500-$2500 are people really paying that?

 

[Drill Sergeant Arc]

There is a certain irony to someone buying a welding table. Even more so if the buyer were to use it to build welding tables.

 

[Chris_Hamilton]

A few years ago I built a 36x72 table from 1/2 plate. Made a full perimeter support frame and connected legs from 2 1/2", 1/4' steel tubing. This was when steel prices were still reasonable. I had $900 in materials to make it. $1500 for a 4x8 table sounds pretty fair considering the cost of the steel these days.

 

[Aaron_W]

A few years ago I built a 36x72 table from 1/2 plate. Made a full perimeter support frame and connected legs from 2 1/2", 1/4' steel tubing. This was when steel prices were still reasonable. I had $900 in materials to make it. $1500 for a 4x8 table sounds pretty fair considering the cost of the steel these days.

I was going to say the prices in the OP sound pretty close to material costs. Not the best prices out there but online metals lists a 3x4 sheet of 1/2" 1045 at $1200. Found a better price 4x8x1/2" hot rolled for $727.

 

[ATC]

That sounds about right for my area. I live in a black hole. You either can't find it within a 3hr drive, or it costs an arm and a leg. I looked for a long time on FB and CL for something with no luck.

So, I paid $240 for a 3'x6' piece of 3/8 plate laser cut from a steel supplier a few years ago. I bought (4) 42" 4x4 drops from the same shop at $0.50/lb for the legs. 6" casters from Northern Tool during a 50% off sale.

 

[RaisedByWolves]

I’m in the same boat as OP.

Thinking about just making some steel saw horses and getting a piece of plate for a top.

Having them separate will enhance functionality and make them easier to store.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

Couple years ago I used to see these tables for $200

 

[Hobby_Man22]

Was thinking about making them and selling them. Guess not then lol

 

[Walkers]

I would say less than the price of the sheet. It depends on how buggered up the top is too. I have seen them full of gouges, cutting marks, and beat to death.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I’m in the same boat as OP.

Thinking about just making some steel saw horses and getting a piece of plate for a top.

Having them separate will enhance functionality and make them easier to store.

Do you have the equipment to move the plate around every time you want to use it ?

 

[Drill Sergeant Arc]

I would say less than the price of the sheet. It depends on how buggered up the top is too. I have seen them full of gouges, cutting marks, and beat to death.

If it isn’t too much of a hassle, flip the top over. A lot can be said for making it easy to switch out or flip over a top on one you build. You may settle for a used beater top and later find a better piece of steel you can use. Be creative and plan ahead with an adaptive design you can roll with.

 

[RaisedByWolves]

Do you have the equipment to move the plate around every time you want to use it ?

Yes, bx25 so I’m good for 500lbs.

Plus some of my larger projects have would up on the ground due to my wonderplastic sawhorses collapsing so I’m kinda looking forward on this one.

The plasticfantastic ones worked fine for a few days, then gravity took over and woke up the whole house.

 

[WillyBoy]

Buying one already assembled and ready to work will certainly save you some time if you can find one at the right price.
If you're a decent welder, you can source the materials, and you have the time.....there's your answer.

On a somewhat related subject, at a gathering of woodworkers a while back, an acquaintance was somewhat critical of the high end, pricey, ready to go workbenches that seem to be in all the catalogs. His comment "Why do you call yourself a woodworker if you have to buy a workbench?".

 

[cannuck]

Yeah, used 4x8 1/2" tables go for well over a grand around here. I managed to buy a smaller (3 x 6 x 5/8IIRC) last summer when I bid on a lathe. the chip tray and a bunch of other stuff was on the table, so I bid on the pile as I needed the chip tray to go with the lathe. When I came to pick the table up I got more than a little excited as I only paid a couple hundred bux for it. Everyone hopes a used but useable welding table will come their way cheap, but it doesn't often work that way. Similarly, almost anyone who wants/needs one is going to build it themselves as that is obviously what their skill set and materials sources are about.

 

[zkdiesel]

Yes, bx25 so I’m good for 500lbs.

Plus some of my larger projects have would up on the ground due to my wonderplastic sawhorses collapsing so I’m kinda looking forward on this one.

The plasticfantastic ones worked fine for a few days, then gravity took over and woke up the whole house.

Big plate steel on plastic sawhorses sure makes for a good way to loose part of a foot when it all comes crashing down
I wouldn’t do that in a heartbeat. Large pieces of steel are very dangerous

 

[4 FN 27]

We just built (2) 48 x 96 Weld tables with 3/4 Tops with Blanchard Ground Tops. The Tubing is 1/4 Wall x 4 x 3 Tubing and fabricated heavy duty Levelers.



Materials, Labor and grinding totaled $3507.47 each.

 

[NUTTSGT]

I found a 4x5 lift table that I bought and took the 1/2" plate top off to build my welding table.

Still planning the design.

 

[bdbecker]

Was thinking about making them and selling them. Guess not then lol

That'd be a tough row to hoe... That is an awfully large/heavy table for the typical hobbyist, so you have a narrow market from the start. Second issue is that anyone who would want a table like that probably has the skills and tools to build one.

 

[bwringer]

We just built (2) 48 x 96 Weld tables with 3/4 Tops with Blanchard Ground Tops. The Tubing is 1/4 Wall x 4 x 3 Tubing and fabricated heavy duty Levelers.



Materials, Labor and grinding totaled $3507.47 each.

Now THAT is far too pretty to use.

Seriously, what are you actually welding on now... the thought of spatter on that beautiful surface nearly makes me sick.

 

[Hobby_Man22]

We just built (2) 48 x 96 Weld tables with 3/4 Tops with Blanchard Ground Tops. The Tubing is 1/4 Wall x 4 x 3 Tubing and fabricated heavy duty Levelers.



Materials, Labor and grinding totaled $3507.47 each.

I didn't know steel was still up.

 

[niget2002]

I still need to build a welding table. I'm still using the cheap collapsible one I bought when I first started welding over a year ago. I might be able to find room in the shop for a 3'x6' table on wheels/leveling feet. Maybe that will be a summer project.

 

[Aaron_W]

I’m in the same boat as OP.

Thinking about just making some steel saw horses and getting a piece of plate for a top.

Having them separate will enhance functionality and make them easier to store.

That is basically what I use. I bought a 2x3 foot piece of 1/2" steel from the scrap pile at my local metal yard.
I just put the plate on my workbench to weld. If another similar piece shows up, I'll get it and double my working area, but most of my projects are small so this plate has worked for me. At 2x3' the plate is a bit over 100lbs so a manageable weight to move by hand.

 

[dchawk81]

We just built (2) 48 x 96 Weld tables with 3/4 Tops with Blanchard Ground Tops. The Tubing is 1/4 Wall x 4 x 3 Tubing and fabricated heavy duty Levelers.



Materials, Labor and grinding totaled $3507.47 each.

This was my theory.

My execution, not so much.

 

[P51Mustang]

No where close to what some of you have or have built but I got this table a year or so ago and I have found it to do a pretty good job for me on the race car build I am working on. I may build something better at sometime but for now it is doing everything I need. It was nice as it came with some hold down tools also. It looks like the price has gone up since I got mine as I remember paying around $180 for it.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200712274_200712274?cm_mmc=Google-pla&utm_source=Google_PLA&utm_medium=Welding%20%3E%20Welding%20Tables&utm_campaign=Klutch&utm_content=61158&ogmap=SHP%7cPLA%7cGOOG%7cSTND%7cc%7cSITEWIDE%7cOOT%7c%7c%7c%7c19587128527%7c145346378837&gclid=CjwKCAiAl9efBhAkEiwA4ToritgA6eJJDUnM88u6p2ySNq6UnHUZfeH2s-kuj4FUrIcjSJWPUzQxqBoC_2IQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[May Pop]

4 FN 27
will you show a pic or 2 of your wall of clamps.

Nice table!

Ron

 

[finn]

We just built (2) 48 x 96 Weld tables with 3/4 Tops with Blanchard Ground Tops. The Tubing is 1/4 Wall x 4 x 3 Tubing and fabricated heavy duty Levelers.



Materials, Labor and grinding totaled $3507.47 each.

I’d be afraid to use it. It’s too nice.

Makes my $5.00 shop made auction table that I was the only bidder on seem like a toy…

 

[jblnut]

It's not over quite yet but this little guy is bringing decent money but far less than what it probably took to put it together.......


I paid $775 for this table a few years back and was ready to go quite a bit higher .... I was going to buy a sheet of 1" plate and it was near the price of this table that was already built so I went bought, not built.


Part of the adventure is building something that serves your needs and you can call it your own. With the prices of stuff today that adventure is going to cost you a small fortune lol. For most uses a well supported piece of 1/4" plate will serve very nicely as a welding table. Heck I used a piece of 3/4" treated plywood with a sheet of light gauge flashing on it for a few years with great success. Couldn't beat the snot out of stuff but for welding and laying stuff out it worked great.

 

[cannuck]

{

We just built (2) 48 x 96 Weld tables with 3/4 Tops with Blanchard Ground Tops. The Tubing is 1/4 Wall x 4 x 3 Tubing and fabricated heavy duty Levelers.



Materials, Labor and grinding totaled $3507.47 each.

Look, without any mill scale, that thing is just going to rust.

I'll be down this weekend to take it away so you don't have to deal with it. Any favour for a fellow GJ member.

 

[scofo]

That is a very thoughtful offer. I have heard that Canadians were generally nice folks. I see you are no exception.

{Look, without any mill scale, that thing is just going to rust.

I'll be down this weekend to take it away so you don't have to deal with it. Any favour for a fellow GJ member.

 

[sonoronos]

Was thinking about making them and selling them. Guess not then lol

you're going to have a lot of competition.

 

[tarmy]

I have built a couple…and it way cheaper to do a custom one that fits your needs yourself.

Top one is 1/2” plate…carefully tacked to make it dead flat. Takes some time and effort to get it that way.

The bottom one I built years ago from mostly scrap I picked up. Bought the 1/2” bar stock and the receiver hitch stock….the rest was cheap.

 

[kwb]

4'x8'x0.5" plate is 658lbs last go around on my steel buy of ~2T I was at $1/lb. Figure another 400lbs in the base at a minimum if you are going for stout.

To go do a good job of that build it is going to be 20-30hrs. Probably more with sourcing and gathering materials.

.... then you are still going to feel inadequate because of 4 FN 27 because he used 3/4" and had that beautiful grind done.

If you charge $1500 you earn ~$17/hr

 

[4 FN 27]

Now THAT is far too pretty to use.

Seriously, what are you actually welding on now... the thought of spatter on that beautiful surface nearly makes me sick.

That would be like taking the Prom Queen to the dance and not dancing with her afterwards.

It will get used. But not abused.

I have a few big Frame jobs coming up. The bigger table will help.

Prior to welding I wipe the Table down with either WD-40 or Mineral Spirits. That seems to do the trick keeping the little beebees from sticking.

I didn't know steel was still up.

??? We are paying about $0.58-72 per pound currently.

This was my theory.

My execution, not so much.

Aim small...miss small.

4 FN 27
will you show a pic or 2 of your wall of clamps.

Nice table!

Ron

Here you go:

I’d be afraid to use it. It’s too nice.

Makes my $5.00 shop made auction table that I was the only bidder on seem like a toy…

It was made to be welded on. It will age well. My last Weld Table built the same way 25 years ago looked good 2 weeks ago when it went to it's new home.

Minor scuffs and scratches. Old in the foreground.

{Look, without any mill scale, that thing is just going to rust.

I'll be down this weekend to take it away so you don't have to deal with it. Any favour for a fellow GJ member.

LOL...just have to keep it oiled...'eh'!!!

 

[Plastikosmd]

Wait for shops to close
My 1” top 4x8+ with 2 vises was free
(But I bought a lathe and a mill (second mill and large brake were also thrown in with the welding table for about the 2500$ you listed)

 

[PoorUB]

Most of my welding is smaller stuff. I have built a couple trailers, but that goes the other direction beyond a welding table.

35 years ago I bought a 2x4 foot chunk of 1/4" plate, welded 1/4" flat around the edge to stiffen it up, two pieces of pipe for legs, then bolted to the wall, plus I bolted my vise to it.

 

[Binkie]

I just had one formed up. 1/4” steel, two folds. Flat surface about 27x84, unfolded about 33x84. Was 570CDN.

For General wrenching service with vices, no welding on this one. Probably gonna use 3x3HSS legs. Haven’t ordered that yet.

 

[Ricky Joe]

Hundreds, if not thousands, if I am buying. Maybe $100 if I am selling!

 

[Garcky]

Depends on how much of a hurry you're in. If you need it tomorrow, it will be very expensive. If you don't care, keep watching FB Marketplace and look for likely businesses that are closing their doors. Then, you can probably get one at scrap metal prices.

You're going to need a way to move it, too, which is another matter entirely.

 

[dchawk81]

Say one with a 1/2" 4ftx8ft plate top and square tube framing. I see them for sale for $1500-$2500 are people really paying that?

This is what I built. IIRC I had about $200-300 in it, but that was pre-covid. I basically got scrap offcuts from a steel mill.

 

[bb29510]

4x8 1/4 plate is $700