Is there an end to welding table questions?

[BeaterGoat]

The time has come to build a proper welding table. I'll be graduating from a 900 hour welding course at a local trade school in a few months and would like to start doing more side jobs. These would range from small weldments to larger items like furniture, carts, etc.

I would like to do something similar to R.Anderson's 2x4 welding fab table seen here http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=216920&highlight=welding+table

A 20' length of 1/2"x4" steel would yield nine 26" pieces of flat stock. With 1 1/2" spacing between each piece, I would be right at 48" long.

My real question is material for the table frame. I'm on a pretty limited budget, and would like to use what I have plenty of: 3/16" x 1 1/2" angle iron. If properly constructed, will a frame of this thickness be suitable? I'd love to do it out of sq or rectangular tubing, but the funds aren't there to buy new. I work full time and go to school for 6 hours four days a week, so I don't really have time to hunt around for used steel.

Any and all advice/help is appreciated.

 

[zkling]

I have plenty of: 3/16" x 1 1/2" angle iron. If properly constructed, will a frame of this thickness be suitable?

Yes, no problem with that material. The bold part is going to be the area for thought.

 

[raddksn]

Patiantce, keep your eyes open for any thing you can use for your build. Took me over a year to come up with material for my table. I have less than $100.00 in this table including paint. I welded on the floor of my garage or on jack stands with pipes across to support the work even on my plywood workbench top (with sheet metal under to protect the workbench) done this for years.

Now I don't have to. love my welding table!

 

[sberry]

Mine has a frame of light angle. But while that table is great for Anderson it likely not for you. Solid plate top of 1/4 or so with 3 inch overhangs. About 3 x 5 ft, Just about like the one above.

 

[BeaterGoat]

Thanks for the input guys. I've built several carts, benches, and lighter duty tables at school over the past couple months. I think as long as my layout, fit up, and welds are up to par, I'll be in good shape.

My reservations about the frame thickness are mostly due to this forum, which I scour daily. So many overbuilt tables! If I could afford to build one of those beats I certainly would. $500 to $1000 in steel is a lot right now. Hopefully this table will pay for itself by the end of the year and I can save for bigger/better.

 

[sberry]

Mine are crude. They work.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

I sure hope there is no end to welding table questions. I have learned a lot looking through the various builds, getting ideas how to improve my own.

 

[sberry]

I encourage beater to be economical here. Do greater later and you don't need ultimate and a thoudand dollar table or even a 500 one. I been down the block, worked over dozens, hundreds of deals, field and shop setups and all those "what if" features don't amount to much. A decent plate over a couple horses can work if its in the right place, sometimes its almost as good as any.
What makes mine work so well isn't the guality but location location and location, the feel for your way to and around it is right along with the vise on another small bench.
I doont care for post vose so much, like enough bench to sit a few things on.

 

[dr_clyde]

Sberry, what is on the end of the tubing structures above the table? Power? Air? That seems like a pretty clever idea.

 

[sberry]

Some of this has since been modified, the chop saw is gone. Power from benches coms vis the floor for the most part and the booms hold lights or any cord/cable you want to bhang on them. I can park a project away on the floor and that long one reaches over for cord drop, even welder power and the short one has air line that drops on to both benches and surrounding area.
Its kind of hard to describe from pics but I did this a couple times before and since and remodel a little on occasion to get the ergonomics right.

This is about as close as it gets and I really cant make it much "better" than it is for concvenience, speed and clean ease.
Last 2 pics in a different time frame with some do dads added. First 2 pics are with welder moved to new home. It was out of the way there but needed to be extended to reach work on the floor, not it does bench and floor from same location.

There is a lot of vise discussion on the forum but nothing beats that rotator on the corner.

 

[BeaterGoat]

I drew up some plans and did some measuring - I definitely have enough 1.5" angle to build the frame. All I need to buy is 20' of 1/2"x4" and some good casters, so I will be into this for $200 or less. I have a Colombian vise I hastily cleaned and painted to mount on it. Should be a fun and relatively inexpensive project that will pay for itself.

 

[brownbagg]

welding tables are like snap on toolboxes, you can have the best, most money out there and two weeks later its out dated and worthless

 

[A_Pmech]

Good luck on finishing up your trade school classes!

Yes, no problem with that material. The bold part is going to be the area for thought.

Agreed. I suggest look at how bar joists are made. The construction is epically simple.

 

[zkling]

What makes a really good welding table IMHO and I may catch some flack for this, is an old cast iron top table saw. Usually you can find an older beater table saw cheaper than you can purchase the materials to build a steel table, especially the top plate. Most table saws will be flatter than the plate. Spatter doesn't stick to CI like it does steel. Only down side is that you can't hammer on it like you could a steel table. Or if you have the room an old production drill press table.

welding tables are like snap on toolboxes, you can have the best, most money out there and two weeks later its out dated and worthless

Eh, I think I would be content with an acorn table for the rest of my life.

Good luck on finishing up your trade school classes!



Agreed. I suggest look at how bar joists are made. The construction is epically simple.

Ah yes, triangulation is key.