My 12'x42" welding bench/working table

[skipnay]

I have kept this bench as cheap as I could. All the metal was used except the 2x3 box tubing which I had bought a full piece 24' long and had it cut in half. I would say I have a total of maybe $150-$200 max in this. I had the one top piece sand blasted but the other pieces I didn't waste the time to drive 20 minutes away to get them done.

You can see how I used a couple of pieces for the top. The main piece is 7/16" thick the piece beside it you can see it was smaller it is only 1/4 thick and the back pieces are 9/16 thick. The back pieces and the shelf I got for $30 at a sale. The last piece was cut up really bad so I have to fill it in with welding rods. I made sure the top was welded to all cross bars and 2x3 main pieces.

My welding isn't the best but I'm self learning and have come a long way. Here you can see my oil can leaks oil if you don't remove spout. Never knew liquid to flow up hill. Everything in front of wire brush. Now I can't get the oil out of the steel.

In this picture you can see the bench underneath. It is another piece of 1/4 steel that is one piece that I also got for the $30 at a sale.

Here you can see the left side is quarter inch thick and the right side is 7/16 thick. Though I did make sure the pieces were somewhat level on the top table.

As you can see I had to use multiple pieces. Still better then paying full price for a bench this big.

As you can see here I had a big gap. Nothing I could do but fill it. I want to put up a 6'' back splash and then I'm going to put 1/16 sheet metal just above that to keep the sparks off the wood. So I needed the metal close to the edges so I can put up the 1/4" thick 6" high splashes.

 

[skipnay]

I need to upgrade it as I go to hold different tools and be able to use different tools at different times.

 

[Cyberbear]

Spilled oil is not always a bad thing, it helps to prevent rust. Years ago we had a 1/2" piece of steel flame cut at 48 x 96" and set it on top of a heavy square tube base. Oil is easily cleaned up using lacquer thinner, or trichlorethylene, non flammable but toxic and plentiful back then.

 

[matt_i]

Looks good so far, what are you welding with?

A 60-80 grit flap wheel on an angle grinder will make short work (and controllable) of dressing any high spots. Can also be used for exposing fresh metal on the oily part. Standard practice for knocking burrs & sticky slag off the welding table without gouging it where I work.

 

[fnieto]

You need to be very careful doing hot work in that environment and setup. Not trying to burst your bubble. Just trying to prevent a potential tragedy. By set up I'm referring to the WB up against the wall without spark protection/prevention from ending up behind left to smolder without you knowing. One more thing, get a decent fire extinguisher and mount it where you can get to it quickly and safely.
Nice job keeping the cost down.

 

[skipnay]

I have a couple fire extinguishers, though I don't have any regular ones. They are all halon or halotron. They work great but they have there place. I will also be using 1/4" to cover the outlets and probably never use them again. I can get to them from behind because of the stairs. The 1/4 plate will be welded to the bench, and the sheetmetal will be hung but not welded.

As far as welders I have 3 different ones but I'm only using two of them. One of the welders I can use in both tig or stick. I have the Miller 250 DX I bought used and has been nothing but a work horse and I feel like it will last me my life time. I mostly use it for tig but have changed it to stick a couple times just to make sure it works. My other machine I'm using is a Lincoln 225 redbox. It looks just like this one. http://hdpixa.com/lincoln+arc+welders?image=603651121 This is someone else's picture. Mine is from around mid 80's-mid 90's. I haven't checked the number to exactly know yet. Then I also have a Hobart 140 mig welder. I hope to upgrade that this year to a Miller 252.

 

[skipnay]

Going to update this as I go. Yesterday I got to get the back splash up. Some of it is welded and some of it isn't since it has so much of a gap. Again this is stuff I got dirt cheap or free.

 

[MagKarl]

I like your way of thinking. I'm pretty frugal myself and only buy new material when I can't find used.

Step one to being a better welder is to prep your material, I didn't see an angle grinder in your pics, but you need one. At least grind off the rust and debris from the area to be welded.

 

[skipnay]

I like your way of thinking. I'm pretty frugal myself and only buy new material when I can't find used.

Step one to being a better welder is to prep your material, I didn't see an angle grinder in your pics, but you need one. At least grind off the rust and debris from the area to be welded.

I have three of them. I have numerous grinder wheels, sanding flaps, cutoff wheels and so on. It wouldn't surprise me if some of this metal been sitting outside 20 plus years. All of it but the piece sand blasted has been grind with a flap wheel. They just are so pitted probably wouldn't be much left if I went down to good metal...

Here you can see the edges where they have been grinded and then flap disc down.

Got somewhere finished up before football started!!!

 

[skipnay]

Just so more updates. I was actually laying on my side and had the pedal up against a cinder block for most of this tig welding. I tried standing on a flat bench and bending over the table but my arms just aren't long enough.

 

[csp]

Why is it longer than the wall? I hope someone doesn't come out of that doorway quickly and walk right into the corner of the bench.

 

[skipnay]

Why is it longer than the wall? I hope someone doesn't come out of that doorway quickly and walk right into the corner of the bench.

It just looks that way. It isn't up against the wall on the other side because of welding it and the metal getting hot. That door leads to stairs up....

You can where the steps come up clear in the back on the right side.

 

[Bigfork G]

What up with the window treatment?

 

[skipnay]

What up with the window treatment?

I don't understand what you mean???

 

[zkling]

: Why such a long bench?

 

[skipnay]

: Why such a long bench?

Why not? I will have a small band saw and a couple other things on it....