New to Welding

[sdgdh1]

My wife asked me why I needed a welder and I told her I needed one to build a welding table. She was confused enough not to ask any follow up questions. Here's what I have so far. Still needs paint and the top needs to be attached. I'll have to wait until spring as I'm a little nervous to paint in the barn with the heater on.

The top is 3'x5'x1/2". The frame is 2"x2"x1/8". Glued together with a Lincoln Pro Mig 180. Grizzly 5" casters. The top is nice and flat at this point, despite what my phone camera makes it look like.

 

[budl]

I like your lead in statement, wish I had used it. Just bought my first welder (Northern Industrial mig 130) a few weeks ago and signed up for an auto body repair course at a local college. I have a feeling it's going to be like the first computer I bought. I didn't know what I was going to use it for but I was sure I would find some useful purpose for it.

Bud

 

[Will S.]

Nice table; I need to find some 3/8' or 1/2" plate for a top.

Is that an old Harbor Freight cart? I looked that their cart the other day, and I thought it was a bit flimsy for a Millermatic 180. Your cart looks like it might be one that would work, but I think I am just going to build one from some 1.5 x 1.5 angle stock, and some nice casters.

 

[sdgdh1]

I'm not sure what brand, but I got it at Lowes when I picked up the welder. It was the only one they had. I've only got one 220 outlet, so I don't roll it anywhere.

 

[uncletom]

Nice table. You will find all kinds of uses for your machine you never even thought of. I have a 220 volt 50' extension cord I use for my welders and plasma cutter. Lets me move around the garage and best of all, to go outside if the weather permits. Something about doing a lot of welding and cutting on a non mobile vehicle inside the shop that bothers me. I do those outside if I can.

 

[Zeke]

Nice table. For painting in very cold weather just warm up a small area in the shop and turn the heat off as you paint. I've used an EZ-up with sides as a warming booth.

 

[toolman1967]

Nice looking table! You will be amazed at how often you use a welder once you have one.

Tim the Toolman

 

[sdgdh1]

I figure it should be fine until spring and it'll give me a chance to use it a little and see what things I'm missing while it's still easy to add them.

I've got a Craftsman Professional 4 1/2" vise (Wilton Tradesman 1750 copy) coming from PA. Not sure if I want to mount it to the top or add some receiver tube and do a side mount.


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[sberry]

That is a very good welding machine, you did good. A lot of lifes problems can be solved with a welder and a torch. I would be absolutely lost without.

 

[Nursepeter1973]

Mate,
That is basically exactly my setup Got mine about 2 months ago, only been using flux cored so far but its awesome compared to stick/MMA. Just waiting on a free piece of 1/2" (12.5mm) x 1m x 1.5m to be gotten by a friend for me I'm currently making a stool out of scrap

 

[sk farmer]

still working on mine but it is similar. 1/2 x 30 x 48 inche top with 3 inch legs and 2 inch frame. the top is drilled on 6 inch centers with 3 inch overhang for clamping. the top has several places drilled and tapped to move or remove the vice. the grinder is also fastened to a plate that can be moved to multiple places on the top or removed when not in use. the cabinet holds grinders and consumables.

check out the gazette for the write up in progress.

 

[BearCuda]

Cool setup. My welding table parts kind of fell into my lap. Years ago my boss replaced our alignment rack and scrapped the old one. I unbolted some choice parts for myself including the rear wheel adjustable plates, 3/8 steel and about 2 ft by 5 feet. All I had to buy was some angle iron, angle magnets, and I was good to go. Can't imagine what those plates would have cost me if I had to buy them outright.

 

[sdgdh1]

All the steel cost me around $450. Not sure if that's a good rate or not, but I figure I should mention it for someone who might be shopping around.


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[Robert Hall]

How do you like the casters now that you have wight on them?

 

[sdgdh1]

No problems at all with the casters. They move around like nothin'. They were a lot cheaper than Tractor Supply. http://www.grizzly.com/products/G8177

 

[Robert Hall]

Thx for the link

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[sdgdh1]

Finally added some paint. I've since rounded the corners of the top and cleaned up the edges.

 

[sberry]

By the way,,, the welder you bought is very good.

 

[Richard D]

My wife asked me why I needed a welder and I told her I needed one to build a welding table.

That has to be one of the all-time classic sentences I have ever read.

 

[Robert Hall]

Originally Posted by sdgdh1

My wife asked me why I needed a welder and I told her I needed one to build a welding table.

That has to be one of the all-time classic sentences I have ever read.

I've been using that logic ever since I read it myself.