Opinions Wanted: Light Duty Welding "Table"

[metalwork]

I picked up a Century 100 Weld Pak yesterday and want to use it ASAP. I only need it for small stuff right now and I need a welding area I can move out of the way when done. Here is my idea:

I have a 30" square of ~8-10 gauge sheetmetal. It was part of the case for a furnace. I would cut a piece of cement board the same size to put behind it and another of 3/4" plywood behind that. Everything gets bolted together and sandwiched. I'd mount a spine on the plywood side so that the table top can be clamped into a Shop-Mate work-clamp-base. The sheetmetal surface provides my ground plane and should be reasonably flat. Again, I only need to weld small items. A thick steel table is not required right now (but lasted after for later).

Thought, comments, opinons?

 

[Professur]

Sounds good, but it's always whatever works for ya works for ya.

 

[larry4406]

I will be using a steel fire door left over from a commercial job.

 

[mjb]

I keep a 2 x 3 piece of 10 gauge to set on top of my Workmate for small jobs.

 

[metalwork]

Thank you for the affirmation guys, that is exactly what I needed.

 

[Jack Olsen]

There are only two reasons you need anything at all to use as a welding surface. One is to keep slag off your regular work bench. Two is that it saves you the (minor) trouble of attaching the ground clamp to the piece you're welding.

If you're not pounding on it, I don't think you need any backing. You could just set it flat on your bench and go to work.

 

[metalwork]

There are only two reasons you need anything at all to use as a welding surface. One is to keep slag off your regular work bench. Two is that it saves you the (minor) trouble of attaching the ground clamp to the piece you're welding.

If you're not pounding on it, I don't think you need any backing. You could just set it flat on your bench and go to work.

We have a split level & the garage (my shop area) is under my kid's bedrooms. I get grief when I crack open paint or solvent so I want to weld outside due to the smoke. The welder is a fluxcore one. But, I am not going to pound on it so maybe the cement board is superfluous?

 

[NUTTSGT]

Here's the link to my welding table.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=43628

 

[IndyGarage]

I bought one of the strong hand tools Nomad welding tables - it's sort of like a workmate for welding. I really like it - it has some great features for welding. And if folds up for storage or transportation:

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B003GM88L2/?tag=atomicindus08-20