Question about fab/weld table I'm building

[JobeFabrications]

Hello all.

I'm starting a little side business of building furniture. My fab table I was using recently sprouted legs and ran away (it was a former shop mate's) so I'm designing a new one.

I just got some free 2x4 steel tube and am planning on a 1/4" plate top that is 4'x8'. I'm making the frame 3'x7' so I have a 6" overhang all around and then the 2x4 frame on edge. Looking at either square or round legs, haven't decided yet, with adjustable feet for leveling.

My question, I'm guessing I should put at least 2 cross members in the frame to support the table top the best.

Is a 6" overhang too much for 1/4" thick plate? I thought it would come in handy for clamping and grounding.

Your thoughts?

Thanks.

 

[akdiesel]

1/4" plate with a 6" overhang would be too much to support heavy loads as well as if you have a vice mounted on the edge. It will eventually bend. If you must have an edge I would simply do a 2" edge.
Go with the square legs since they are easiest to cut for angles then round.

 

[JobeFabrications]

Thanks, but I have a bench with my vise, bench grinder, drill press, etc. mounted already. This will just be for layout, jigging, welding and hand grinding. Maybe reduce the over hang to 3" or 4" instead of 6 though...since I don't have any clamps that deep anyway!

 

[bad_idea]

3" would be good. If you step it up to 1/2" top you could drill and tap 3/8" holes on a grid pattern to clamp things down all over. Labor intensive to build, but easy to do with a mag based drill.

 

[A_Pmech]

To avoid distortion, do not weld the plate to the frame. Bolt and shim it flat instead.

 

[mike13u]

Use square tube. Its all around easier to work with and squaring the legs will be easier. Round tube will need to be fishmouthed at the crossmembers. Fishmouthing 2" or larger legs is just adding time to work that would be better spent doing the furniture you want to build. They sell adjustable leveling feet that go into square tube that are really nice and make your table level for your layouts.
Also, I agree with the above, 6" overhang is way too much. 1/4" will bow over time anyway, not just on edges. 6" unsuported with hammering and clamping will be sagging in no time. Make only enough for your clamps to grab. Support the middle well.
Here is one I made about a year ago...

 

[bad_idea]

what is the notch in the front for?

 

[mike13u]

what is the notch in the front for?

Mainly clamping things in differnet positions or clamping something long that is run vertically through the notch. Sometimes for a large or an odd shape piece you can clamp farther into the table with the two cut-outs.

 

[Buckgnarly]

I've got 1/2" plate with 6" overhang. VERY glad I went with 6", VERY useful when clamping things. Not sure it would be good with 1/4" though.

 

[JobeFabrications]

Thanks for the info guys. I"m questioning the need for all steel top now.
I need the size but I don't need it all to be steel maybe?
I've been using a peice of 1/8" plate 24x36 ontop of a 3/4" particle board sheet.

And the frame will be 2x4 metal tube, I was debating the legs being round or square welding them to the inside corners of the frame.

 

[bad_idea]

I would recommend all steel top for fire safety.