Schedule 40 pipe

[Rory Bellows]

Is sch 40 pipe strong enough to use as a base for a welding table? I bought a bunch of steel railing at an auction for $3 which included about 20 speed rail connectors. The pipe appears to be 1 1/4 sch 40 based on its dimensions (od, id, etc). Sch 40 is supposed to have a welded seam but this pipe doesn't have a noticable internal seam. It may be there but is not apparent.

Anyway, I just bought a wood work bench at another auction for it's steel plate top. The top is 2' x 6' x 1/2". I left the bench and just took the plate for the sum of $5.

I want to build the base out of the pipe and use the plate for the top. Will the pipe be adequate for this application? I'm pretty cheap and since I have alot of this pipe I would like to use it. What do you think?

No , I am not planning on using the speed rail fitting fittings for the table. The base will be fully welded and completely made out of pipe. I just included that bit because I thought it was a good score.

 

[fulltrack]

Yes, the sched 40 pipe in compression is going to be strong enough. You will want to brace the legs though and gusset the attached to the plate. I imagine you'll build a frame out of the pipe to place the top on? 1/2 plate over a 6' span won't have much deflection.

 

[kbs2244]

It should be fine.
It will be pretty strong against a straight down force.
I would space the legs at a 4x18 inch square.
That will give you some overhang for clamping.
Use some ‘x’ bracing.

 

[Rory Bellows]

Sweet! I haven't used much pipe in any of my projects so far.

 

[pipehack]

It will be strong enough. Sand a part of it real clean and a seam will show up. Almost like saw teeth.

 

[MAD]

I was building some vertical hanging positions for stage lighting from 1 1/4" schedule 40 black pipe recently and needed a low profile base to attach the pipes to the floor. I found that the ****** on scaffold base plates fit the inner diameter of the pipe (although quite tightly). I would think you could make a killer mobile work table from 1 1/4" pipe and use Scaffold casters for the wheels. The brakes on those casters are usually pretty good.

I don't know consistent the I.D. of black pipe and the O.D. of the scaffold hardware is, so you may want to measure. It worked for me though.