Small folding welding table

[dmw16]

I have a small garage and a lot of stuff plus a race car so space is very limited. I'd like a small folding welding table but the HF one is too big. I'm talking small...like 18x18 or so. Most welding will be on the car but I still would like a table. Especially while I learn.

Is this a case where I should just build something to exact specs or is there an off the shelf answer?

 

[oldmxracer]

I work out of a small garage 21' x 12'

There is room for that small HF table in Your garage, maybe just organize a bit better.

 

[dmw16]

I work out of a small garage 21' x 12'

There is room for that small HF table in Your garage, maybe just organize a bit better.

There really isn't. It's very well organized, but between the car, tools, a rack of spares for the race car, the welder and so on there just isn't room.

So any actual thoughts on a smaller welding table?

 

[kkroger]

Use the HF table and hang it on the wall when you are not using it to weld... Don't let it be a catch all. I have 3 of them and hang them on the wall along with a connector plate for them (the Stronghand NOMAD connector plate works great with them same chicom stuff)

 

[dmw16]

Use the HF table and hang it on the wall when you are not using it to weld... Don't let it be a catch all. I have 3 of them and hang them on the wall along with a connector plate for them (the Stronghand NOMAD connector plate works great with them same chicom stuff)

Hadn't thought of that...

 

[kkroger]

Hadn't thought of that...

A first project for your new welder!!!!
Just make sure you make your spacing on stud center...
I made mine with some 1/4 x 2 flatbar stubs and some Half inch Square bar...
I think maybe they were 1' drops with a bar connecting the two and a couple small gussets... Screwed into the wall Studs with 3" screws... I made a similar pair of brackets to hold long stock... about 6' up for DOM Tube, Flatbar, Square tube, roundbar etc....
Got tired of it leaning in the corner all the time!

I had to make a stock rack for Sheet and plate for the plasma table...

No one EVER said Damn I wish my welding table was smaller....
I keep needing bigger, Moving into a new work space in January and there WILL be Bigger Welding tables, some welding screens more fab tools etc...
You talk about space?
I have a 20'x21' Garage (two car attached) bay 1 (left has the plasma table 5x5, Torch Bottles, Welding tables hanging on the wall, Stock rack for Sheet/Plate next to the plasma table... On the back wall is a 12x36 metal lathe directly behind that plasma table, next to that lathe on the left is a 3 drawer roll away for lathe tooling, on the other side (tail stock) is a Kennedy Stack, Door to the house, Chest type Deep Freeze, 80 Gallon Air Compressor, Turn that corner and there is the CNC Mill/Drill, next to that is the floor model drill press, next is a 56" HF Bottom Cab... with a 30x60 Maple Work Top, with Pegboard on the wall behind it and a Light hood and bracket setup that I made to hold a 4' 2 Tube shop light. Adjacent to that down that wall is a 20 Ton Air Over Hydraulic Press, then the pedestal grinder (8") in the middle of that bay is a tie down point for the universal bender (Cheap HF model) Then mounted on a roll away with a 3/16" steel topper is a SWAG offroad HULK tubing roller the Rollaway houses the Dies, and Electric Pipe Threader to drive the thing...
the HF Horizontal Bandsaw (I don't count them as vertical) and the JD2 Model 3 on a Trick Tools Rolling stand it has Air Over hydraulic drive too, so the pump sits on the base of the stand I have two roller supports from HF as well...
In the Center between the doors sits the Hypertherm PM65 on (currently) one of the HF Tables but soon to be a tool cart, Next to that on centerline is the Welder cart with Miller Diversion 180 TIG, and Miller 211 MIG, Hypertherm PM30 Plasma Cutter, on that cart is a Homak 27" Roll cab, with all the welding and plasma consumables, safety gear, some measuring and marking tools, Clamping tools etc... on the end of that cart is the bottles, both are 80CF, there are other bottles stored next to the torch setup on the left as viewed from the front of the garage The Torch setup has a 50' Twin hose reel, I have a 50' 240 8/3 extension cord in the event I need to move the welder out of the garage to reach a job... I sometimes have trouble finding the floor... I have a branchline for Air, with a drop next to the lathe, Mill, Drill Press/Bench, 20 Ton Press, Plasma Cutter, and a 50' air hose reel...every drop has a water trap... Yeah it is tight but I can and do a lot of FAB work out of my little shop.
I have my Brake, a 12 ton press, Powder Coat Oven, powder coating booth/station... and my lawn stuff living in a shed outside...
But I get paid about a thousand a week to work out of my garage... some funds go to the company not my pocket... in the future I will build a shop in place of the shed, about 80x100 should do it.. add another driveway and a some other stuff...

 

[jimgood]

Do you have an existing work bench in your garage that is open enough underneath that you could build a slide out extension?
Could you build one on a wall that folds down on hinges?
Could the HF table be folded and slid under a work bench when not in use or put against the wall behind something else?
Have you got something else, like a welding cart or other mobile tool, that could double as a welding table with a little conversion?

 

[dmw16]

I had thought of making something, but was thinking it sure would be nice to have a table to learn on...it's like a chicken and egg thing.

I'm going to see about hanging it on the wall when not in use. It seems like the easiest solution.

I don't have an existing work bench and a flip-up wall mounted table would be awesome, but the perimeter is dominated by stuff and storage (jack stands, 3 floor jacks, the hood of the car since it's on hood pins, etc).

I'm really trying to do 10 pounds of garage in one meant for 5...but I'm stubborn like that.

 

[beakie]

you mention the lack of room with everything in there, including the cars. do you weld with the cars in there?

if so, any folding table should tuck away nicely when not in use... but when it's needed won't you be moving the vehicles outside? or are they shielded in some way?

 

[dmw16]

There's only the one car. But most of the welding that's planned will be done on the car. It can be moved but it's kinda loud so I try to avoid it depending on the time of day. If I can't move it I'll put a welding blanket on it to protect it.

 

[bullnerd]

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=313215

Check out the hand truck model.