Surface Plate/ Welding Table

[bczygan]

A guy I know has a Surface plate. It is a steel top 3'x5'-7" x 2" thick with a cast iron grid under it that keeps it level, mounted on a steel base.
Nick on one end.

Would this make a good welding and fabrication table?
What's it worth?

 

[A_Pmech]

They make great layout and welding tables. That plate is probably in the 2,500 lbs. range. They're worth about 1.5 times scrap price, more or less.

 

[lzenglish]

A guy I know has a Surface plate. It is a steel top 3'x5'-7" x 2" thick with a cast iron grid under it that keeps it level, mounted on a steel base.
Nick on one end.

Would this make a good welding and fabrication table?
What's it worth?

I have a similar cast plate table, that was used in the "Linotype" printing process. It was/is called a "turtle table", and has dual wheeled casters on each leg. I bought mine from an estate sale, with a vise attached to it for 20 bucks. After some reaserch, I have seen them sell for big bucks, in restored condition. I'm not familliar with the term "Surface Plate", so I'm wondering if your Plate also came out of the printing industry? You have a great looking table that would make a great layout, and or welding table. IMO.

Wayne

 

[rquackenbush]

I have no idea what it's worth, but I want it! That looks like a great fab table.

 

[HAP]

In my experience, the weld spatter will pit and chip-out the granite surface. No big deal if you do not intend for it to perform as a surface plate anymore...
R,
HAP

 

[lametec]

Very little granite in steel.

 

[Lightfoot]

In my experience, the weld spatter will pit and chip-out the granite surface.
HAP

i thought he said steel top? maybe i read it wrong

 

[z385488]

Bill, I have been following your thread since I became a member. I hope you don't plan on buying that and dragging it home. The regulars on your thread would beat you like a drum. It is a nice plate though, not sure what the plot would look like for determining grade and calibration. For welding and fabrication it would be great if it can be had for the right price. It will rust and ruin out in the weather.

 

[SiGmA_X]

Bill, I have been following your thread since I became a member. I hope you don't plan on buying that and dragging it home. The regulars on your thread would beat you like a drum. It is a nice plate though, not sure what the plot would look like for determining grade and calibration. For welding and fabrication it would be great if it can be had for the right price. It will rust and ruin out in the weather.

This was my only thought when I saw the posters name and the subject matter...

That said, if you want to ship the plate to me for free, I am game Bill! I can def put that to good use.

 

[Lightfoot]

Bill, i hadn't read your other thread until z385488 mentioned it above. I went thru the entire thread. It's certainly not my place to tell you what to do with your money, but if i were in your position, i'd think twice, (maybe even three or four times) before i brought another piece home. That's just me, but it seems you've made a lot of progress so far, and to bring a welding table home you may never use in the next five years (at the rate you are going) seems it would certainly be a step in the wrong direction. JMO. no offense intended.

 

[unixgeek]

I think I bought that very surface plate after seeing it listed on craigslist. Rented a double-axle uhaul trailer and unloaded it with my cherry picker (and collapsed one of the casters in the process). I wanted a welding table for my new (to me) garage.

 

[A_Pmech]

I think I bought that very surface plate after seeing it listed on craigslist. Rented a double-axle uhaul trailer and unloaded it with my cherry picker (and collapsed one of the casters in the process). I wanted a welding table for my new (to me) garage.

Cool!

Must have been an interesting few seconds when that caster let go...

 

[alex71]

Those are great. I have a similar one (mine is all cast iron, about 6" thick and webbed). I drilled a 6x6 hole pattern on the whole thing, tapped and inserted helicoils).

 

[Provincial]

I once worked for a shop that had an old worn-out metal planer. They scrapped it but kept the ten foot long, four foot wide table and made frame from angle iron to use it as a fab table. The T-slots and holes for planer bolts let you bolt down your work anywhere, and the table was at least eight inches thick cast iron.