Thoughts on this Franken-Welding Table idea?

[giantsean]

Hi Folks,

I finally sprung for a welder last year, have it all wired up and ready, accessories bought, etc. The only thing I have been lacking is a welding table. Since I am both a shameless re-user and a tinkerer, I had long toyed with the idea of using my pop's old table saw top instead of shelling out some money. As with most Craftsman table saws, this one was never great for accuracy but came with a very nice heavy flat cast iron top. I had an extra Husky one-drawer cart that was otherwise unused, so started hacking. I realized that if I left the saw base on, it sit nicely in the top area, and I figure I can reinforce it and bolt it in. I was a bit concerned it would be top-heavy w/ the wings (which I know are not very flat or level) but with the heavy part over the middle it is pretty stable unless you do something stupid like lean on it. Worst case I could always just zip them off.

So what say ye? Workable, or worst idea ever? If you think it has potential, I'm open to any ideas on how to make it cooler.

Thanks!

 

[PugetDude]

Workable. But not with that cart as a base.
The t-slots would make good hold-downs. Leave the extension wings on, you will want the larger overall size.
I would mount the top on a heavy angle iron perimeter frame, shim it flat. Ditch the saw base completely. Put the top assembly on pipe or rectangular tube legs, tie them together with an intermediate shelf for stability. Put it on 4"-6" locking swivel casters if you want it movable.

That saw top will make a nice welding table. The stack of sheet metal you have it sitting on is a disaster. I would mount the welder on the Husky cart, store supplies in the drawer.

Good luck.

 

[GeoBruin]

Workable. But not with that cart as a base.
The t-slots would make good hold-downs. Leave the extension wings on, you will want the larger overall size.
I would mount the top on a heavy angle iron perimeter frame, shim it flat. Ditch the saw base completely. Put the top assembly on pipe or rectangular tube legs, tie them together with an intermediate shelf for stability. Put it on 4"-6" locking swivel casters if you want it movable.

That saw top will make a nice welding table. The stack of sheet metal you have it sitting on is a disaster. I would mount the welder on the Husky cart, store supplies in the drawer.

Good luck.

They're not tee slots.

 

[PugetDude]

They're not tee slots.

Looked closer, you're right. But they are parallel and could be used for alignment fixtures.

 

[tarbellb]

Diaster waiting to happen

At minimum rotate the base cart 90 so you don't have near the overhang issue

Also it looks way to high for typical work, take the cast iron off the TS base and mod the cart to hold it

 

[giantsean]

Looked closer, you're right. But they are parallel and could be used for alignment fixtures.

Yes... and there are kits available to install tee channel in the miter slots, if I'm so inclined. I was figuring on drilling some holes as well for hold downs etc, depending on how patient I am to drill multiple holes into thick cast iron

 

[giantsean]

Diaster waiting to happen

At minimum rotate the base cart 90 so you don't have near the overhang issue

Also it looks way to high for typical work, take the cast iron off the TS base and mod the cart to hold it

So I was concerned about the overhang as well, and wanted to install as you described, but it will be too wide to fit w/o some modification... more so than what would likely be worth. The idea was to attack it from the front (where it's pushed to the end) and if stability was a concern to install some legs or even wheelie bars to keep it from tipping too far. Again, maybe not worth it when you can buy a table from Northern or HF for 200 bucks.

As far as the height, I like tables a bit higher due to both my bad back and my crappy vision. What is the downside of having the table high? Is it that it limits the height of the work on the table, or is it simply a safety issue?

 

[PugetDude]

Diaster waiting to happen.

Steel is heavy. The first time you stack an
asymmetrical load on top of that Beverly Hillbillies contraption, your bad back is going to be the least of your worries.

Use the top, you have a welder to fab a decent base.
Great learning project, size it to fit your height and physical limitations.

Good luck.

 

[Beerhippie]

Search around on Youtube for this. I saw an excellent viddy a while back on doing just exactly what you want to. Been looking for an old CI tablesaw ever since.

But, yeah: that stand is a disaster in the making. You weld--weld up a stand for it.

 

[tarbellb]

I'm also like a bit higher work surface, I'm on the tall side. 38, 40, maybe 42" max

anything near or at your elbows you start using your shoulders a lot more, things just become more uncomfortable

 

[giantsean]

There are a bunch more videos about this conversion than there were since the time I first thought of using the top. Many of them use the original Craftsman base/stand with beefier casters, and I actually still have the stand . Might be worth just going with that for now until I fab something better up!

 

[PugetDude]

There are a bunch more videos about this conversion than there were since the time I first thought of using the top. Many of them use the original Craftsman base/stand with beefier casters, and I actually still have the stand . Might be worth just going with that for now until I fab something better up!

Use it as a welding table to build a welding table.

 

[jives]

As you stated, the table saw to welding table conversion is popular. Old cast iron table saws are pretty cheap around here and I have thought of doing the same, but I really don't need one. And too many other projects.