weld table

[PurdueSD]

Couple pics from one of this weekends projects. Would have been finished, had I been able to find a 5/16ths coarse thread tap... thats the way it usually goes...

I had planned on welding some angle to the bottom side of the table top to secure it inside the 2x2 frame. Problem is, i dont think it is going to be secure enough to beat on- without rattling my ears off. Should I just quit worrying about it warping later, and weld the top to the frame?

specs:
30x60x3/8ths top
3" overhang on all sides
2x2 frame
wheel and swivel locking Casters (yet to be installed)

Anyways, on to the pics...

 

[jcp907]

Looks like a useful project! I made one that was similar a few years back. I tack welded it in a few places underneath, nothing to worry about heat though. If it's on casters, it will probably rattle a bit when you beat on it, but not as bad as it would with the top being loose.

 

[Lyaec350]

I tacked angle to my top (it's fully floating) and pound on it all the time with no poor results.

 

[Ggg]

Very nice!

 

[e-tek]

How much does a sheet of steel 1/2" thich run you?

 

[PurdueSD]

My top is 3/8ths and it was free.... the best price

 

[goodfellow]

That's a good price -- free. With the price of commodities in free fall, I'm waiting a few weeks more and then stock up on steel. These prices are not going to last forever, and judging by the price of scrap these days, steel will be much cheaper in a few more weeks/months.

 

[george4]

Excellent. I am building a very similar table with ½ inch top, 2 x 3 feet. I intended to bolt my vise with 3/8 bolts secured by weld nuts on the bottom so it is fairly easy to remove but now you have me wondering if that would be stout enough. I was thinking of wheels on one end with adjustable 1-inch bolts on the other end with the nuts welded to the end of the legs since all of my weld area is not perfectly level. What size are the walls on your 2x2 frame?

 

[PurdueSD]

11 GA (basically 1/8")

I was wordied about the 11GA being thick enough, but not anymore. The frame is stout!

 

[george4]

11 GA (basically 1/8")

I was wordied about the 11GA being thick enough, but not anymore. The frame is stout!

Great, that is the same wall I am using but 1 1/2 square. I think I misread your post at first, I would consider tacking the top to the frame. A friend used the angle trick but eventually tacked the top down, it put a lot more rigidity into the structure.

 

[Lyaec350]

I did the same... 3/8" top with 2"x2"x1/8" box tube as the frame. $0.15 a lb for the top

 

[PurdueSD]

So if i dont weld the table down... i can lift the top and that bothers me... Granted its heavy to lift one side (maybe 100lbs) But if i have something clamped to the table, trying to bend it around the edge with some force, i think it willl lift.

If i tack the top to the frame in a couple spots its not going to warp is it... I mean i dont need a perfectly decked table, but i dont want a 1/4" crown either.

Thanks guys!

 

[Lyaec350]

You could tack some pieces of angle on then tack those to the frame, or drill holes in the angle/frame and bolt thru them after tacking the top to the angle. Or just put 1/2" beads in several spots from the top to the frame and call it a day. With welding the top to the frame you probably won't warp the sheet from the tacks, but if the top gets heated or anything it may buckle at a later date.

 

[Ggg]

It all depends on what you plan on using the table for. I work on heavy equipment, some of the items I have built or repaired on my table weigh a ton or two so my top is 3/4" thick. I must have it welded to the frame due to some things need to be done with quite a bit of force. If all you worked on was light weight stuff like motorcycles or airplane parts then you could get away with it not being rigidly mounted.

 

[Brad54]

I would think if you just did a series of 1/2-inch welds, skipping from side-to-side/front-to-back and attached the table top that way, it wouldn't warp. Start at diagonal corners, and let the welds cool to the touch before putting down the next bead. It doesn't have to be a solid, continuous bead--one 1/2-inch weld every six or eight inches will hold the top to the frame.
I wouldn't do tach welds either...there's a VERY good chance they'll break free over time, and then you'll have spots on your table that rattle or lift when you're working on it.

I finally found a 3x5 piece of 1/2-inch plate at the scrap yard. I'd kept my eye open for years, and got it for about $45. Bought it by the pound, and it weighs over 350 pounds. Now that scrap prices have dropped again, steel prices should come down too, and when they do I'm going to build a perimeter frame with C-channel, with box tubing legs, and the 4-inch round leveling feet I bought off ebay.
I'd be happy to have the table weigh in around 700 lbs!

-Brad

 

[PurdueSD]

Thanks for all the advice guys... Im not worried about warping the top when welding it down, i can handle that.

My concern is using the table for it's intended purpose later, heating up and cooling down the top while welding on it .

In all reality it's not going to see heavy heavy use. Not like i am going to be welding full time on it anyways. I think I'll just lay some 1/2" beads on it and quit worrying like a girl...

Thanks!

 

[4x4mike]

Great looking table. I'm looking to build something very similar. I want it to be on casters and be able to roll under my existing work bench that way it's out of the way when I'm not using it. I'm looking around for a good top though. Free would be nice but it's not common around my parts.

 

[russlaferrera]

I made a 2 X 3, 1/2" SS top. I stick welded 1" beads on both sides. Never warped a bit. Great looking table Super Vise. A Wilton?

 

[brad d]

woah thats thick i have a few 2'x8' tables with 1/4" tops.

looks good

 

[PurdueSD]

I just noticed that i never did update this thread. Here are some finished pics!

The table has been working out great and has seen its fair share of use. No complaints with it so far! Hopefully this gives someone some good ideas!

 

[akdiesel]

Looks good. I like the casters. I have a similar set and they lock very well.
I wish I could aford a Wilton vice.

 

[Ggg]

Nice table, vice, and welder it is also extremely tidy. I see a straight jacket and a paded room in your future.

 

[bhays]

Wow, nice vice!

 

[sberry]

I like the shelf higher so I can sweep under, also keeps some dust off the junk residing under most welding benches. One of these days I might break down and build a couple from scratch, mine are pieced together over the years.

 

[X73]

Nice bench. It's almost the exact same thing I'm building. Same size top but my legs are going to be different. It looks like you have the same welder as I and I'm planning on putting my welder underneath my bench so it's a portable welding station so to speak. I want to save floor space so I'm trying to combine both.