Welding Bench Advice

[FallibleFlyer]

Hi Guys,

I don't post much here, but I watch often. I have a question about my first welding table. Like many, I'm building it on a budget. For the top I was able to find two cast iron table saw tops (20x27) for $10 each. I have bolted the two of them together to serve as a decent size top. While it may not be the most ideal solution, the price was right. For the base, I had an old workbench that I was no longer going to use the supports for, so I gutted those to make a two legged three foot base instead of the three legged six foot it was originally. I also added some cheap casters rated at 90lbs each and so far I'm thinking this may just work out...

Onto my question. As you can see in the pictures, I don't have the top centered. The reason its not centered is because where I have it located, there is a ridge forged into the tops with threaded holes. This would making the mounting of the top extremely easy since it will have holes as well as a ridge to sit on stead of rocking around (or more intense fab to make it not). However, this means its center of gravity is no longer centered on the legs. In the pictures, you can see a dowel underneath the table top. This dowel is right at the point where the table top flopped, so close to the center of gravity. What are your thoughts? Is this too far off center? Will it be very likely to tip over? Each half of the top feels like it weighs 50-75lbs, so the total top is 100-150lbs.

Thanks in advance!

 

[ChevyEFI]

An abstract thought:
Use it that way for a little while.
Then when you find a nice solid steel sheet to make it a little bigger (and that helps include other ideas you come up with after you begin using it,) then place that on top, and center it at that time, adjusting the two original plates as you see fit.

If the items you'll weld would weigh enough to tip it, sitting on that side, then you should at a minimum, extend triangulated runners out in front of the casters to prevent a mishap.

Nice re-use of materials. Happy welding.

 

[FallibleFlyer]

An abstract thought:
Use it that way for a little while.
Then when you find a nice solid steel sheet to make it a little bigger (and that helps include other ideas you come up with after you begin using it,) then place that on top, and center it at that time, adjusting the two original plates as you see fit.

If the items you'll weld would weigh enough to tip it, sitting on that side, then you should at a minimum, extend triangulated runners out in front of the casters to prevent a mishap.

Nice re-use of materials. Happy welding.

I thought about getting a large steel plate 1/4" thick or so to put under or perhaps making an array of rectangular tubes to spread the load and make it centered... I guess I'll just give this a shot and see how it works? I only have $32 into the darn thing so far.

 

[gregtwojeeps]

Nice re-purposing job you have done there....

Good tip above ^^^^ I think it will be fine as long as common sense is used when loading it or wrenching on it. I would put a shelf on the bottom to put the heavy metal scraps on for handy storage, which will serve as a counter weight. ....

Someday you will be wanting to put a heavy vise on it, so use it as a counter weight also, when it is fastened down. Being mobile will limit the amount of heavy vise wrenching anyway, and that is what usually turns over work tables. jmo

 

[FallibleFlyer]

Nice re-purposing job you have done there....

Good tip above ^^^^ I think it will be fine as long as common sense is used when loading it or wrenching on it. I would put a shelf on the bottom to put the heavy metal scraps on for handy storage, which will serve as a counter weight. ....

Someday you will be wanting to put a heavy vise on it, so use it as a counter weight also, when it is fastened down. Being mobile will limit the amount of heavy vise wrenching anyway, and that is what usually turns over work tables. jmo

I was thinking Id add a shelf for my welder and what not, but perhaps another one for scraps. Maybe even store the vice down there.

 

[sophijo]

Find some surplus/scrap/2nd hand..stout wheels/castors. A bigger wheel with bearings will roll much easier on a shop floor and withstand more abuse. I go to the local scrapyard and find industrial castors for next to nothing.

 

[FallibleFlyer]

Find some surplus/scrap/2nd hand..stout wheels/castors. A bigger wheel with bearings will roll much easier on a shop floor and withstand more abuse. I go to the local scrapyard and find industrial castors for next to nothing.

The ones I bought were rated for 90lbs each. I figure that means my table should be capable of 360 without an issue. Since the tops is around 150, that gives me a couple hundred pounds of safety to work on things on top. I didn't want to use large castors only because of a height issue.

Are the size of the castors really going to be a problem? My garage floor is reasonably flat and smooth.

 

[sophijo]

Well, try em out. They may be fine for you. If the bearing frame bends or you experience other issues, larger castors may be the answer.

 

[FallibleFlyer]

Well, I got it done! Thanks for the advice. Now that its standing and braced with some more steel its pretty darn solid. Not bad for $32!

 

[1/2 Cup]

Nice work!