Welding Table; Casters or Leveling Feet?

[D45]

I am making a small welding table, but it will also be a tad on the heavy side

I am trying to decide between plate casters or threaded leveling feet

I am leaning towards plate casters, solely because I have 6" sections of 3/4-20 threaded , welded to small square plates.....that is threaded into the legs of the base

Any suggestions?

 

[douglawrence42]

I absolutely recommend making it mobile. I wheel mine all over the place. Add a couple of brackets though and you could have both.


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[matt_i]

Best is to have both. Do the casters and create bracketry so that a wrench on the threaded stems of the leveling feet can jack the casters up off the ground. It only takes 1/8" of clearance under the caster (less really) to make it solid where necessary.

 

[napaul]

what about doing combination of both similar to a fridge where its on castors but once in place where you want you can level it off but if you need to move you can raise the leveling feet and move again?

 

[Jackfre]

I have a 36x42x3/4" table that lacked casters for a few years. Last year I put casters on it. It rarely moves but when you need it to, without casters it was a problem. Put the casters on it with the leveling legs that you can screw down when you want them.

 

[Dustball]

Go with both- Footmaster combination caster and leveling feet. I posted this in another thread but the ratcheting ones are the way to go.

 

[D45]

Caster sound like a good way to go

They will be mounted on to plates with 3/4" threaded rod, so I will still be able to level the table

Now, what's the best way to go: 2 swivel locking casters and 2 fixed casters or should all 4 casters be locking swivel?

This is just got my garage and will be used at a hobbyist level.....not professionally or used daily

 

[LXCam]

Four swivels makes it nice for getting it in n out of a tight area. But a royal pita for steering when you really need to move it. My preference is a fixed and swivel combo.

 

[dr_clyde]

I vote leveling feet, but there are options for both.

My uncle's table has receivers on the bottom, and when he needs to move the table all you have to do is jack up the ends with a floor jack, put in the caster assembly, and roll to wherever you want it, then reverse the process.

Works slick.

I hate working on tables that move when you don't want them to.

 

[lis2323]

Four swivels makes it nice for getting it in n out of a tight area. But a royal pita for steering when you really need to move it. My preference is a fixed and swivel combo.

I’m totally in agreement. However even on my 4’x8’ weld table I deliberately used four swivel as occasionally I like to rotate it within its own footprint.

And dr-clyde is right also. I put modified levelling floor locks on all four corners. Nothing worse than a table that moves when in use.




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[Kaizen]

I got a certiflat table and as it came with both options I was torn. Went with the casters but do not like how high it is. Planning to lower it, use adjustable feet, and weld in some cross tube to use my pallet jack to move around.


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[tarmy]

Locking castors...

 

[lis2323]

Planning to lower it, use adjustable feet, and weld in some cross tube to use my pallet jack to move around.


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[emoji106][emoji106]






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[LXCam]

[emoji106][emoji106]




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That’s my preferred and utilized method too guys.

 

[Terry D]

I am also getting ready to build my own table, I also have kicked this question around. I defiantly want it on flat feet when using it, so there is no chance of wobble or movement. But would like to be able to move it easy if have to. There are castors that lock both the wheel and swivel, but they can get expensive. As stated above, you could simply use a pallet jack to move it. You could buy that jack for what those 4 lockable castors would cost, then you would have the jack for other stuff. There are also designs that have retractable castors using built in bottle jacks. If you go to the forum WeldingWeb, they have some threads with a lot of pictures

 

[D45]

I think 2 locking swivels and 2 locking fixed might work well

Now the question is, what type/material for the wheels?

 

[douglawrence42]

I actually went pneumatic wheels and have been really happy. Very easy to roll



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[Notch1988]

I got the best of both worlds by air bagging my table...

 

[douglawrence42]

I got the best of both worlds by air bagging my table...

Wow! There is the winner. It’s so cool I don’t even care if it works. Now let’s get some valves in there and make it dance!


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[lis2323]

I got the best of both worlds by air bagging my table...

Too cool[emoji106]


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[Duker]

I got the best of both worlds by air bagging my table...

That is over the top... and I am loving it!


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[FANTM58]

My vote is for both as well,,,,
Here is what I came up with and it works well.

 

[bad_idea]

I prefer four large locking swivel wheels. Very rarely do I need the weld table fixed. It is really nice to push the table against a wall when not needed and roll it out to the middle of the room when it is needed. I do not do any wrenching or beating on the weld table - it's for welding. I have a fixed workbench for wrenching and beating.

I prefer steel wheels for the weld table. Rubber doesn't like weld slag. Steel doesn't flat spot.

 

[D45]

Now I am having a hard time find plate casters with the threaded leveling plates I planned on using

I have 4"x4" plates with a 2-1/4" hole spacing

I could weld on the plate casters or just drill new bolt holes in the caster plates or the threaded plates on my table

 

[brownbagg]

i hate chasing mine around the shop, i dont want it to move when im working on it, so yes pallet jack

 

[D45]

I like the idea of my original plan with just leveling feet

But I also like the ability to move it around easy

 

[D45]

 

[D45]

Good quality 3/4-10 leveling feet are not cheap!!

I might just modify the thread plate based for a more common bolt hole spacing

 

[D45]

 

[CGT80]

https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=310006&page=4
Post 63 and post 71


I built extendable legs with acme thread and locking casters. The height can be adjusted from low to high, by sticking a 7/16" socket through holes in the top of the table to turn the nuts on the acme thread.

 

[lis2323]

I made my own leveling feet for this lathe bench I built. 3/4-10

 

[PugetDude]

I'm building a 3' x 7' wood-topped steel work table with storage , used 13" wheels with solid rubber tires (love that HF smell!) on one end, 3/4"-10 bolts with a 2" diameter flat washer plug welded to the head for leveling feet on the other end. To make it easily movable, I added a side-winder trailer jack with a crazy wheel on the end with the levelers. just crank it up, roll it wherever I need it, and crank it back down. Works great; I'll post pics when it's finished.

 

[D45]

I am just going to find some rubber padding and put it under the adjustable feet I have now

It will work in the meantime and I can later determine if I need casters

 

[seanc_mt]

I have a big shop so take this with a grain of salt.... IMHO a welding table should not move at all. When I'm welding I want everything as rock solid as possible.

One mobile work station and one rock solid welding/fixture table is what works for me.

 

[PhantomEB]

Mine is mobile on casters, will get leveling feet like Lis2323 posted up above once it moves out of the corner permanently.

 

[Dragfluid]

I got the best of both worlds by air bagging my table...

That's pretty neat. But what happens when a piece of hot slag hits one of those bags?

 

[rmack898]

I also wanted both on my 5x10 plasma table.

I put heavy casters on a hinge and use a cam over center to lift the table when needed.

 

[Glory]

That's pretty neat. But what happens when a piece of hot slag hits one of those bags?

How in the hell would that happen on a welding table.

 

[lis2323]

I also wanted both on my 5x10 plasma table.



I put heavy casters on a hinge and use a cam over center to lift the table when needed.

Too slick!![emoji106][emoji106]

 

[bobcatdan]

I like my benches bolted to the floor.