Welding table with Mig welder stored under

[madison069]

Does anyone have a welding table with a mig welder and bottle stored on the table?

Any suggestions in designing this kind of setup to keep the mig and bottle on the table so it all rolls together and reduce foot print that is taken up if mig was separate on its own cart?

My main concern is the bottle storage, securing, and protecting from weld splatter.

 

[nadogail]

A reasonable cover can be made from a 55 gallon steel drum.

 

[KwikFab]

Just make a shelf underneath.

For the bottle you can simply cut out a piece of steel with slots and a cutout to follow the shape of your bottle. Use the holes/slots to run a chain to secure your bottle with. Some people weld a "foot" that extends out in the event that the bottle is too tall to fit under the shelf.

 

[Steve from Socal]

Inert gas bottles CAN be used in a horizontal position, laid down.

 

[whateg01]

Inert gas bottles CAN be used in a horizontal position, laid down.

I would suggest something to protect the regulator if it's going to end up below the top of the table.

 

[bdbecker]

I tried having my machine under my slotted table top and moved my welder back onto a cart after only a couple of projects. If the weld table top is solid, you should be fine. If you have fixture holes or slots, it gets messy really quickly unless you have some sort of shelf protecting your equipment as @KwikFab suggested.

Another thing to think about... is the majority of your welding done on a table, or do you weld a fair amount of larger items? The reason I bring this up is that if you are working on something like a trailer, pulling a welder around on a cart is fairly easy. Getting a welding table next to the project could be a bit more difficult, especially if space is already tight.

 

[madison069]

The tabletop will be solid, I'm looking at a table that's 32"x38" on facebook marketplace, so it's not a big table but should be big enough for doing small projects and easy to push against the wall and out of the way. I will also be putting a stick welder under the table and if I have enough room, one of those side drawer toolbox for the welding related tools and supplies.

The goal is to make it mobile so I can roll it around the garage and into the driveway as needed.

 

[GaryM909]

You could put the machines under the table and the place the bottle against the wall near your power supply. Then just unwind as much hose as needed along with the power cord.

 

[Jackfre]

I did the same as you propose with my mig and Plasma. While it was a nice package I found it really limiting. I was of the opinion that access would be simple, but it was always ******* with boards. leads, air, grinders etc, UNDER the table. For me it became a giant pitn. I finally made a cart for the mig and plasma that worked out well and had a pretty small footprint. The table was then the work table. It is a good concept, but only for a really organized mind, and that ain’t me, babe!

 

[CraigStu]

I did that for my tig. I'd get that table, figure how to add casters. I built my own from scrap yard steel. 4 vertical supports off of a shelf just above the casters. A piece of steel 24"x24"x 1/8" at the top about 36-38" tall since I do most welding on smaller projects standing up. The argon bottle fits on the inside of one of the verticals that has a diagonal 1/8"x1" support on each side so the bottle nestles into the corner. It is held in position by two small webbing straps.

 

[cannuck]

I think that would be a great way to keep welding equipment handy and tidy but you would need a 4 x 8 welding table to have room for welder(s) at one end and bottle(s) coming in at the other. My main welding table now is 3 x 6 and on wheels but with 5 welding machines using 2 bottles in one shop I have definite challenges for locations. One solution I now use is to put gas bottles in one place and run a long hose to the place I am welding. Don't need it at main location, but can't always set up there. Far easier to move the welder without a bottle (ESPCIALLY my little 211 that spent a whole summer and fall working a 20 or so feet up moving constantly from structure to structure....gas and power coming up by extension cord and long hose.

 

[tarmy]

I ended up building this to address your Mobil option. All of my gear/disks/bottle are on it.

 

[madison069]

I should of clarified, the welders will go on a shelf under the table top just meant that the welder will stay with the table. I'm going to pick the table up after work. it has a 3/4" steel plate top which will be really nice and solid. It currently has cross pieces under the table but most likely I'll cut them off and relocate them for my needs. Casters will be a must as I want it to be moveable. Plus I can always use it as a bench when I'm not welding. I'm just a hobby garage who's trying to utilize my space the best.

 

[LopezBart]

Perhaps a low-profile cart that can fit under the table? This would work for welding on cars/trailers outside, and would still store compactly in the shop.

 

[whateg01]

I think that would be a great way to keep welding equipment handy and tidy but you would need a 4 x 8 welding table to have room for welder(s) at one end and bottle(s) coming in at the other. My main welding table now is 3 x 6 and on wheels but with 5 welding machines using 2 bottles in one shop I have definite challenges for locations. One solution I now use is to put gas bottles in one place and run a long hose to the place I am welding. Don't need it at main location, but can't always set up there. Far easier to move the welder without a bottle (ESPCIALLY my little 211 that spent a whole summer and fall working a 20 or so feet up moving constantly from structure to structure....gas and power coming up by extension cord and long hose.

I have a hard enough time remembering if I closed the valve at the end of the day with the bottle right there. I bet I would go through so many bottles of gas forgetting to close the valve and then leaking out while I'm out of town. Otherwise I like the idea of making it lighter to move the welder. I keep two machines loaded with flux core just so I can easily lug them around when needed.

 

[KwikFab]

An alternative to what I already suggested, is just using a separate cart for your welder/bottle than your table.

I only say this because it's what I have found most useful seeing as how I don't need to roll my whole table around if I'm welding in the driveway. Whether it's an exhaust repair (just recently did one on an FJ60), or a trailer (fixed my wife's family member's trailer), or a mod of some sort (welded diff covers on my old FZJ80), there are plenty of times where it's nice just having the welder being mobile and not lugging around the entire table.

 

[madison069]

An alternative to what I already suggested, is just using a separate cart for your welder/bottle than your table.

I only say this because it's what I have found most useful seeing as how I don't need to roll my whole table around if I'm welding in the driveway. Whether it's an exhaust repair (just recently did one on an FJ60), or a trailer (fixed my wife's family member's trailer), or a mod of some sort (welded diff covers on my old FZJ80), there are plenty of times where it's nice just having the welder being mobile and not lugging around the entire table.

I'll do some measuring and see what can be done to nest the welder under the table, but maybe make it in a way to clamp the welding cart to the table to make it as one. So, I can release the cart when I don't need the table but make it easier to roll that table out and the welder will come with it as one piece.

 

[madison069]

So what to do for caster for this table? The legs are 2”x2” and this table is heavy!

 

[StormcrowAz]

I started with the “welder under the work table”.





The bottle kept getting in the way of longer items. I do a lot of grinding at the table and was worried about the machines cooling fan sucking up fine metal particles. And most importantly, the maneuverability was the biggest issue. I was also doing things around the property and not just in the shop, so the smaller wheels were not happy off-road. This led me to make the welder-dolly which I’m still using and happy with.





This allows me to easily use this outside, doing repairs and such.



And helps when moving around other projects/vehicles with tight (and odd) spaces much easier.

 

[CraigStu]

Do you have a Harbor Freight nearby. They have a large selection of wheels and casters.

 

[madison069]

Do you have a Harbor Freight nearby. They have a large selection of wheels and casters.

I do, ended up getting 4 online after seeing what the harbor freight had and the cost. Got a set that had great review online so we will see.

Won't get the wheels until Monday so I'll clean the table some until they come in. I want the wheels installed so I have the final height under the table before I layout my shelves dimensions.

 

[pcfithian]

Here's what I did, homeade cart for a Menards welding table and spot to mount welder and tank. Made a canvas cover for the welder, tucks under a wall cabinet when not in use.

 

[whateg01]

I hope you cover the front ventilation when you're grinding with the welder turned off