What size welding table should I get?

[drummerdimitri]

I'd like to buy a welding table made by GPPH for my workshop however, I'm not sure whether to go for the 2m x 1m model or the 2.4m x 1.2m model since my work will be custom made one off projects and I cannot anticipate what a customer might ask for so surely the bigger the better but there is a cost increase that has to be accounted for.

What would I be able to weld on the larger table that I would not be able to weld on the smaller one? (ex. doors, gates, fences).

I'd rather not have to reject builds due to the limitation of my welding table but then again its not worth having the larger one and pay a premium for it if I would only use its full potential for 5 percent of the jobs .

Hopefully someone can provide some scenarios that would be beneficial to make the right decision.

 

[sberry]

How old are you and where did you learn to do this work?

 

[drummerdimitri]

How old are you and where did you learn to do this work?

29 years old, I haven't learned to do this type of work professionally yet but I am willing to learn the trade (welding school) before starting my business.

In the meantime, I will be practicing the skills learnt from experience tinkering around in my hobby shop and with the help of YouTube tutorials and online forums like this one.

 

[sberry]

You are headed the way wrong way with this. By the nature of the questions I figured this to be a ********* with a Christmas wish book. If I could afford all that **** I wouldnt do it.

 

[Lucid Moments]

Build your own custom size. I am teaching myself to weld a little now and the way I figure it when I get good enough to need a welding table I will be good enough to build what I need.

 

[sberry]

Every once in a while someone does a start like this that works, the other 99 are bust. Even the rate for highly experienced types isnt very good.

 

[drummerdimitri]

You are headed the way wrong way with this. By the nature of the questions I figured this to be a ********* with a Christmas wish book. If I could afford all that **** I wouldnt do it.

Not sure what is meant by this, please clarify.

 

[drummerdimitri]

Build your own custom size. I am teaching myself to weld a little now and the way I figure it when I get good enough to need a welding table I will be good enough to build what I need.

I was going to build my own but I thought if I had no flat reference to work on, how could my welding table ever come out perfectly square?

Going by that philosophy, it occurred to me that a professional welding table would be a great start. Will be making a plasma cutting table as my first project on it!

 

[drummerdimitri]

Every once in a while someone does a start like this that works, the other 99 are bust. Even the rate for highly experienced types isnt very good.

I got nothing to lose if this doesn't work out for me so might as well try my luck.

Worst case scenario, I keep doing this as a hobby which isn't so bad really!

Don't worry about me, I got plenty of other steady sources of income to rely on.

 

[LeeG]

You don't need something flat to get something flat, otherwise there would be nothing that is flat.

 

[matt_i]

I'd prefer a cast iron platen but those are big and monsterous (forklift). Acorn is out of business I think.

Second would be an A36 hot rolled steel plate, around 1". Also very heavy.

I don't do enough weldments to justify "fixture tables", I just use a precision square and tack together lightly until I like it and then weld it up. So far its working.

To get some practice you can build your own table. You also presumably needa bandsaw to cut the tubing to length, the saw will hopefully come in very handy down the road.

 

[larry_g]

I have a small welding table. If I have a large project then I use stands that are out from the table to support what hangs over the edge. In the following picture you can see the table on the right and the stands supporting the rest of the material being set up for welding.

View media item 77446

And the final product, the wedding arch.

View media item 51085
lg
no neat sig line

 

[drummerdimitri]

I have a small welding table. If I have a large project then I use stands that are out from the table to support what hangs over the edge. In the following picture you can see the table on the right and the stands supporting the rest of the material being set up for welding.

View media item 77446

And the final product, the wedding arch.

View media item 51085
lg
no neat sig line

Nice!

What are those stands with the rollers called? Gonna need some for my bandsaw when cutting long pieces of stock.

 

[tonyciambrone]

Not sure what is meant by this, please clarify.

Everything you post is just variations on the theme of cargo culting success in the blue collar world via buying expensive equipment.

It's not how it goes. If you don't care how your 'business' turns out, then please don't expect others to or entertain these weird larps.

Others are giving you practical advice with good intentions, I.E build your own, go practice, etc.

 

[larry_g]

Nice!

What are those stands with the rollers called? Gonna need some for my bandsaw when cutting long pieces of stock.

Thank you.

The stands are roller stands. The black ones you see are harbor freight and I wouldn't recommend them. Tighten them to much and the tubing collapses. So pay your money and get a quality unit, especially if your doing heavy work. I searched 'adjustable roller stand' and a lot pop up.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[drummerdimitri]

Everything you post is just variations on the theme of cargo culting success in the blue collar world via buying expensive equipment.

It's not how it goes. If you don't care how your 'business' turns out, then please don't expect others to or entertain these weird larps.

Others are giving you practical advice with good intentions, I.E build your own, go practice, etc.

I don't appreciate non constructive criticism as it does not benefit me or the community in any way.

What I do with my business and the means by which I attempt to achieve success is my business and no one else's.

What's wrong with having a tool fetish and wanting nothing but the best I can afford so I can enjoy using my equipment for years to come? If anything, it's going to save me a lot of headache and frustration in the future.

If you're here to help, please do so by means of guidance and factual information otherwise it's better not to post at all

 

[drummerdimitri]

Thank you.

The stands are roller stands. The black ones you see are harbor freight and I wouldn't recommend them. Tighten them to much and the tubing collapses. So pay your money and get a quality unit, especially if your doing heavy work. I searched 'adjustable roller stand' and a lot pop up.

lg
no neat sig line

I will look around for some decent ones locally and if I fail to find them, I will make them myself

 

[sberry]

What's wrong with having a tool fetish and wanting nothing but the best I can afford so I can enjoy using my equipment for years to come? If anything, it's going to save me a lot of headache and frustration in the future.

We tryin to splain you are buying headaches.

 

[alfazer]

I think the answer you want to hear is...
If you are considering the big one then you can afford it and you have the space, so just buy the big one.

I have a 17 year old nephew who just left school. He's been welding and forging since he was 12 with no family background in it at all. I can't believe what he knows for his age.
He already has a great reputation and order book for metal projects evenings and weekends. Welding, forging, gates, restoration/heritage work, farm machine repairs, you name it. Puts all his money back into tools and equipment as he goes. But he still welds his big gate projects on the floor because he hasn't got a welding table yet.

 

[PhantomEB]

I not sure what life really is like over there other than what we are shown on our ******** spewing media.....but I am sure even thinking of starting a business can’t be easy over there?


Myself it would come down to space limitations.

Hope this helps?

 

[brandonsmash]

For reference, my primary welding table is 4' x 8' and is pneumatically adjustable for height. I also have an additional 3ea. 3' x 6' steel layout tables on casters, so if I have a large project I can configure them to hold the full length.

My primary table is large enough for most applications, but keep in mind that you'll always have other things on it. You won't just have your workpiece but you'll also have pens/markers, grinders, layout tools, etc. That eats into your available space pretty quickly.

 

[drummerdimitri]

I think the answer you want to hear is...
If you are considering the big one then you can afford it and you have the space, so just buy the big one.

I have a 17 year old nephew who just left school. He's been welding and forging since he was 12 with no family background in it at all. I can't believe what he knows for his age.
He already has a great reputation and order book for metal projects evenings and weekends. Welding, forging, gates, restoration/heritage work, farm machine repairs, you name it. Puts all his money back into tools and equipment as he goes. But he still welds his big gate projects on the floor because he hasn't got a welding table yet.

Sounds like you're a proud uncle and rightfully so

I've got the space for a 2.4 m x 1.2 m table so will just get that one. Who knows what kind of job I'll be doing in the future?

That way I would eliminate the need to sell and get a larger table down the road.

 

[drummerdimitri]

For reference, my primary welding table is 4' x 8' and is pneumatically adjustable for height. I also have an additional 3ea. 3' x 6' steel layout tables on casters, so if I have a large project I can configure them to hold the full length.

My primary table is large enough for most applications, but keep in mind that you'll always have other things on it. You won't just have your workpiece but you'll also have pens/markers, grinders, layout tools, etc. That eats into your available space pretty quickly.

Exactly, I could also use it as a workbench on which I bolt down a bench vise, drill press, plasma cutter table extension etc.

 

[drummerdimitri]

I not sure what life really is like over there other than what we are shown on our ******** spewing media.....but I am sure even thinking of starting a business can’t be easy over there?


Myself it would come down to space limitations.

Hope this helps?

It's quite a **** show given the coronavirus situation and the economic turmoil but hey, we're still alive.

There is a severe lack of industrial companies in Lebanon, as has been highlighted by this recession that we're facing so I would have a head start over others thinking of doing something similar (few competitors).

If anything, there couldn't be a better time for this venture however, the same cannot be said for other types of businesses.

Space isn't much of an issue so as stated above, will get the biggest one I can justify purchasing.

 

[BukitCase]

I second Larry's advise NOT to bother with the Harbor Freight roller stands, they're barely useful for a WOOD shop. Depending on the projects YOU might get into, a single piece of steel might weigh several HUNDRED pounds.

The best ALMOST reasonably priced roller stands I've found here

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002JGWGEG/?tag=atomicindus08-20

My table is a Craigs List find, 1 inch thick and 3 x 7 feet; at times it's too small and I end up using multiple jack stands with shims, and one of the "digital angle cubes" to keep things in a single, LEVEL, flat plane -

Angle gauge
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0054RJ7VC/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Since you have other "income streams", your plan to use your welding business to grow your welding business is a valid one; kudos on your determination, without it the "nay sayers" might be right... Steve