If I needed a welding table only I'd look that way for sure. I need a regular workbench as well and I don't think I'd like a bench full of holes for doing the rest of the stuff I do which will most likely be way more than actual weld fab jobs.
What I am thinking of though is rearranging how I set this table up keeping in mind that I may end up with a fab specific table down the road.
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Lance
1985 Monte Carlo SS Street Car
x2 on the clamp bar, one on each of the short ends.
The other thing I like is a power strip, one cord running power to the table sure comes in handy.
Fun project
If I needed a welding table only I'd look that way for sure. I need a regular workbench as well and I don't think I'd like a bench full of holes for doing the rest of the stuff I do which will most likely be way more than actual weld fab jobs.
What I am thinking of though is rearranging how I set this table up keeping in mind that I may end up with a fab specific table down the road.
I understand. This is more that just a welding table but it know where your coming from. What I have done with this table for jobs with small hardware and such is to throw a piece of 16g sheetmetal on it. other than that I use it for all different fab work and it handles it well.
Another thing that’s nice is a row of cubbies under the top for sliding your grinders, hammers and what nots into. It makes it real easy to keep the top clear and easily access the tools you’re using for the project.
Check out Dukers table, too......oh and Dr Clydes. I think there is a guy trying to amass all of the table threads into one thread.
In the end, simplest is best for me. I built two, 4x5 tables. They are identical, have 8 receivers, leveling feet, ground 1" tops with no holes, and no wheels. I have a pallet jack to move them around.
Put the welder on it's own cart. Dragging the whole table to tack something on the car is nuts. I don't like shelves underneath either but opinions vary on that.
I had a 3/16 table for a while and didn't much care for it. Steel tables turn up all the time on CL, it's worth looking.
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Donny
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Put the welder on it's own cart. Dragging the whole table to tack something on the car is nuts. I don't like shelves underneath either but opinions vary on that.
It's on a cart now that is not very user friendly. Maybe that can be my first project on the new bench, build a new welder cart...
I'm bouncing between closing the table in completely or using expanded steel for lower shelf. Just remembering the grinding dust and slag mess on lower shelf of my last bench and trying to keep that from being an issue again.
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Lance
1985 Monte Carlo SS Street Car
I plan on it being my work bench for most everything I do, including welding, fabrication, assembly work, tinkering... It's on the small side is the reason for not putting the vice right on the top and making the other devices removable as well. You are happy with 3/16" top? It's about $50 more to upgrade to 1/4" and I'm considering that.
How do you like the expanded metal lower shelf? Would you do that again or put 3/16" sheet down there instead? Pros or cons?
I like the clamp bar, want to do something like that as well. I think I need to raise the top a bit to make a bit more room on shelf below for argon tank and welder side panel to lift. Maybe 2" up to 38" total height.
I would go at least 1/4" if not more. Crazy how quick metal warps when its heated/ hammered on.
Like other's have said I would use the receiver idea. Almost everything I have in the shop is on 2" tube so I can move to the 2.5" receivers i have everywhere.
I really like the expanded metal vs a solid plate for shelves. It keeps the dirt levels down. I have long shelves on the walls too with expanded metal. I use the shelf for random things but I would not use it for the welder as others also said. its a pain if you need to move it around all the time.
As far as height, I made mine so it was comfortable when sitting on a stool and welding. Newer weld table is a but taller and can no longer sit. thought that would be an issue but it really hasn't been as of yet. I also thought to use a wieldable top then add a cover out of steel or wood that has 5/8" bolts aligned to the holes in the weld table so you could remove the solid plate top if needed for fixturing.
After looking at a bunch of "welding tables" on GarageJournal and YouTube...and lusting over them. I've decided that while I want a cool welding table, I really NEED a big strong heavy work BENCH.
So my plans have ventured back toward the work bench design. I've also decided to just modify the welding cart my Miller is on now to make it more user friendly and not try to incorporate it into my work bench.
So here's where I'm at now. The open design in the front will not only let me get under it on a stool and but not having a shelf under there to collect grinding dust and slag...along with anything else I can fit on it will also be a nice feature.
I learned a bunch of other nice little tips and tricks from this video which I hope to add onto the bench as I get it up and working. The ends that slide out to expand the overall length of the bench really interest me.
A friend also offered to loan a cut off saw which means I can buy long lengths of tube and cut it as I need it instead of trying to figure out all of the lengths ahead of time for the metal shop to cut. Hope to start buying steel soon...maybe by next weekend I'll be making sparks.
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Lance
1985 Monte Carlo SS Street Car
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
First Hemi 'Cuda Convertible Ever Built
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