Welding bench

[3MPS]

Work begins on my first ever welding bench this week.

I've ordered 50x50x3mm box section for the frame, and a 10mm plate for the top. Thought I may as well build it to last.

Plan is for the top to be 900mm off the floor, but I may leave it at 1000mm.

It's going up against a wall, and I'm leaving a 100mm overhang. I wasn't sure whether to do this on the 3 remaining sides or just the front, long side.

What size threaded bar should I use for making feet?

 

[overload]

M24 stud bar would be my choice.

 

[roofman]

Work begins on my first ever welding bench this week.

I've ordered 50x50x3mm box section for the frame, and a 10mm plate for the top. Thought I may as well build it to last.

Plan is for the top to be 900mm off the floor, but I may leave it at 1000mm.

It's going up against a wall, and I'm leaving a 100mm overhang. I wasn't sure whether to do this on the 3 remaining sides or just the front, long side.

What size threaded bar should I use for making feet?

Ide leave the overhang on 3 sides,makes it easier to clamp stuff on the edge and with only 10mm will give you more clamping space.

 

[Maker]

How tall are you? - 1000 MM is quite a lot for a welding bench, especially once you have a big project on top of it.

Leave an overhang bigger than the size of the throat on your biggest clamp on three sides.

Get the biggest threaded rod you possibly can for the feet.

 

[3MPS]

The height is because I will be mainly seated doing TIG.

I had best find some M24 stud before Friday then!

 

[3MPS]

I should probably measure the height of my elbow before cutting any steel.

 

[mr migwire]

my bench sits at 930mm that includes 10mm plate and is perfect for lifting onto and sitting doing a bit of tig.

I originally made my frame 6 feet long x 3 feet deep x 3 feet high then the plate on top....

 

[Kent]

900mm is kitchen worktop height / breakfast bar ideal to stand and work at for anyone of non freaky tall height. 720mm is a std table height to suit a chair. 1000mm will certainly require a taller bar type seat (not something I should want to balance on when welding personally).

My current bench is 700 ish and is simply sitting on the deck without adjustable feet. I am going to make a far larger heavier duty one soon to work on larger stuff soon (as I hate working on the floor) and will put that on wheels but it will be the same height. Making a really tall bench sounds good right up until the point you need to climb up onto it to work on the tack up the top of your next larger project.

 

[3MPS]

Hmm, I think I'll tack up one end, and see what it is like before I get too involved.

 

[MattF]

I should probably measure the height of my elbow before cutting any steel.

Good idea. A little extra unnecessary height can make a bench seem awkward to work on. I usually go with between crotch and belt buckle height for mine. Unless either your todge, belt buckle or a combination of both is pressing against the edge, it's either too high or too low. Too low can strain your back after a while, and too high can make things like working on something in the vice a stretch. If you're making it with adustable feet, I'd go with todge height at lowest and allow at least a couple of inch on the threaded adjusters.

Btw, I know the above definitely ain't technical, (I've now set myself off wondering if I ever inadvertently do a height check on anyone elses bench which may earn me some weird glances ), but it's a simple way to personalise a bench and doesn't need extra measuring equipment.

 

[eSCHEn]

todge height at lowest

You should keep a bench to quickly set up with 2" legs for when people who know you use that measuring system come round

 

[CRB]

You should keep a bench to quickly set up with 2" legs for when people who know you use that measuring system come round

?Almost like mine is? 1 1/2 high for me.



?Does the bench need adjustable feet?

I was thinking the same but have decided on sliding feet which are bolted though to captive nuts.

 

[eSCHEn]

?Almost like mine is? 1 1/2 high for me.

Nice

Matt's totally right though, if it's your bench for your use then use your own body measurements for it. I'm vertically challenged so make my stuff quite low. Hilarious watching my 6'7" FIL try to use it

 

[mr migwire]

Nice

Matt's totally right though, if it's your bench for your use then use your own body measurements for it. I'm vertically challenged so make my stuff quite low. Hilarious watching my 6'7" FIL try to use it

that's exactly what I did mate i'm 6'3" and my bench suits me braw.....

 

[Kent]

funny enough kitchen tops are std and tables and 99.9 % of people get on with these heights without grumble I am 6ft my wife is 5ft 7" and I never hear her complain about those 5" ooer. The only thing one should sometimes consider is the working height of say a vice if fitted as these vary and IMO are the only thing that should sway you away from 900 or 700 stds

 

[Maker]

Why elbow height?

The only thing one should sometimes consider is the working height of say a vice if fitted as these vary and IMO are the only thing that should sway you away from 900 or 700 stds

Depending on the kind of things you do on the bench, a vice bolted to the top isn't ideal, you're better off with it on a pedestal or on mount that can be quickly/easily removed from the bench.

 

[eSCHEn]

funny enough kitchen tops are std and tables and 99.9 % of people get on with these heights without grumble I am 6ft my wife is 5ft 7" and I never hear her complain about those 5" ooer. The only thing one should sometimes consider is the working height of say a vice if fitted as these vary and IMO are the only thing that should sway you away from 900 or 700 stds

I'm the same height as your wife and I do find kitchen counters a bit high for me. Don't really notice until I need to use the bench for a few hours of baking / cooking and then I'm aching.

Also: CRB, the man with a half inch bench

 

[MattF]

Why elbow height?

It's just a nice working height. Minimises stretching or bending when working on the bench. Bending, for example, is one thing which makes my back ache like buggery since I pulled it years ago. I have absolutely no problems with lifting or such, but if I hunch over something for ten minutes or so I can barely move. Elbow/buckle height means that you can work on something comfortably without hunching. You tend to appreciate little subtleties like that as the body starts getting older and more knacked.

 

[MattF]

Also: CRB, the man with a half inch bench

I'm waiting for someone to say their bench is down the inspection pit.

 

[Kent]

I'm the same height as your wife and I do find kitchen counters a bit high for me. Don't really notice until I need to use the bench for a few hours of baking / cooking and then I'm aching.

Also: CRB, the man with a half inch bench

I am not kidding here but I have done kitchens for Dwarfs on two different occasions and they both said leave everything as std that's the way life is for us.