6mm steel for welding table

[123hotchef]

Just picked this sheet of 6mm steel up. I am thinking about making my welding table bigger. Will 6mm be man enough I am using 9mm atm

 

[mtt.tr]

all i have to say is, i keep thinking about another pick up and this muddies the waters

 

[123hotchef]

I wouldn't be without my pickup now

 

[waddycall]

Did you have a flag on that??? Wouldn’t be much to see from behind!

 

[123hotchef]

Did you have a flag on that??? Wouldn’t be much to see from behind!

no flag sorry

 

[Screwdriver]

To answer the question you could look up the structural data for 9mm steel with whatever span between the existing table supports and work out the span required for the same stiffness in 6mm. Is the 6mm going to be plonked on top of the current 9mm? That would complicate things!

if you did make a steel sandwich, would you be planning on a few well placed spot or plug welds to stop it rattling like an old tin shed?

<edit> Just to complicate things further, I don’t like taking a perfectly serviceable unit apart just to make another similar albeit improved thing. You might be better off passing the old table on (selling it) and making a brand new version from scratch...

 

[123hotchef]

To answer the question you could look up the structural data for 9mm steel with whatever span between the existing table supports and work out the span required for the same stiffness in 6mm. Is the 6mm going to be plonked on top of the current 9mm? That would complicate things!

if you did make a steel sandwich, would you be planning on a few well placed spot or plug welds to stop it rattling like an old tin shed?

the 9mm table is just a piece of 9mm steel plonked on top of my school table, the 6mm will just replace the 9mm but cover the whole table as apposed to half of it

 

[Screwdriver]

Aha. Ok sorry edited my post as you “liked” it.

Is the old school table all metal?

 

[Parm]

Wot Steve said.

Just make a table. Add some bracing to the top.

Stand back, say “mmmmmmmmmm”

Scratch your head a bit

Then add plenty more bracing

Tack sheet to bracing

Then I think you’ll be ok

 

[123hotchef]

Aha. Ok sorry edited my post as you “liked” it.

Is the old school table all metal?

no mate the top is covered wood

 

[123hotchef]

oh and I only tig down in this workshop. the mig lives in the garage with a different bench

 

[Screwdriver]

Sounds perfectly respectable to me, I have a lot of odd bits of metal resting on chunky wood. I moderate my use of it accordingly and don’t weld fixtures and fittings to the top for obvious reasons.

Just wondering what the forum thinks about glueing it down with some silicone or some other heat resisting filler? Once you have a table it does tend to get used for all sorts of things apart from welding so stopping it from rattling or shifting about would be one of my concerns for such a big one.

 

[Parm]

Sounds perfectly respectable to me, I have a lot of odd bits of metal resting on chunky wood. I moderate my use of it accordingly and don’t weld fixtures and fittings to the top for obvious reasons.

Just wondering what the forum thinks about glueing it down with some silicone or some other heat resisting filler? Once you have a table it does tend to get used for all sorts of things apart from welding so stopping it from rattling or shifting about would be one of my concerns for such a big one.

Silicone as glue might make the top bounce if given some welly with a BFH

 

[123hotchef]

I can drill some holes and bolt it through the table frame with nice counter sunk hex head bolts wont need many

 

[Parm]

I can drill some holes and bolt it through the table frame with nice counter sunk hex head bolts wont need many

I’m not a fan of drilling holes through sheet like this, for no other reason that you might change your mind latter on and it could be repurposed

Would it be an idea to make a frame from angle or box section the size of your wooden table or bigger, well braced and then tack the sheet to it. If there is an overhang it might be good for clamping also.

A bit of a palaver but I do tend to over engineer things

 

[123hotchef]

they would only be 6mm holes nothing that could not be filled with some weld if the sheet needs to be re-purposed

 

[123hotchef]

i have to cut the sheet anyway its too heavy to carry down to the workshop

 

[steviec_lj]

Completely off topic, can you get me some measurements of that front bumper please? Been looking to make one so I can add a winch etc to my pick up. Not paying daft prices they want on eBay for one though!!


Back on topic..my tables have all been 6mm, chuck some bracing under it and it’ll be fine. Have one with a 10mm top that gets used for beating and FIL’s overflow storage

 

[123hotchef]

Completely off topic, can you get me some measurements of that front bumper please? Been looking to make one so I can add a winch etc to my pick up. Not paying daft prices they want on eBay for one though!!

Sure pm me what measurments u need and I will.get the rule out


Back on topic..my tables have all been 6mm, chuck some bracing under it and it’ll be fine. Have one with a 10mm top that gets used for beating and FIL’s overflow storage

 

[mtt.tr]

How long is the tub with tailgate down