Building a welding table

[norwelder]

Okey...just invested in a new welding machine and now im going to learn welding for real!
First out is building my own welding table. Not going for a huge table, but a smaller one that i can move around in my little garage. Im thinking something like 1200x700 mm
Going to use 40x40x3 for the framework, and then a 10mm solid plate for the top. Want to have holes drilled all over the table like on the pro-built ones... not sure yet how to make those holes 100% perfect..

Where is the best place to buy the clamps and stuff i need for it?

I`ll post some pics as i move on

 

[sparkysy]

Nice I did much the same for my first bench some years ago but used 6mm plate for the top as it was all I had at the time, I just put a few more struts in to support it. I would find out if there are any welding merchants near you and get friendly with them, we have a couple near us and they are spot on for bits, or ebay but beware of cheap mag clamps as they are sh@t! I have used jigs made out of wood for corner joints before! I have a few machine mart clamps and mole grips that are passable. But I also have some irwins and Stanley ones that are far better quality and a good few years old too!
Hope this helps a bit, good luck with it
Sy

 

[norwelder]

...a little progress. Need more steel and a set of wheels for it before i get the 10mm top. My floor isnt 100%, so im making adjustable feets on it.

 

[norwelder]

Is the 'more steel' for bracing those legs?

Yep, sure is. There will be four braces.
I think i will make shelfs in there to store steel or tools also.

Got to practice my welding skills also Probably not the best welds yet, but it improved as i continued. I have watched a lot of youtube videos etc.
My new Kemppi 200 EVO is awesome compared to the old Telwin i used before. When i have finished the table i will start practice more, and i also have a few few upcoming projects to finish over the winter. One of them is making a set of ladder bars for a racecar project im working on.

 

[norwelder]

If you're putting a load of holes in the top, I'd make the shelves from expanded sheet or mesh...

Yeah, that is probably smart to do, thanks.

 

[Kent]

I got mine laser cut the thread should be found on fixture bench
Laser can also get each in at the perfect pitch. Mine was 100 mm over a 2500x 1500 10 mm top

 

[norwelder]

Not many around here doing laser cuts

I probably drop the wheels..making just solid adjustable feets. Got a lot of stuff from an old shop many years ago, and found some massive threaded bars, and matching nuts. So i think i will use those, since they are for free


Just need to weld in some nuts to the bottom of the table/legs.
Should i just grind down the nuts so that they fit inside the tubeing, then weld in place, or is there a better way to do it? Rossette welds?

Im thinking 3 nuts for each, one thats welded inside the legs, one for locking it down when adjusted, and then the last one will be tacked in and used as "shoes". (sorry about my bad english guys..)

 

[skotl]

That's going to be a sturdy bench (after the braces have been added)

Should i just grind down the nuts so that they fit inside the tubeing, then weld in place

That would work but it might be tricky getting them perfectly square inside the box-section.
Or weld a piece of plate to the bottom of the legs, drill a hole large enough for the bolt to go through, then weld the nuts to the plates.

One thought; I did something similar for a stool, with a 3" diameter threaded rod. You want to make sure that no weld splatter gets inside the threads so cut a piece of sacrificial rod off, spray it with cooking oil spray (poor man's anti-spatter) and screw it into the nut while you're welding. That will protect the nut's threads.

 

[norwelder]

The very start

That's going to be a sturdy bench (after the braces have been added)



That would work but it might be tricky getting them perfectly square inside the box-section.
Or weld a piece of plate to the bottom of the legs, drill a hole large enough for the bolt to go through, then weld the nuts to the plates.
I dont think i have a drill that size... its must be around 1" But the idea is good! I`ll see what i can do about it.

One thought; I did something similar for a stool, with a 3" diameter threaded rod. You want to make sure that no weld splatter gets inside the threads so cut a piece of sacrificial rod off, spray it with cooking oil spray (poor man's anti-spatter) and screw it into the nut while you're welding. That will protect the nut's threads.

Thanks for the tip Will do!

 

[skotl]

...I dont think i have a drill that size... its must be around 1" But the idea is good! I`ll see what i can do about it....

Thanks for the tip Will do!

Ahem... http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/...ow-hard-should-it-be.58302/page-4#post-711269

 

[norwelder]

Ahem... http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/...ow-hard-should-it-be.58302/page-4#post-711269

Oh my .... YES, i already have one Bad sign i cant remember what tools i have.. but thanks for reminding me

Worked a little bit on the legs yesterday night. Looks like i can get them straight enough anyway, so they are now mocked up and ready to weld.
Made them 15 cm long wich allow me to adjust the table quite a bit. I might cut the legs 10cm before i move on.... table felt really high at max level. Its about 90cm tall + possible for adjust it another 10-12cm.

 

[Kent]

Norway is far from primitive in engineering terms etc so I struggle to see a shortage of people and firms doing cnc lasercutting. If it is the case for real I should get on with starting one up if I were you

 

[norwelder]

Norway is far from primitive in engineering terms etc so I struggle to see a shortage of people and firms doing cnc lasercutting. If it is the case for real I should get on with starting one up if I were you

There sure are some around, but not anyone close to where i live as i have found. And i guess the price for getting something like this done would probably cost too much for an average guy like me.

 

[Henrik]

One offs for hobbyists are dead expensive in Scandinavia iirc. Forget about getting a decent price unless you know someone who will do it for mates rates

Not the same industry, but I remember paying 100 quid an hour for a garage to do servicing 15 years ago, and my mum recently had to pay 30k gbp to do a bit of tiling and plumbing in two small bathrooms. Cheap it ain't!

 

[Henrik]

Oh, and nice looking table

 

[norwelder]

Small update:

 

[BuiltnotBought]

I know it's a little bit slower. but you could get something like an Evolution Mag Drill (eBay) they are really good and not too pricey. then you could plough holes through that 10mm all day long. few straight scores and some centre punched marks. it will eat through 10mm with a 2mm cutter in it

 

[norwelder]

Thanks, that looks like a great thing to have!!

 

[Kent]

If you get a mag drill buy a real good one and if you do without a lot of work for it you will wish you got it done out!