Low cost welding table made of braced 5mm sheet steel - any good?

[RIP]

Does anyone have experience of this type of welding table? It seems like a good idea, the braces might keep it flat, low cost and low weight? I'm a DIY welder, currently welding suspension brackets and things like that for a buggy. I've been using a short length of RSJ as a welding table but it's small.

 

[gaz1]

id use 2x1 box section built in slat form on a bed frame that one above is going to need good support under it

there plenty of slat bed tables on youtube even a plasma cutter side table at side of the welding table on there

 

[tom2207]

buy a surface plate ,,, old and cheap ,,, drill a few holes as required ,, ten times better in every way and probably a hundred times flatter ,,,

 

[Erie Fred]

I see not much torsional resistance of that bracing with the view provided.

 

[Kram]

Your pic doesnt show how big it is.
Not a bad price condidering it has holes etc, but have to be careful clamping down to 5mm.

Consider you can buy a 2000x1000x10 steel plate from brundle for £200 without holes.

My welding table is a 500x500x 10 from brundle. A couple of those together may be cheaper option.

Base

Base Plate - 500 x 500 x 10mm Square Edge - No Holes s275. Buy online or call to order.

www.fhbrundle.co.uk

 

[addjunkie]

Mine is 6mm, on a 40x40 x5 box frame. Came from this guy https://www.7050ps.com/7050-welding-plates-25-c.asp
I was passing and collected it, he was cheaper then too. There are loads available now. A friend had one similar to your image but more a webbed box rather than a few stiffeners. Had all sorts of big chunks on it! Looks a bit like rtec one, but came as a pallet of bits.

Not had any issues. My mind the table will never stop distortion when welding, its more to keep things right to tack up.

 

[RIP]

It seems that a lot of these solutions require a rigid bench frame to hold the plate from twisting. Would such a bench then have screws to adjustt he flatness of the plate?

I'll have a look at some used surface plates as well.

@addjunkie do you think those slotted plates are better than holes?

 

[addjunkie]

It seems that a lot of these solutions require a rigid bench frame to hold the plate from twisting. Would such a bench then have screws to adjustt he flatness of the plate?

I'll have a look at some used surface plates as well.

@addjunkie do you think those slotted plates are better than holes?

Dont know really. To me the table just holds things in place till you tack them. I quite like it as it allows easy moving of clamps, but for a big table for say gates and frames etc, think the holes may be better, especially for repeat work.

As for checking flatness, I think your probably over thinking it, many fabricators tack to the table, then just grind it off. If your going to get it hot enough to distort it, Id rethink how your doing things.

I bought that pattern as he would do on offs with no additional charges for redrawing, at the time. And I already had the frame. To be honest I dont use it much now, becomes a bit of a dumping ground. I also have two different vices that bolt on for when required. The main reason I got it, is my main bench is wood, and not a good idea to weld on a wood bench in a wood shed. Been quite small its easy to pull out and work all the way round. Its also the right height to sit on my stool.

 

[Kram]

I like holes as the clamp just needs a bit of round bar the same size, for a modified F clamp. Wouldn t work in slots as it would twist the top.
I only have 4 holes in mine, never had time or needed to drill the whole plate.

I guess wtth slots, the clamps have a T or I section that slides in? So different type of clamp, probably works equally as well, just different.

 

[Pete.]

930 x 550 it's a bit on the small side. I recently gave away a 1200 x 600 sheet of 12mm to someone for a bench top. That would be much more suitable.

 

[JOEPRO]

I kept these screenshots of one I liked the look of.

See how the top has small slots which stubs in the braces locate into then weld. Becomes quite a solid, flat table. Certainly would do everything I need.

I will be drawing one myself and my brother has a professional plasma table so he could cut it for cost of the sheet steel.



Is there an ideal, industry size for the holes?

 

[Kram]

I chose 16mm as I have lots of 16mm bar. 12mm would probably be adequate and 20mm may be a bit OTT

 

[addjunkie]

I kept these screenshots of one I liked the look of.

See how the top has small slots which stubs in the braces locate into then weld. Becomes quite a solid, flat table. Certainly would do everything I need.

I will be drawing one myself and my brother has a professional plasma table so he could cut it for cost of the sheet steel.

View attachment 435731View attachment 435732View attachment 435733View attachment 435734View attachment 435735View attachment 435736

Is there an ideal, industry size for the holes?

Thats very similar to one a friend bought as a kit!

 

[JOEPRO]

Thats very similar to one a friend bought as a kit!

I think it was from a kit. Used condition he was asking £900 IIRC.

If I draw it in CAD and get the plates cut by my brother it'll cost me circa £80 in steel something like that. He will likely cut himself one too!

(He has a full size professional plasma table etc)

 

[addjunkie]

I think it was from a kit. Used condition he was asking £900 IIRC.

If I draw it in CAD and get the plates cut by my brother it'll cost me circa £80 in steel something like that. He will likely cut himself one too!

(He has a full size professional plasma table etc)

You can probably buy the dwg file on line fora few pounds

 

[addjunkie]

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one example

 

[JOEPRO]

Another welding table idea I like:



It's got a plasma cutting section too.

If that had fans and filters in it to filter and suck the nasty fumes down it sure would be awesome and very do able...

Inbuilt tool storage, tig rod storage and powder sockets are nice too.

 

[Erie Fred]

Another welding table idea I like:

View attachment 436248

It's got a plasma cutting section too.

If that had fans and filters in it to filter and suck the nasty fumes down it sure would be awesome and very do able...

Inbuilt tool storage, tig rod storage and powder sockets are nice too.

Power sockets look a bit odd......

 

[bigegg]

For £175 you could get 2 or 3 cast iron box/tables - a lot heavier, but (for me at least) much more versatile