Mild steel plate for tabletop

[Jack Pattenden]

Good morning all,

It's pretty hard to find a workbench that does double duty for general work and welding, so I'm thinking I'm just going to go for a square of mild steel plate, about 50x50cm? Put some feet on it so the ground clamp can get under it, and just put it on the workbench when needed.

Will 8mm thickness be enough, or 10mm if not?

I haven't had much luck with local suppliers, does £79.63 for 8mm or £91.79 for 10mm +£15 shipping from metals4u sound reasonable?

Thanks all.

 

[Screwdriver]

Either way I'd be tempted to cross brace it with angle iron underneath. Try to mitigate any distortion from tacking down or welding.

 

[RobCox]

I made my welding bench from a couple of 50x50cm sheets of 10mm that I picked up cheap, then welded together to make a 100 x 50cm benchtop.

I've prob got a single sheet left that you can have for beer tokens if you like. It would need collecting though.

 

[fizzy]

Good morning all,

It's pretty hard to find a workbench that does double duty for general work and welding, so I'm thinking I'm just going to go for a square of mild steel plate, about 50x50cm? Put some feet on it so the ground clamp can get under it, and just put it on the workbench when needed.

Will 8mm thickness be enough, or 10mm if not?

I haven't had much luck with local suppliers, does £79.63 for 8mm or £91.79 for 10mm +£15 shipping from metals4u sound reasonable?

Thanks all.

Don't weld the legs on or it will warp!

 

[tom2207]

Ive a bit of 6mm similar that has a bend on three sides ,,, it has its uses

 

[fizzy]

Ive a bit of 6mm similar that has a bend on three sides ,,, it has its uses

I bought my 1 ton table on Ebay. Used in a bell foundry. Top is 38mm thick. The legs were welded on. Even the 38mm has a slight warp in it

 

[Jack Pattenden]

Either way I'd be tempted to cross brace it with angle iron underneath. Try to mitigate any distortion from tacking down or welding.

As in, across the bottom face of the plate? With the corner of the angle piece facing down?

If I shouldn't weld because it will warp the plate, would JB weld do it?

 

[Jack Pattenden]

Don't weld the legs on or it will warp!

I was thinking some rubber semi-spheres on the corners or maybe those rubber bump-stoppers that go behind doors, just stuck on each corner with adhesive?

 

[Jack Pattenden]

I made my welding bench from a couple of 50x50cm sheets of 10mm that I picked up cheap, then welded together to make a 100 x 50cm benchtop.

I've prob got a single sheet left that you can have for beer tokens if you like. It would need collecting though.

That's a kind offer, thank you

Is it going anywhere? I wouldn't be able to get out there any time soon, maybe in a month or so unfortunately.

 

[tom2207]

the bit I have has three sides with about 25 / 35 mm bends , like a heavy biscuit tin with one side of the lip missing , its useful . I had two bits , but I added rebar to it and made a wee stool for sitting on , amazing the things you can come up with when you have to.

 

[frank horton]

if u can wait the scrap yards will get some in bigger sizes and less money....
I have an 8x4 workbench with an 8mm top, it's screwed on with st/st countersunk 10mm screws +nuts...no warpage....

 

[Cobbler]

There is something to be said for a wooden bench, especially if arc welding. I’ve a metal topped bench & am forever putting the rod down & getting a shower of sparks, or at least keeping a piece of wood on the top to put the rod & holder on between welds. I know some will say “oh look at the fire risk” shock horror, but theirs plenty of more inflammable stuff in most people’s sheds.

 

[Jack Pattenden]

I was thinking I would go for a wooden bench, maybe the folding heavy duty one from Clarke which looks alright.

My 'shed' is a storage room out on my balcony that I'm hoping to finally empty out and turn into a teeny tiny workshop - two shelves either side of me, workbench in front of me and door to the room behind me, just enough space to stand in the middle of it all without my elbows knocking.

Yet to see how it will work out in reality, but it means everything is going to have to be pretty compact. Hence I thought just a little mild steel plate that could sit on top of the bench when needed might be a good shout.

I do like a steel workbench, but obviously they're all galvanised, powder coated or stainless, and way too thin to think about welding on anyway. And actual welding tables are damn expensive - not surprising with the raw material cost!

 

[Screwdriver]

As in, across the bottom face of the plate? With the corner of the angle piece facing down?

If I shouldn't weld because it will warp the plate, would JB weld do it?

You can tack weld to get a reasonable strength. Dot them about and don't do them all in the same place all at the same time.

When you weld steel it heats up and expands. The rest of the item is cold so resists the expansion which forms a hump. When the hump cools, it pulls the surrounding metal because that section is now thicker so there's less of it in the original thickness. If you weld in a long line, it can fold up the material along that line i.e. warp.

If you were careful with a smallish 8/10mm plate it should be fine, especially with randomly applied tack welds. If you start tacking down onto the mini "benchtop" and clamping bits in place etc. for welding you could distort it. If you have already reinforced it, even if that distorts the plate, you can flatten it back down once the feet/reinforcement are in place.

 

[RobCox]

Is it going anywhere? I wouldn't be able to get out there any time soon, maybe in a month or so unfortunately.

No, its not shifting anytime soon. So, if you do end up wanting it, drop me a PM.

 

[Misterg]

I haven't had much luck with local suppliers, does £79.63 for 8mm or £91.79 for 10mm +£15 shipping from metals4u sound reasonable?

Just over £50 for 500 x 500 x 10mm delivered on ebay:

Pardon our interruption...

(I have something similar. Didn't bother with legs, just let it overhang the bench by ~25mm if you want to clip the earth clamp to it.)

 

[BrokenBiker]

I use a 500x500x10 plate as a welding surface...costs aboutn26 quid plus vat and 10 quid carriage from fh brundle...

 

[Jack Pattenden]

Just over £50 for 500 x 500 x 10mm delivered on ebay:

Pardon our interruption...

(I have something similar. Didn't bother with legs, just let it overhang the bench by ~25mm if you want to clip the earth clamp to it.)

Ooooo... Thanks, appreciate you finding that for me.

Maybe I'll grab one of those and make my own 50x100 table with that and the other piece from @RobCox !

 

[RobCox]

I'll check tomorrow. I might have two pieces that size. You can have them for what I paid. £50 will still leave you with change.

 

[skotl]

Mine is 10mm and it's absolutely fine, albeit I wouldn't want to go much thinner.

Here's the depressing bit: Paid £125 + £10 delivery for 2000mm x 1000mm x 10mm in 2020. Now it's £195 (all ex vat).