welding bench

[philip smith]

just a bit of advice if anyone can help out ive started to put my welding bench together ive put some of it together using a clarke mig 135 te gas welder now is there enough amps to put it together the steel box section im using 50x50x3.0 the top of my bench is going to be 10mm thick sheet metal ive also got a gas mig 180 amp but no gas would this be a better welder to put the rest of the bench together many thanks phil

 

[philip smith]

If you're wanting to weld to the 10mm then the 135 isn't going to touch it imo. The 180 might tickle it a little...

Either would probably glue it enough to not slide about, but if you hammer on the bench it may well come unstuck.

the 180 amp is an industrial mig its not a hobby mig so i thought that would be alot better

 

[daleyd]

Countersink some holes and bolt it through the top cross members?

 

[philip smith]

Countersink some holes and bolt it through the top cross members?

i was thinking about doing that daleyd thanks for that would that be better ?

 

[daleyd]

i was thinking about doing that daleyd thanks for that would that be better ?

Well, 10mm is a decent thickness so you have plenty of metal left after countersinking. You will be able to reposition or move the top if you ever need to, and it'll likely be better than trying to get good penetration with a 180 amp mig. (As pdg said the size mig you have would likely stick it, but how well is anyones guess. At a push I'd say it'd probably do just fine but if it were me I'd still bolt it.)

 

[philip smith]

180 amps is 180 amps. Just because the box is a different colour or shape doesn't make it any more powerful. It might run for longer at that output, but it's still that output.

ok cheers pdg thanks for the good feed back but im going to countersink some holes and bolt it on now

 

[Kent]

A 180 amp welder on.
.8 mm?
This is quite adequate for the 3 mm box

I should not weld the 10 mm top anyhow regardless
Instead sit it onto od the box frame and fasten it down to lugs welded flush to the top. Csk m10 through the 10 mm and nylock under the lug

The thing is you need the 10 mm plate flat so do.t risk any distortion induced by welding with what will then be an undersized plant ( meaning pushing fillet sizes etc) and you
need to be able to replace it if damaged and it's easier to do this without using grinders etc

 

[philip smith]

Well, 10mm is a decent thickness so you have plenty of metal left after countersinking. You will be able to reposition or move the top if you ever need to, and it'll likely be better than trying to get good penetration with a 180 amp mig. (As pdg said the size mig you have would likely stick it, but how well is anyones guess. At a push I'd say it'd probably do just fine but if it were me I'd still bolt it.)

ok cheers for that good feed back daleyd im going to do what you said by bolting it on and like you said if i need to change it at any point it would be easier and better in the long run and thnks again for the feed back

 

[philip smith]

A 180 amp welder on.
.8 mm?
This is quite adequate for the 3 mm box

I should not weld the 10 mm top anyhow regardless
Instead sit it onto od the box frame and fasten it down to lugs welded flush to the top. Csk m10 through the 10 mm and nylock under the lug

The thing is you need the 10 mm plate flat so do.t risk any distortion induced by welding with what will then be an undersized plant ( meaning pushing fillet sizes etc) and you
need to be able to replace it if damaged and it's easier to do this without using grinders etc

thanks for the feed back Kent thats what im going to do better off bolting it in the long run thanks again

 

[Johnseat]

I should also hope with the weight of 10mm plate it shouldn't need a huge amount of fixing down.
Drill and bolt it, that's what I'll be doing with mine.

 

[Kent]

I should also hope with the weight of 10mm plate it shouldn't need a huge amount of fixing down.
Drill and bolt it, that's what I'll be doing with mine.

You do need to consider the heat the top might take on - make the fixings too wide apart ( like just so it don't fall off) and you " could" possibly Increase the risks of setting a wave into the top

Often enough you will forget about the risk of transfered heat from a job that's being welded and you bench top will soak it up

 

[philip smith]

I should also hope with the weight of 10mm plate it shouldn't need a huge amount of fixing down.
Drill and bolt it, that's what I'll be doing with mine.

hey johnseat do you think that 10mm plate may be to thick ? was thinking about 8mm thick plate? and do you think that the 8mm wouldnt take as much abuse better than the 10mm would do ? thanks phil

 

[philip smith]

Well, 10mm is a decent thickness so you have plenty of metal left after countersinking. You will be able to reposition or move the top if you ever need to, and it'll likely be better than trying to get good penetration with a 180 amp mig. (As pdg said the size mig you have would likely stick it, but how well is anyones guess. At a push I'd say it'd probably do just fine but if it were me I'd still bolt it.)

hey daleyd do you think it would be better to use 8mm plate for my bench top or would 10mm be better for the long term ?

 

[Kent]

Thicker the better. Problem to at least consider is the weight of the plate. Saving 2 mm will do very little on cost

I had 4 blokes lift mine into the shop and we needed a rest half way. Ok mine is pretty big but don't get caught out

 

[philip smith]

Thicker the better. Problem to at least consider is the weight of the plate. Saving 2 mm will do very little on cost

I had 4 blokes lift mine into the shop and we needed a rest half way. Ok mine is pretty big but don't get caught out

thanks for the feed back kent really appreciate it cheers think ill just go with the 10mm plate now is yours 10mm thick?

 

[Johnseat]

I've just bought a worn out surface plate which should be big enough for all my needs, the plate is 3/4" thick and almost 3" at the webbing, I physically can't lift it!!!

 

[Arclikeharrypotter]

Think you'll be fine with either welder if I'm honest mate. Just do multiple passes if needed. Heck I've welded some pretty thick stuff when out at work, with insufficient power and no prep still there today.

 

[philip smith]

I've just bought a worn out surface plate which should be big enough for all my needs, the plate is 3/4" thick and almost 3" at the webbing, I physically can't lift it!!!

thanks for the feedback john much appreciated

 

[philip smith]

Think you'll be fine with either welder if I'm honest mate. Just do multiple passes if needed. Heck I've welded some pretty thick stuff when out at work, with insufficient power and no prep still there today.

thanks for the feed back Arclikeharrypotter much appreciated

 

[Kent]

thanks for the feed back kent really appreciate it cheers think ill just go with the 10mm plate now is yours 10mm thick?

Yes but it's quite big and has 16 mm holes for figures at 100 mm pitch all over it