Welding/Setting out table

[Shox Dr]

I had hoped to pick up a Cast table on ebay, but they are either too small or too large, there was a 6'x3' that would have been perfect, but it sold for daft money.


So I going to build my own. I want to use it for setting out and welding on, so it will need to be a thick piece of steel, but the question is how thick does it really need to be, and what would the best type of plate to use.

It will sit on a Minimum 150x75 Box section frame, via adjustable threaded studs fixed to the underside of the table, into the frame so it can be trued up.

Once this is all done I'll drill 3/4" holes in a grid so I can use Stops and Bench Dogs to hold material down.

Table will be 6 to 8' x 2'6" to 3' big enough to build stuff up, and most importantly big enough to turn into a bike jig and work both sides, hence why it's 3' wide and not 4'

Only be using TIG, and I will NOT be tacking TO it

So what are your thoughts and suggestions

 

[patreusch]

get at least 1/8 if not 3/16 for a solid table and if you need a vise you could put one on the table

 

[Welderpaul]

The question is how accurate does it need to be? Best way would be to view/select the plate you are going to buy for the top. Dunno how thick - mines 20mm thick - 4m x 2m. that plate cost me 900 quid. dread to think what it would be now - i got that size cos i have some real heavy stuff on it, plus i know its accurate for laying out big gates, despite the amount of heat that goes into it.
I said i wouldnt tack to it. You will. Problem is with mine, as soon as you grind the old tack off, it takes off the millscale and leaves a rough surface. Any spatter will stick to these areas meaning when you clean the bench off, rather than just scrape off the snots, you have to keep grinding at these patches. Mines starting to look a bit mottled now, with little depresions appearing.

 

[Arsonista]

My 2p worth - min 16mm thick.

 

[Shox Dr]

I've priced up 15mm Hot rolled @ £215 for a 6x3' sheet. But I'm not sure it will be thick enough. I'd like 20mm +. Also I'm unsure as to whether I should be looking at cold rolled, would this be "flatter". Not had any dealings with big plate before.

As for accuracy, -+.2mm, otherwise I might as well not bother hence the ability to adjust with the threaded feet.

 

[Paul.]

Plate of that thickness will be hot rolled, I've made quite a few welding jigs and assembly tables etc over the years, 15 or 20 is usually enough especially with a decent support frame below, dont expect a stock plate to be perfectly flat though, If absolute precision is needed your looking at surface grinding after assembly, ££££!, Not usually necessary though for a welding table, the biggest one I ever made was 4m square, used for assembling tail lifts, that had 2 off 4 x 2 x 25mm plates, on a 100 x 150 frame,

 

[Hitch]

You havn't a chance of getting a plate like that within 0.2mm
The thickness tolerance on 20mm plate has a window of about 0.4mm each way iirc.
Flatness, i think thats something like 15mm or more.

 

[Shox Dr]

Good point Hitch, but since I only need it to a given tolerance on one side it doesn't matter if the thickness varies.

I'll have to take a straight edge down to my mates place and eye up a few sheets to see . Pitty he can't sell me any

Thanks for the info

 

[hotrodder]

If you were origonally after a cast surface table might be worth giving these guys a call...

 

[Shox Dr]

I was after a cast table only because they tend to fetch very little (£200-250) compared with Welding tables. The one on ebay I was looking at this week was perfect in that it was 6'x2'.5" which meant, I could use it to build bike frames on easily reaching from both sides, unfortunately it sold for £580 plus the £50 to get it up here. Hence looking at building one.

The link you gave is interesting, and not far from me either. Although I'm sure the prices will be over what I'm prepared to pay. I'll give them a call and see what they have to say. Cheers