Welding table top

[robwizard]

Basically I have limited space in my garage and would like to build a welding bench.. but I don't have room for a bench without storage underneath it.

Would it be possible to build a new bench out of wood just like my old one with shelving/cupboard space underneath and then attach a steel plate to the top to use as a welding surface? I have not seen any like this and was wondering if their is some sort of reason why..

Cheeeeeers

 

[Angusdog]

wondering if their is some sort of reason why..

My first concern would be heat - could the wood smolder under the steel cover and burst into flames late in the night? What about spacing it above the wood by at least an inch.

 

[chunkolini]

Do you mean like this?

Frame of 25mm box section, sheet of 1" marine ply 8x4 with a skin of 1.6mm sheet held on the top by bolts around the top and screws into the top.
the top has buckled a few mm here and there but no problems after 3 years of fulltime use.
How can it catch fire? there wil be no air under there, with a space t could easily be a fire trap.

 

[robwizard]

I was thinking something along the lines of this

But with a plate on the work surface.. maybe like 3mm. And a sort of "splash guard" around the edges for sparks. Would probably mainly be used for TIG..

Maybe I could put something inert between the plate and the wooden surface?

Cheers

 

[Paul.]

It will be fine with a piece of 3mm straight on top, especially with tig, you are welding a job on the bench not on the benchtop, I have arc and mig welded straight onto a wooden bench many times with no more than a few brown scorch marks from spatter or hot slag, I used to carry a workmate and a folded 1.5mm top (like an upside down tray) around for doing small repair jobs on site, lasted for years.

 

[naughtyboy]

mate did one from wood with steel top about 5yrs ago and never had prob with it.

 

[chunkolini]

Should be fine, just be careful what goes in the storage space below.
I once almost set my place on fire, a spark got in a box of rags stored below my bench, they were smouldering nicely.
Oh, and they were right next to a bucket of white spirit.
I had a bit of a sort out after that one.
Nothing flammable on the floor or near where I work.
Chunko'.

 

[Wedg1e]

I once almost set my place on fire, a spark got in a box of rags stored below my bench, they were smouldering nicely.
Oh, and they were right next to a bucket of white spirit.

Come on Chunko, you could have kept that one going:

...next to the TNT cabinet, with a box of radioactives on top, above the gas main to Cardiff... and the cabinet also held the wife's precious photo album etc etc

 

[chunkolini]

A genuine narrow escape.
Finished for the night, spoted a tiny plume of smoke, looked at where it was coming from, found the smouldering rags, spotted the bucket of white spirit.
Next day I went through the whole garage looking for fire hazards.
the oxyacetylene bottles were about 3 ft away.

 

[F.J.]

I was thinking something along the lines of this

But with a plate on the work surface.. maybe like 3mm. And a sort of "splash guard" around the edges for sparks. Would probably mainly be used for TIG..

Maybe I could put something inert between the plate and the wooden surface?

Cheers

Why not make the same but using box and angle? No more sleepless nights twitching the curtains looking for smoke!

 

[robwizard]

Yeah I probably will end up making it out of steel in the end it depends on the costs and what not. I have a couple of old Bridgeport tooling cabinets so might bastardise them with a few more shelves and stuff in between and use that!

Cheers guys

 

[Wedg1e]

Yeah I probably will end up making it out of steel in the end it depends on the costs and what not. I have a couple of old Bridgeport tooling cabinets so might bastardise them with a few more shelves and stuff in between and use that!

Cheers guys

Tell you what, I've seen the price those Bridgeport cabinets fetch; put them up on Ebay and use the funds to buy or build something specific. And have a party with the change, 'cos I bet there'll be some