Welding table

[PandaWill]

Hi guys

Not sure whether I've posted in the right forum or not - but what's the best place for me to get a 2nd hand welding table?

I'm looking for either a professional type welding table, or an engineering surface table.

My budget is not huge but I'm not bothered about the condition as I'm only a hobbyist welder.

Ideally I'd like something that can double as a garage worktable so it needs to be a reasonable size.

I keep looking on Ebay but see very little - or they are miles away from me.

I'm near Chester - any advice gratefully received

 

[gordonendersby]

As another newbie, Im getting the impression that a welding together a table is one of the first projects you are supposed to build for your self after a trolley to get the welder off the floor.

For my learning/practice ive got a 2ft square sheet of 5mm steel on a black and decker folding workbench. I put 2 strips of steel on the back so the workbench top can clamp it. Means I can take of the plate and fold it up out of the way. If I really get into it, rather than just the car repair stuff Im working towards, Ill build my own table to go against the wall.

Having seen the price of welding benches, it must be cheaper to build one for yourself.
When I was kitting my garage out at home it was cheaper to get some kitchen work surface cast off and some 2x4 screwed together and bolted to the wall than buying a workshop bench. More than strong enough for the motorcycle projects I was working on. Cost about 60 pounds for a 10 foot bench. Long enough for the bench grinder, pillar drill and vice with room to work on.

I imagine the most expensive part of making your own bench would be the steel for the top. The box section for the legs and base doesnt seem very expensive.
When I do mine I think ill have a thick steel top with another sacrificial sheet tacked on top to take the grinding off of splatter without damaging the nice flat sub surface.
Some braked casters on a free standing bench sounds like a good idea to me.
and some doored cupboards underneath for bits and pieces.

If you make it yourself if it doesnt quite fit or work the way you want it to you can always hack it about a bit till its just right. You wont want to do that with an expensive bought bench


Gordon

 

[andeep]

Build one, will be excellent practice.

Just make sure you build all sides of the table frame level!

 

[p0689109]

Try a scrap/recyclable yard. The one near me in Stoke has a couple.

 

[Engineer1964]

I built one from 25mm plate I think the 8ft x 4ft sheet cost me around £550 and i had some large box sections left over from a job, so 6 of those went to make the legs

Ideal for making gates and railing, Was sad to see it go when i got rid of my workshop

 

[Powermyster]

25mm top. I'd say that weighed a pretty penny.

Wouldn't be carrying that out to my shed!!