Spring Break Mission: Welding Table

[DirtyLittleSecret]

Last thing anyone wants to see is another bloody table...too bad.
Its spring break, and I'm tired of learning to weld on the ground. Decided to start building a fab table. Wanted something with storage underneath for my welding toys, some cutting, and adaptable. Used four 1000lb "double locking" casters.
Currently: 40"h x 31"d x 48"-72"w (extendable cutting arm).
More modifying/tuning planned, but if you've got some ideas please share!

So, should I paint it or not paint it Miller blue?
Tada:


Casters mounted on .25" crossbeam:

A pic of my ugly TIG:

[woodironman]

nice job! paint it. maybe some hooks of some sort to hang your o/a torch while making adjustments?

[DLUVLY]

Is that aluminum sorry for the dumb question and how do you like the dynasty? I pick one up tommorrow!Had any trouble with it?

[DirtyLittleSecret]

Originally Posted by DLUVLY

Is that aluminum sorry for the dumb question and how do you like the dynasty? I pick one up tommorrow!Had any trouble with it?

Nope- its all steel. Not a single problem with the DyNASTY...just its operator!
Its my first box, and Im learning via this forum so have pity.

Some ideas I had:
Dynasty 200 DX and Cutmaster 38 (pick up tomorrow) in the cage down below, and air compressor under the cutting cage. Will incorporate a slag drawer with mountain silt to catch filth. 3/8" or 1/2" sheet will top it off. Will also build a removable vice stand to mount on the opposite side of the cutting slide (like a receiver hitch) so it can be adjusted vert/horizontally. Also thought about mounting my argon bottle horizontally inside the table, but am unsure whether it'd be hazardous while cutting with plasma.
The casters can be adjusted with washers (had a spot in the garage that req'd it).
The nice thing is that it will all be mounted "on" or "inside" the table with maximum use of space with some function. Also allows me to move it to the outside driveway for larger jobs when needed.
I actually forced myself to try alot of vertical/horizontal TIG on this table (good experience), and learned a bit about autogenous (fusion) welding with steel. Thanks to those who've answered my recent questions!

[Wildcat]

Originally Posted by DirtyLittleSecret

So, should I paint it or not paint it Miller blue?

Looking at the casters I'm thinking this question has already been answered.
What are the sliding tubes for?

[phila.renewal]

Nice work! You laid up and welded that starting on the floor?! Everything looks square, straight and flat. Super.

As for suggestions, only thing that comes to mind is consider making the table top a bit deeper than the base so you can pull up your chair or stool with knees under the top and get comfy. Round the corners of the top at the front where it extends over the base (you mention you have a plasma cutter so no biggie) so you don't bust a spleen if you bump into it hard by accident.

If you want to get really fancy, consider adding illumination -- a small puck or covered fluorescent light fixture -- inside up top so you can see what you're doing if you have to dig deep in there and also so you can see to adjust your machines (Murphy's law #17 -- if you are cutting a small part, the piece you want to keep will jump as far as it can at the instant of cut and seek the farthest, darkest back corner of whatever is within jumping distance. ).

[deere2210]

table looks great! i'm learning to weld and thinking of putting one together for a new mig i picked up recently.. what size square tubing did you use? and, are those 4, 5, or 6 inch 1000lb wheels? i'm more of a hobbyist/weekend welder so i'm struggling with going with 1/4 inch or 3/8 on the top.. any feedback is appreciated..

[MicroZone]

Looks good - paint it M.B.

I like the sliding extension, great idea.

A cutting area with slag chute is a good idea as well. The plasma table I created is 10 times better with an area for the sparks, slag and debris to fall into - so much less mess, you'll love it.

[seamus]

Originally Posted by DirtyLittleSecret

Last thing anyone wants to see is another bloody table...too bad.
Its spring break, and I'm tired of learning to weld on the ground. Decided to start building a fab table. Wanted something with storage underneath for my welding toys, some cutting, and adaptable. Used four 1000lb "double locking" casters.
Currently: 40"h x 31"d x 48"-72"w (extendable cutting arm).
More modifying/tuning planned, but if you've got some ideas please share!

So, should I paint it or not paint it Miller blue?

Looks like we had similar ideas. (Most of the pics are in the first two posts but there are two more in post #10.)
http://www.weldingweb.com/showthread.php?t=10071

What gauge sheet did you use to mount your wheels? I initially used a similar setup but after putting the 3/8" top on (38"x50"), the weight bent the metal. I ended up centering the wheels on the legs to spread the weight better.

I really like the square tube top bars, that leaves infinite possibilities for removable tools like that. Great ideas.

[zapster]

Dont bother painting it..
Waste of time..

You'll want to spend too much time keeping it all "pretty"

Its gonna get dinged and banged and sparks sprayed on it..





I hate the smell of burning paint...

...zap!

[DirtyLittleSecret]

Thanks guys.
The sliding table is to allow an extension for any longer jobs that might require a longer table (allows adaptability) esp. for cutting jobs.
These are 5" double locking 1000lb casters giving me 4000lb GTWR. The cross bar is 1/4" steel and is supported along the entire length of the frame sides (& welded in place). Gad, I hope it wont bend! Seamus, its funny that you linked your table as I think that might be the only one I missed! Quite similiar too (maybe we are evolving)!
Will go with 3/8" top, but am really considering the 1/2"...depends on what's on sale at the yard that day!
Im also planning to add a negative clamp post under the table top to connect my ground cables to so that its all grounded. If its straight to the table top shouldnt that be good enough? Or do I still need to clamp directly to the work?
Just got done painting it Rustoleum's "Safety Blue" (Miller). Sorry Zap! You were too late!
Will be adding some additional hooks for storage and a lock system to lock the toys up as well before its done.
Anyone got some additional ideas?

[DirtyLittleSecret]

Figured a pretty little picture for the fashionistas...


Was also trying to figure out a "shock absorption" system for the electricals. Figure years of shock impacts via the table frame might not be the best idea...any thoughts?

[zapster]

OOOOO AHHHHHHHH

Looks good...

I'm always late....


...zap!

[Sandy]

Very nice!! Everything is so clean around the shop too ...

[ZTFab]

Looks really good.

I have 5 tables at my shop and always feel like I need another one!

They always come in handy.

- Paul

[Sandy]

Was also trying to figure out a "shock absorption" system for the electricals. Figure years of shock impacts via the table frame might not be the best idea...any thoughts?

Lot of options there. Truck mud flap material runs everywhere from soft rubber to ground up tires. There's also conveyor belting, or even stall mats. You won't find used stall mats worth reusing. You'd have to buy new and cut to fit. They are fairly thick tho.

[DirtyLittleSecret]

So, should this be something for me to incorporate into the table? Dont know if its a real issue.

[Sandy]

So, should this be something for me to incorporate into the table? Dont know if its a real issue.

No, would just be rubberized matting for electronics to set on. Shelving with mats to damper hammering type vibration.

Personally I wouldn't sweat it a lot. If I found something I'd make use of it sure, but I wouldn't design around it. Most of this stuff is built to take a certain amount of abuse plus sooner or later your table is going to end up just a table and all other equipment is going to be on carts or stands of its own ... Tables should be clobbered up with jillions of clamps, jigs, grinders, air tools, hammers, on and on.

[DirtyLittleSecret]

Kewl. Gee, I was building the table to get my stuff OFF the carts! Wanted to get everything together rather than strewn throughout the garage. Figured industrial mahines will hold up to some shock for years, but didnt know what to expect really.

[MoonRise]

Nope, the machines really aren't made to be impacted and vibrated.

Put the electronic machines on their cart(s), as said, and use the table for welding and 'stuff'. Like grinding, and adjusting assemblies or parts to fit with a BFH.

Besides, grinding dust, slag, and spatter are going to drop down onto the space underneath the top. I would try to keep my electronic machines away from all that crud. Hammers, wrenches, clamps, straight-edges, angle magnets, etc go underneath the table top. Run a length of 1/4 - 1/2 inch rod/bar/rebar horizontally to hang some C-clamps on.

[pickled]

The paint looks great...and it's a nice build all the way around. FYI when I was MIG-ing up some large brackets on my last painted welding table I didn't realize that the paint had decided to "flare" up on me until the smell from the hair on my arm frying got quite noticeable underneath my helmet! The worst part of all was the beer that I was drinking at the time got p*ss warm! I advise affixing a cup-holder to your unit that's out of harms way based on my past experience.

[Doolittle]

Where are you gonna ground? Hmmm??? Looks very nice.

[DirtyLittleSecret]

Originally Posted by Doolittle

Where are you gonna ground? Hmmm??? Looks very nice.

Good ideas. I was going to weld a "grounding post" to the underside of the table top for most of the jobs. Other than that to the part itself.