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Re: Newbie dilemma – help with first welding table Wasn't able to get the expanded steel I wanted for the shelves so I just started painting. So here it's is! Attachment 1649511 Attachment 1649521
Re: Newbie dilemma – help with first welding table
Re: Newbie dilemma – help with first welding table Thanks!. With the home-made leveling feet, height can be adjusted from 36" to 40". I have it set to just over 36". I used 5" grade 8 bolts, welded to 1/4" discs I cut out of a piece of flat bar, so they could easily be removed (to 35.5"), or xchanged for something else, for more height.
Re: Newbie dilemma – help with first welding table Originally Posted by Will S. What cloudman said... practice on the same material, so you know that you are getting proper penetration. I just built this table; a 36 x 61 x 1/2", using pretty much the same square tubing as you bought, except all mine is 2x2. I do have a heavier duty welder, but you can do it with that one. I used 1/2" flat-head socket bolts to install the top, as I didn't want to weld the top on. This way, later, I can easily shim a bowed top, or even remove it. I welded small gussets to the inside corners of the frame, and welded nuts to the back of those. Then I simply drilled and countersunk the mounting holes. If you decide to so the same, I have a lot of extra 1/2x2 flat socket-head bolts. Attachment 1584871 Attachment 1584881 Attachment 1584891 Attachment 1584901 Attachment 1584911 Great looking table! How tall is it?
Re: Newbie dilemma – help with first welding table Originally Posted by ccogg Looks great. Is there a drawer or something that goes under one side? Nice design. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Thanks! I'm going to put an expanded steel shelf in there.
Re: Newbie dilemma – help with first welding table Looks great. Is there a drawer or something that goes under one side? Nice design. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Re: Newbie dilemma – help with first welding table I finally got around to finishing this table. I had some electrical issues in my garage which affected the welds (low voltage/amperage) through about 75% of the project. Had an electrician come by and problem solved. I'm going to put a coat of paint on this beast and finish the shelves over the next few days. Thanks everyone for your help! Attachment 1643711 Attachment 1643721 Attachment 1643731
Re: Newbie dilemma – help with first welding table Originally Posted by ICEcap Are the drawers attached to the table or just sits in there? I built the table frame and cabinet supports to allow easy installation and removal. I completely finished the table, and painted it before installing. To remove, I simply push it back 2", then tip the top backwards, and lift the bottom up, and slide it completely out the end of the table. When I got the tool cabinet, I measured the distance diagonally, from the bottom front to the top at thr back. That is what it neded to clear the underside of the steel top, so that it can be slid out. I welded the lower table frame to give me just the needed clearance. On edit; this pic might give you a better idea of how the cabinet sets. Notice that on the rear support for the cabinet, the flange is facing down, so the cabinet can be slid back. So far, it hasn't moved from closing the drawers with weight in them, but I might screw a small bracket or fender washer to the support, to keep the cabinet from being pushed back. Attachment 1597491
Re: Newbie dilemma – help with first welding table Originally Posted by Neophyte Wow that's nuts! I live in Chicago which is within 20 miles of several steel mills, so that might affect the price substantially? If you don't mind taking a drive to Wisconsin, give these guys a call. They will give you prices over the phone .Have lots of OUTSIDE steel in various sizes and shape and NEW clean stuff inside. Sheet steel too both flat and expanded. http://www.palsteel.net/ PHONE: 262.495.4453 HOURS: M-F 8am-4:30pm Sat: 8am-11:30am Sun: CLOSED 414 South 3rd Street, Palmyra Wisconsin 53156 View Map.
Re: Newbie dilemma – help with first welding table Originally Posted by matyboom808 You are lucky that is what u pay! I would've paid $2k easy across the pond. I just bought a piece of 1/2"x5'x4' plate sitting in the ozone for $350. If I bought new it would have been $1100+. Wow that's nuts! I live in Chicago which is within 20 miles of several steel mills, so that might affect the price substantially?
Re: Newbie dilemma – help with first welding table Wow that's nuts! I live in Chicago which is within 20 miles of several steel mills, so that might affect the price substantially?
Re: Newbie dilemma – help with first welding table Originally Posted by Will S. What cloudman said... practice on the same material, so you know that you are getting proper penetration. I just built this table; a 36 x 61 x 1/2", using pretty much the same square tubing as you bought, except all mine is 2x2. I do have a heavier duty welder, but you can do it with that one. I used 1/2" flat-head socket bolts to install the top, as I didn't want to weld the top on. This way, later, I can easily shim a bowed top, or even remove it. I welded small gussets to the inside corners of the frame, and welded nuts to the back of those. Then I simply drilled and countersunk the mounting holes. If you decide to so the same, I have a lot of extra 1/2x2 flat socket-head Attachment 1584911 Are the drawers attached to the table or just sits in there?
Re: Newbie dilemma – help with first welding table You are lucky that is what u pay! I would've paid $2k easy across the pond. I just bought a piece of 1/2"x5'x4' plate sitting in the ozone for $350. If I bought new it would have been $1100+.
Re: Newbie dilemma – help with first welding table Originally Posted by BruceinLA What did you end up paying for the steel you bought for the table? I'm flipping a coin now, build or craigslist! Like I said, I went overboard and bought heavy gauge steel. Cost me around $400 for the plate and tubing from Wexler in Chicago.
Re: Newbie dilemma – help with first welding table If you were having problems with penetration, you can always preheat.
Re: Newbie dilemma – help with first welding table What did you end up paying for the steel you bought for the table? I'm flipping a coin now, build or craigslist!
Re: Newbie dilemma – help with first welding table Originally Posted by cloudman 63 x 33 would be a nice size table. I suggest that you cut small pieces of your stock for the legs and frame - 2" long or so - and practice welding them together until you get good results. Keeping the frame square and level will be a challenge. Also keeping the table top from warping when you attach it to the frame will be the next challenge. Some people use mechanical fasteners. You want the top to be as flat as possible. Thanks cloudman. I managed to flatten the plate by clamping some 3/16 tubing to it which pulled the warp out. I'm going to do that when i weld the frame to the plate. Did some practice welds which actually came out fairly well.
Re: Newbie dilemma – help with first welding table Thanks everyone for the great advice! I replaced the 3x3x1/4" square tubing with 11ga which will make those joints easier to pull off. Did some practice welds on some scrap and I found pulling and doing multiple passes is giving me some decent joints. Planning on welding it up this week will post photos. Thanks again!
Re: Newbie dilemma – help with first welding table If you try CO² with solid wire, at best your machine is going to be able to output around 100 amps. Your best bet for 3/16" and 1/4" with your machine would be an .030 or .035 E71T-11 self shielded fluxcore wire. A little pre-heat will help some too. Use tight stringer beads with minimal side to side oscillation
Re: Newbie dilemma – help with first welding table What cloudman said... practice on the same material, so you know that you are getting proper penetration. I just built this table; a 36 x 61 x 1/2", using pretty much the same square tubing as you bought, except all mine is 2x2. I do have a heavier duty welder, but you can do it with that one. I used 1/2" flat-head socket bolts to install the top, as I didn't want to weld the top on. This way, later, I can easily shim a bowed top, or even remove it. I welded small gussets to the inside corners of the frame, and welded nuts to the back of those. Then I simply drilled and countersunk the mounting holes. If you decide to so the same, I have a lot of extra 1/2x2 flat socket-head bolts. Attachment 1584871 Attachment 1584881 Attachment 1584891 Attachment 1584901 Attachment 1584911
Re: Newbie dilemma – help with first welding table 63 x 33 would be a nice size table. I suggest that you cut small pieces of your stock for the legs and frame - 2" long or so - and practice welding them together until you get good results. Keeping the frame square and level will be a challenge. Also keeping the table top from warping when you attach it to the frame will be the next challenge. Some people use mechanical fasteners. You want the top to be as flat as possible.
Re: Newbie dilemma – help with first welding table This came in this week where I workAttachment 1584841. Custom job. We all love the spider webs!
Re: Newbie dilemma – help with first welding table Originally Posted by Neophyte Thanks for the advice! Is it 100% CO2? I have a 5lb can with regulator hooked up to a keg that might fit my welder. Yup - same stuff.
Re: Newbie dilemma – help with first welding table Originally Posted by drujinin Bevel the joints and multiple pass as already suggested. CO2 and 0.030" Mig wire or Fluxcore as suggested above. Thanks for the advice! Is it 100% CO2? I have a 5lb can with regulator hooked up to a keg that might fit my welder.
Re: Newbie dilemma – help with first welding table Bevel the joints and multiple pass as already suggested. CO2 and 0.030" Mig wire or Fluxcore as suggested above.
Re: Newbie dilemma – help with first welding table Originally Posted by Oscar Can you drive your 140A mig to full power? Usually you need a 30A to truly get full power out of a 110A mig. What does your owner's manual say about running at full power? And if it indeed needs a 30A current input, can you properly supply that to the machine?? I can have the voltage knob maxed out ("D" setting on my Lincoln Electric 140). Is that what you mean?
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