Newbie dilemma – help with first welding table

[Neophyte]

To preface, I am new to welding and fabrication. I just finished cutting the steel square tubing for my first welding table. I unknowingly ordered a much heavier gauge than I wanted, but it's cut and I can't return or exchange it, so I'm stuck with it. My question is, is my welder powerful enough to effectively weld this thing together? Here's the welder and steel for the table (overkill, I know):

Welder: Lincoln 140amp MIG
3/8" plate (table top)
2x2 : 3/16" (frame)
3x3 : 1/4" (legs)

Thanks!!!

[motolife313]

Just the legs are over kill. U will be fine weld it up no problem. My 3/4 bench is sitting on a wood frame

[BD1]

What is the dimensions of the table ??? Not overkill as far as I'm concerned.

[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??

[WNY_TomB]

To preface, I am new to welding and fabrication. I just finished cutting the steel square tubing for my first welding table. I unknowingly ordered a much heavier gauge than I wanted, but it's cut and I can't return or exchange it, so I'm stuck with it. My question is, is my welder powerful enough to effectively weld this thing together? Here's the welder and steel for the table (overkill, I know):

Welder: Lincoln 140amp MIG
3/8" plate (table top)
2x2 : 3/16" (frame)
3x3 : 1/4" (legs)

Thanks!!!

.
.
you might try .030 instead of .035 wire. and multipass welds. use 3 passes instead of trying to make 1 big pass
.
personally i would stick weld it but if all you got is the MIG try welding some scrap small pieces for practice first at full power and see what you get. 3/8 plate is thick, grind off mill scale to help with weld penetration

[Sedanman]

You can also get more out of your machine by running C02. You'll need an adapter for your regulator. Running a 30 amp outlet for your machine will pay off in the long run. 140 amp machines are unloved generally because few are ever run off a proper outlet. They are much more capable than people give them credit for.

[Broccoli1]

Don't worry about the top as you don't need/want to weld it on- just a couple of beads around so it holds it in place.

You can run the fluxcore in that machine and will do just fine for this application.

[tinker001]

Another thing remember the duty cycle of the welder. Which mean that if you running full out or max the welder you need to give it a break to cool off.

[Neophyte]

63"x33"

[Neophyte]

What is the dimensions of the table ??? Not overkill as far as I'm concerned.

It's 33"x63"x3/8"

[Neophyte]

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?

[drujinin]

Bevel the joints and multiple pass as already suggested. CO2 and 0.030" Mig wire or Fluxcore as suggested above.

[Neophyte]

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.

[Broccoli1]

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.

[gmt]

This came in this week where I work. Custom job. We all love the spider webs!

[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.

[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.

[Dan]

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

[Neophyte]

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!

[Neophyte]

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.

[BruceinLA]

What did you end up paying for the steel you bought for the table?

I'm flipping a coin now, build or craigslist!

[Keith Merrell]

If you were having problems with penetration, you can always preheat.

[Neophyte]

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.

[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+.

[ICEcap]

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

Are the drawers attached to the table or just sits in there?