Table Time

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Evan Dutch

Evan Dutch

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Joined
May 11, 2016
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Location
North Carolina
Let me start by saying happy Easter fellow FABO members! Hope all are doing well.

I am looking to build/buy a new work table/ welding table/ table I can mount a bench vise to for my new shop. Looking to see other members tables to get an idea of what I’ll need. Or if anyone knows where you can buy a pre-made table or anyone who has plans to build a table would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks, and God Bless
 
Maybe go to your local steel place, and see if they have any drops or cutoffs you can buy cheaper. Maybe a 4' x 4' steel plate that is 1/2" thick. Then weld some legs to it so it's at whatever height you want. That might be the cheapest way out. Steel costs out the ying yang right now, so be prepared for sticker shock! :eek:
 
how much welding are you planning (ya, i know these things have a way of growing :rolleyes:), and are you thinking of adding holes at set points to use for jigging up the work? since i just do home stuff, and some of the stuff i've done i couldn't have done on a table anyway, (driveway gates, sub frame connectors), i'm happy using an old industrial work bench. they're heavy enough to be stable with a lot of weight on it, and wheels on the out door one are great for moving where i need it.

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JDMopar said:
Maybe go to your local steel place, and see if they have any drops or cutoffs you can buy cheaper. Maybe a 4' x 4' steel plate that is 1/2" thick. Then weld some legs to it so it's at whatever height you want. That might be the cheapest way out. Steel costs out the ying yang right now, so be prepared for sticker shock! :eek:
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yeah, I’ll definitely try to be in it as little money as possible
 
kursplat said:
how much welding are you planning (ya, i know these things have a way of growing :rolleyes:), and are you thinking of adding holes at set points to use for jigging up the work? since i just do home stuff, and some of the stuff i've done i couldn't have done on a table anyway, (driveway gates, sub frame connectors), i'm happy using an old industrial work bench. they're heavy enough to be stable with a lot of weight on it, and wheels on the out door one are great for moving where i need it.

View attachment 1715506383

View attachment 1715506389
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I don’t see myself setting up jigs or anything like that. I’ll mainly just be doing home stuff, exhaust work, flanges, brackets, whatever I need. I also want it large enough to use as a good workbench. Ya know, something I can build a trans on, assembly cylinder heads etc.
 
Evan Dutch said:
I also want it large enough to use as a good workbench. Ya know, something I can build a trans on, assembly cylinder heads etc.
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whatever you end up with, chances are, some day you'll wish it was a little larger... :soapbox:
since the main reason to get a thick slab is so it won't warp from the heat, as long as you don't don't use the table top as a reference for how square everything is, you can go a lot thinner and save some $$. i use a lot of clamps and welding squares and don't need to worry about the top not being true. save some $$ on steel and spend it on some FireBall Tools. they're a lot easier to move around and store
 
kursplat said:
whatever you end up with, chances are, some day you'll wish it was a little larger... :soapbox:
since the main reason to get a thick slab is so it won't warp from the heat, as long as you don't don't use the table top as a reference for how square everything is, you can go a lot thinner and save some $$. i use a lot of clamps and welding squares and don't need to worry about the top not being true. save some $$ on steel and spend it on some FireBall Tools. they're a lot easier to move around and store
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I’ll probably go with 1/2” or less for the top. Will be using it as a work bench more often than I’d use it as a welding table.
 
Could do 1/4" plate then put 1/2" plywood on for general work. Then pull wood off for welding table.
 
I don't know what kind of work space you have available, but I keep my welding and grinding area on the opposite end of the shop from my work bench. Welding slag and grinding debris ends up on everything and that's the last thing you want in your assembly area. Something to consider.
My work bench is 4x6 and 1/2" thick. My welding table is undersized at 2x7, 1/8" thick, but I use heavy steel saw horses for anything too big for the table.
 
frozenfish said:
I don't know what kind of work space you have available, but I keep my welding and grinding area on the opposite end of the shop from my work bench. Welding slag and grinding debris ends up on everything and that's the last thing you want in your assembly area. Something to consider.
My work bench is 4x6 and 1/2" thick. My welding table is undersized at 2x7, 1/8" thick, but I use heavy steel saw horses for anything too big for the table.
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My shop is 24 x 31. I like the idea of two separate tables but I’m not sure I have the room for it
 
crap, build that yourself for ~ $200. that's exactly the type of project you have a welder for in the first place. all that extra $$ in the add is labor.

also: here and here
 
frozenfish said:
I don't know what kind of work space you have available, but I keep my welding and grinding area on the opposite end of the shop from my work bench. Welding slag and grinding debris ends up on everything and that's the last thing you want in your assembly area.
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plus you want to worry about catching stuff on fire. 1/2 my yard next to the garage is gravel for this very reason.

Evan Dutch said:
My shop is 24 x 31. I like the idea of two separate tables but I’m not sure I have the room for it
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all depends on how much elbow room you want. but you almost never have enough work bench space

might want to check out the garage journal
 
You can build the bench out of wood and buy a thin piece of metal for the top surface. That would be pretty cheap.

I bought a big piece of Formica that they use to make counter tops off the clearance rack cheap. Cut it out to fit the top of my work bench. Works great for working on messy stuff. Cleans up easy. The worst part was getting it flat again after it was rolled up. Throw it away when it gets too hacked up.
 
kursplat said:
how much welding are you planning (ya, i know these things have a way of growing :rolleyes:), and are you thinking of adding holes at set points to use for jigging up the work? since i just do home stuff, and some of the stuff i've done i couldn't have done on a table anyway, (driveway gates, sub frame connectors), i'm happy using an old industrial work bench. they're heavy enough to be stable with a lot of weight on it, and wheels on the out door one are great for moving where i need it.

View attachment 1715506383

View attachment 1715506389
Click to expand...

I have 4 of those , one on wheels outside in front under neath a carport, one w/ a solid core wood door on it for my little lathe , one permanently out the back door for bulky dirty stuff , and a normal work table . still dont have any place to work !!
 
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