splitshot
Head cook, Bottle washer, and Peace keeper.
Thought I'd be lucky enough to find one on CL, nothing so far..
Ideas for an inexpensive welding bench.
- Thread starter splitshot
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I scored a 5000 lb capacity elevating table for mine. I got it for $25. It has 4 giant lead screws that raises it up and down and a 3/8" thick top.
I scored a Wilton vise at a garage sale for $5. It has a broken swivel base, which is cool as I don't want it to swivel
It will get bolted to a corner.
I just keep my eye out for deals anywhere.
I scored a Wilton vise at a garage sale for $5. It has a broken swivel base, which is cool as I don't want it to swivel
It will get bolted to a corner.I just keep my eye out for deals anywhere.
have you considered making something with a wood frame and getting a piece of plate steel or a few layers of sheet metal for a table top? not fancy by any means but it work ok so long as you kept the wood away from the areas you were welding on.
For me it is a real treat to be able to weld at a bench instead of undeneath a truck. I don't get to do it enough, but when I do, I just toss a sheet of PSP (perforated steel plank, aka Marsden mat) across a couple of saw horses and have at it.
vtcruiser60
SILVER Star
Another use for PSP...
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_37LFsukndAM/SDyvG9jVUJI/AAAAAAAAASU/RC_wttr2NHs/IMG_3368.JPG
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For big stuff I use 55gal drums.
They can be arranged to hold bumpers, etc, securely and still allow welding top and most of the bottom.
They can be arranged to hold bumpers, etc, securely and still allow welding top and most of the bottom.
Though mine was not the cheapest on the block. I found 3 T slot sine tables that were 12" x 60" x 2" thick. I built a frame around them to hold them together out of 3 x 3 tubing. It weighs in at about 1200 lbs, but is is nice to clamp things down and not have them move on you.
Dave
Dave
Wow, I'm jealous.
welding table plans
What about this? I got as far as ordering wheels and was going to make mine smaller. Just need to finish my bumper first.
Miller - Projects - Weld Table
What about this? I got as far as ordering wheels and was going to make mine smaller. Just need to finish my bumper first.
Miller - Projects - Weld Table
This is the one I built but be prepared. It is a LOT more work then their little build log would suggest. It's not hard but time consuming. If you want 100 % welds on all your joints and aren't comfortable/capable of overhead/out-of-position welding you will have a lot of flipping to do and even without the plate attached it is deceptively heavy.
my welding table is a steel frame with angle iron round the border, in that i set a sheet of particle wood thats level with the angle. i like the particle cause is solid, level and smooth, whatever i need to jig i can drill holes and use hammer mounts, or screw wood or metal down. i can also use a router to make reliefs for protrusions in a piece, ect. once the wood gets used up i just take it out and drop in a new one.
I just built a nice table for my use.
My local steel place sells pre cut sheets of steel for re-enforcing pickup beds for a 5th wheel ball.
I picked up a 48"x26"x1/4" sheet for $75. Tacked a frame of 1/4 2x2 angle around the perimeter with two cross ties in the middle. Set the angle with the open face out so I had a 2" overhang all around the edge, but it makes for a good sturdy edge with the angle protruding to the edge that way. Used 2x2 square tubing for the legs.
Welded nuts to plates and welded those to the bottom of the legs for single bolt caster mounting. Got casters from castercity.com that lock both the wheel and swivel.
Made a shelf with angle and expanded metal. Helps brace the legs of course.
I saw a similar sized table listed with Fastenal, but it used channel instead of angle for the top support, 600 bucks or so for a welded table.
I haven't figured up my total cost, but I bet I'm around 150-180 tops. The expanded metal scrap was left over from another project my dad did. I was originally going to use plywood for the shelf.
Also put in two peices of receiver hitch tube in the front corners with a welded nut for holding two inch tube. I have a peice of tube with a plate on top and a small cheap vise mounted in one hole. Can be easily re-moved or moved to the other hole. Can also mount other tools to 2 inch tube for temp use on the table.
I really like it, 1/4" top seems plenty stout for average fab work at home. Casters are nice for wheelign around the shop for larger projects, getting away from the wall, or just as a good mobile table. Still need to add a mig torch holder to the front, and maybe a hammer holder.
While I was at it, I built a cart for the wire feed and bottle and a roll around stand for the chop saw, complete with extendable wings too.
My local steel place sells pre cut sheets of steel for re-enforcing pickup beds for a 5th wheel ball.
I picked up a 48"x26"x1/4" sheet for $75. Tacked a frame of 1/4 2x2 angle around the perimeter with two cross ties in the middle. Set the angle with the open face out so I had a 2" overhang all around the edge, but it makes for a good sturdy edge with the angle protruding to the edge that way. Used 2x2 square tubing for the legs.
Welded nuts to plates and welded those to the bottom of the legs for single bolt caster mounting. Got casters from castercity.com that lock both the wheel and swivel.
Made a shelf with angle and expanded metal. Helps brace the legs of course.
I saw a similar sized table listed with Fastenal, but it used channel instead of angle for the top support, 600 bucks or so for a welded table.
I haven't figured up my total cost, but I bet I'm around 150-180 tops. The expanded metal scrap was left over from another project my dad did. I was originally going to use plywood for the shelf.
Also put in two peices of receiver hitch tube in the front corners with a welded nut for holding two inch tube. I have a peice of tube with a plate on top and a small cheap vise mounted in one hole. Can be easily re-moved or moved to the other hole. Can also mount other tools to 2 inch tube for temp use on the table.
I really like it, 1/4" top seems plenty stout for average fab work at home. Casters are nice for wheelign around the shop for larger projects, getting away from the wall, or just as a good mobile table. Still need to add a mig torch holder to the front, and maybe a hammer holder.
While I was at it, I built a cart for the wire feed and bottle and a roll around stand for the chop saw, complete with extendable wings too.
Look for a used steel door. Nice and flat, can go on a 2x4 frame and is heat proof. A good size too.
That's a good idea 45Kevin.
I used solid core wooden doors for my main work bench, nice and solid.
I used solid core wooden doors for my main work bench, nice and solid.
I have a small workshop in my garage. In order to weld small things I built a temporary table that clamps into my Workmate. It consists of an old bar-b-cue grill (the non-stick surface needs to be off because it is not conductive) welded to two 1.5 inch pipes at either end and then a central pipe that is notched and welded to the two cross pipes. The center pipe gets clamped in the workmate vice and the two end pipes keep the grill away from the wood. I also have an old baking pan I put down to not burn the workmate. Clamp the ground to the lower pipe and lay out your work and weld away. the whole thing hangs on my welding cart when not in use.
