I am new to welding and will never be anything more than a hobbiest. To get started, I would like to have a portable welding table that I can break down and store when not in use. While I know there are plenty of ready to buy units out there to meet this need, was trying to think of a way to leverage some of the stuff I already have around the house. After thinking about it a little while, I came up with the idea of making a welding table top that I can lay on top of my workmate bench and clamp down. I already hang my workmate on the wall and I am sure I could find somewhere to store the table top when I am not welding.The purpose of this post is to get ideas on how to construct the table top so that I get the benefits of being able to weld on it but hopefully making something that is not too heavy to move around. Don't need anything too big...maybe 36in by 36 in or 48in by 36in. Was thinking of making a wooden frame out of 1x1s and then encasing the whole frame in sheet metal.Thoughts?
Reply:The hell is a "workmate"? Some kind of saw horse or something? 1x1's with sheet metal laminate? Look, thicker is better for a welding table. I wouldn't even consider anything under 1/4" for a work table, let alone a welding table. Get the thickest cunk of steel you can lift to the size you want. 3/8" plate is 15.3 lbs/sqft. A 3'x3' piece would be around 140 lbs. When you want to weld, sling it up there and do your thing. Shluff it off when you're done. Originally Posted by SundownIIIDon't get me wrong. They are just as ill informed about politics as they are about welding, they just post more on that subject.
Reply:Originally Posted by jmtebbensThe hell is a "workmate"? Some kind of saw horse or something?
Reply:Originally Posted by jmtebbensThe hell is a "workmate"? Some kind of saw horse or something? 1x1's with sheet metal laminate? Look, thicker is better for a welding table. I wouldn't even consider anything under 1/4" for a work table, let alone a welding table. Get the thickest cunk of steel you can lift to the size you want. 3/8" plate is 15.3 lbs/sqft. A 3'x3' piece would be around 140 lbs. When you want to weld, sling it up there and do your thing. Shluff it off when you're done.
Reply:Here is how I made mine...
Reply:stephenw thats really nice do you have drawings for it?i also have a workmate and i am trying to figure out why i shouldnt just replace my wood tops on my work mate with steel plate and leave the design exactly how it is....i use the snot out of this thing and the size and design is perfect. its over 20 yrs old and has been used for everythng imagineable, since it opens and clamps closed i would still be able to put my big wood top in it if i wanted and the steel plate either 1/4 or 3/8 wouldnt weigh that much so it still would be easily portable. it has holes for dogs and clamps, and since it has two screw handles it can be adjusted so each top is not parallel with the other...... i think i just talked myself into doing this.... i may do this this weekend and report back....also consider making a big steel top like my wood one....it has apiece of wood the same thickness of the work mate top and then a bigger piece of wood on top of that....all under the table top kind of like an upside down T, it slips into the workmate from the side when it is fully opened and the larger bottom (top of the T) is under the table top and prevents the table top from popping out if you lean on the side.here it is beign usedhere it is with a wood top clamped in it[/QUOTE]Last edited by 37ford4dr; 12-30-2011 at 10:33 PM.bobs77vet/37ford4drEastwood digital TIG200HH190Lincoln Invertec 155sLincoln weldpak 100sears/craftsman (lincoln) 50a 240v buzz boxO/A rig Harris gaugesnexion cut 50 dxchicago electric (HF) 240v spot welder
Reply:37ford4dr...I knew I could not be the only one out there thinking how convienent it would be to use the Workmate as a welding table.
Reply:i have 10' of 12"x1/4 steel plate under the deck that will get cut up tomorrow into smaller sections and we can play around with the concept.....of either replacing the wood tops ....OR making a table top. i was looking at this over the past weeks and the first top by the handles needs to stay the same size....the movable top that screws out could be 6" bigger with no problem.....so that would give closed an 18" or so surface......we could weld 1/2" square tubing to the steel top for the screws to mount to the frame( use existing frame work). this would allow the "un parallel" opening/clamping feature to still workbobs77vet/37ford4drEastwood digital TIG200HH190Lincoln Invertec 155sLincoln weldpak 100sears/craftsman (lincoln) 50a 240v buzz boxO/A rig Harris gaugesnexion cut 50 dxchicago electric (HF) 240v spot welder
Reply:just imagine a steel top...bobs77vet/37ford4drEastwood digital TIG200HH190Lincoln Invertec 155sLincoln weldpak 100sears/craftsman (lincoln) 50a 240v buzz boxO/A rig Harris gaugesnexion cut 50 dxchicago electric (HF) 240v spot welder
Reply:Originally Posted by 37ford4drstephenw thats really nice do you have drawings for it?
Reply:On the subject of Workmates, here is a fully functional miniature that I built from scratch. It stands 21 inches tall, sized for a child...
Reply:stephenw thats awesome thks, i will look that over with a cup of coffee tomorrow am, thks bobbobs77vet/37ford4drEastwood digital TIG200HH190Lincoln Invertec 155sLincoln weldpak 100sears/craftsman (lincoln) 50a 240v buzz boxO/A rig Harris gaugesnexion cut 50 dxchicago electric (HF) 240v spot welder
Reply:37ford4dr, I wonder if a thin top would defeat the idea of being able to use bench dogs with the top. I guess you could use bolts thru holes instead. The other thing that I often find nice about the workmate is the notch on the "jaws" that will let you hold round pipe. Again you'd loose that with thin steel. I wonder if you tacked a piece of angle iron underneath if you could gain the same thing if you used spacers under the top to raise it up some. Something like 2 pieces of 3/4" would probably weigh too much to be "useful" as a portable table. On mine you can pull and adjust the one side, so if you removed that it would cut the weight some, but I know how much my "small" 3/4" 2x4' table top weighs, and even half of it would put me off if I had to move it regularly..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
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k we will see......as i am finishing up the welding cart i am going to start eyeballing that work mate. we can round robin the best choices and i will make what ever from stock i have on hand....last night i was thinking of making it with two panels and a clamping "hole" on the middle.....it has to be "movable for a 54yr" or it has no benefit to me....also it has some benefit to me to be able to span two work horses....i have done so much work with these saw horses and work mate versatility needs to rule the design...Last edited by 37ford4dr; 12-31-2011 at 09:53 AM.bobs77vet/37ford4drEastwood digital TIG200HH190Lincoln Invertec 155sLincoln weldpak 100sears/craftsman (lincoln) 50a 240v buzz boxO/A rig Harris gaugesnexion cut 50 dxchicago electric (HF) 240v spot welder
Reply:I saw this on the Miller Electric welding site - a project for a portable folding welding table. 24' X 18".linky: http://www.millerwelds.com/interests...le-weld-table/Jan Erik"The trouble with quotes on the Internet is that you can never know if they are genuine." - Abraham Lincoln
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k here is design one...lets us cut things with the plasma cutter with the tabs on the end and has center clamping opening....maybe 60lbs out of 1/4" ..a removable top and pictures of how the table works. lets get the critiques going.....its easy to cut out and redesign card boardbobs77vet/37ford4drEastwood digital TIG200HH190Lincoln Invertec 155sLincoln weldpak 100sears/craftsman (lincoln) 50a 240v buzz boxO/A rig Harris gaugesnexion cut 50 dxchicago electric (HF) 240v spot welder
Reply:bobs77vet/37ford4drEastwood digital TIG200HH190Lincoln Invertec 155sLincoln weldpak 100sears/craftsman (lincoln) 50a 240v buzz boxO/A rig Harris gaugesnexion cut 50 dxchicago electric (HF) 240v spot welder
Reply:stephenw what does that table weigh? i looked over the plans and you did a great job. bobbobs77vet/37ford4drEastwood digital TIG200HH190Lincoln Invertec 155sLincoln weldpak 100sears/craftsman (lincoln) 50a 240v buzz boxO/A rig Harris gaugesnexion cut 50 dxchicago electric (HF) 240v spot welder
Reply:Bob did you plan to have the stepped ends, or are you just not bothering with those right now? Seems a bit odd. Wondering if there is a reason for them or what.I was thinking originally you were contemplating replacing the wood parts with similar parts made of steel rather than a aux table top..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:I just picked one of these up today. It's ok for portable temporary use. Only $95 and it's even powder coated. Attached ImagesLincoln 175 HDVictor 100c
Reply:Originally Posted by DSWBob did you plan to have the stepped ends, or are you just not bothering with those right now? Seems a bit odd. Wondering if there is a reason for them or what.I was thinking originally you were contemplating replacing the wood parts with similar parts made of steel rather than a aux table top.
Reply:Originally Posted by 37ford4drPJM what is the weight and the dimensions? it looks nice
Reply:do the one set of legs detach or slide or something like that?bobs77vet/37ford4drEastwood digital TIG200HH190Lincoln Invertec 155sLincoln weldpak 100sears/craftsman (lincoln) 50a 240v buzz boxO/A rig Harris gaugesnexion cut 50 dxchicago electric (HF) 240v spot welder
Reply:Originally Posted by 37ford4drdo the one set of legs detach or slide or something like that?
Reply:yes pictues of the bottom leg latch mechanism would be great thks bobbobs77vet/37ford4drEastwood digital TIG200HH190Lincoln Invertec 155sLincoln weldpak 100sears/craftsman (lincoln) 50a 240v buzz boxO/A rig Harris gaugesnexion cut 50 dxchicago electric (HF) 240v spot welderOriginally Posted by 37ford4drstephenw what does that table weigh? i looked over the plans and you did a great job. bob
