Tool Stand Frame and welding questions

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Even though I am a novice and haven't had enough time under the hood I needed something ASAP and figured since I did ok on my test pieces I should go ahead with the big project! LOL  oh well..Went to the metal yard and instead of getting prime 2x1 11g rect. they had some 3x1.5 1/8" rect tub. for 1/2 the price - no brainer for me, or so I thought! You be the judge, I think that I probably could have used the next rod size up. I did have some problems with the (for me) out of position welds. The horizontal flat welds that went left to right across the front of my body were a cinch, the welds that went from close to away from me were more challenging and required ginding out and re welding...The frame ended up being square to within a 1/32" measured at the diagonals and the width was consistent across the frame's 5' length. When I set it up for priming and pain I noticed from far away that the frame looked like it had twist - I had it set up on two buckets on a slope so I said, hmm.... optical illusion or did I screw this thing up? I stringed it from diagonal to diagonal and it is out by about 3/32.Tell me what you think... Attached ImagesAC-180 Lincolnwelder circa '50's
Reply:Looks pretty good to me! Nice work
Reply:good enough for e beginning..practice..
Reply:Ditto....Century Powermate 100 ( my first welder)Lincoln Precision TIG 185
Reply:Thanks guys :-) Do you think that the twist is acceptable? I was kinda surprised to see it. I figured the mill stock was pretty square. Next time I am off I will put it on a level surface and see how it looks with a level going from edge to edge.AC-180 Lincolnwelder circa '50's
Reply:As long as complete perfection is not an absolute requirement it looks pretty good from my house. Especially if this is one of your first times to build something this size and dimensions.  Is this the end of this project or do you intend to add legs or something else to it?
Reply:This frame is the base for a woodworking workstation for my table saw and router. I was trying for dead flat, but I can work out the difference with the plywood I put down over the frame.I plan to add casters on the bottom, I forgot to add some more material in the corners as the caster mounting plates are typically 2 5/8 x 3 1/2" I still have primer and paint so I guess it should be pretty easy to scuff up an area and weld in some extra material. I have some 2x2 angle about 1/16" thick that I can weld next to the 4 corners to give more width for the plate to land on.Should I tack weld the caster plate to the frame or use screws?AC-180 Lincolnwelder circa '50's
Reply:If your table saw is a table top model, you could add some framing under the table to recess the saw.  Make it so the saw deck is flush with the table top, this will make it easier to use cutting large stock.By the time you add the legs and table top and everything to the frame, that little bit of twist in the frame is likely to Go Away when it's resting on it's feet under it's own weight.Last edited by Bistineau; 03-06-2012 at 07:38 AM.