Finally starting my work table

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All I'm waiting on is a piece of plate for the top, but I've got everything else I need for my table at long last. Yesterday hit me with a whole host of problems, one of which could have been very bad. When I was getting ready to cut my channel my O2 tank fell over and broke the knob off its regulator and broke the hose fitting as well. I didn't have it tied off properly, and won't be making that mistake ever again. My angle grinder with a cutoff wheel proved enough to cut with, and I got the framing for the top fitted and welded last night after changing wire spools. Towards the end of the little 2# spool I'd bought with the machine the wire was coming off kinked and really throwing off my feed. A new roll showed up just in time and I got back to it. Later today I'll try to get it finished up.Tweco Fabricator 211i
Reply:Glad you are safe and glad you are taking safe measuresIt always happens when you least expect it.  I make it an ingrained habit of always wearing safety glasses.  Most of the time I wear safety googles because I get stuff coming between the glassesI was at an indoor range shooting and a hot piece of brass bounced off the side wall of the shooting stall.  Managed to land right between my glasses in the smallest little opening between my glasses and hat.  Now instead of those tear drop tattoos people wear I have a burn scar that looks like thatMiller 350PMiller 30AHobart trekHTP Invertig 221
Reply:Yeah man, when I was in the Army I had a piece of hot brass from a M249 somehow bounce into the gap between my vest and my top.  It then got wrapped around my dog tags. That hurt like heck, and was the last time I wore dog tags around my neck.In Iraq we lost guys to improvised rockets that consisted of IEDs on the bottom of gas cylinders which then had their valves knocked off so I'm pretty aware of what can happen when a cylinder rapidly discharges its contents. I kicked my own backside for a good while for not tying it up. I'm honestly not even sure why I untied it to begin with.Tweco Fabricator 211i
Reply:Made more progress today, and had to switch to SMAW due to clearance issues. Other parts of the scrap pile got used to practice first since I'd never really done any SMAW before. The 1/8" Hobart 6011 rods seemed to work well enough once I got the hang of feeding the rod in and keeping my arc short. I ran at 105 amps with arc force at 50 on my Tweco Fabricator 211i.Almost done.Tweco Fabricator 211i
Reply:Nice ! Safety is a important concern, not only in securing tanks but preparing the area you are welding in. Safety glasses, face shield, fire extinguisher, bucket of water, and a garden hose connected and ready. Those sparks from arc welding go everywhere . Post weld check of area is essential too. No offense to you but from doing this for a few years and getting a '' hot work permit '' it sinks in and should be followed. It's the only takes a minute weld that can be deadly.   What thickness top are you getting ? If you haven't yet, you may consider adding some steel on the perimeter too. Are you going to have a 2'' overhang on the top ? Just get a 1'' thick plate and you'll be good to go.
Reply:BD1 - yeah, I was still beating myself up last night for deviating from my normal safety process. I've authorized a few hot work permits, JSAs, etc and let myself slide for no good reason (there is no good reason ever). I won't go as far as to say the welds look good, because they're ugly and I'm certainly a novice welder, but they survived the big hammer test without measurable deflection and ought to withstand the static loads I designed the table for with a good safety factor.I have 3x4x3/8 angle in the scrap pile I've thought about using to complete the perimeter top and bottom. Right now I'm planning on a 3/8 plate (32x60" from the drop pile at work) for the top. I realize that's solidly on the small side but I need to consider being able to move it, and the whole free part. There's 3" per side overhang on the short axis, and 6" on the long side.Tweco Fabricator 211i
Reply:Looks like you are going to have yourself a pretty good work table.    I know about knocking the end off the O2 cylinder.  I know a fellow that lost a full one off  the back of his pickup truck.  We never did find the cylinder when it took off at a 30 degree angle.
Reply:And now it's finished.Tweco Fabricator 211i
Reply:Tables looks good.    You might have to relocate the goodies on it to work.     Ah, is that a ball valve on the orange jug ???  That must be a dealer installed option .
Reply:Originally Posted by BD1Tables looks good.    You might have to relocate the goodies on it to work.     Ah, is that a ball valve on the orange jug ???  That must be a dealer installed option .
Reply:Originally Posted by ajmartinezOh the goodies are beer brewing supplies, as is the orange jug I converted to a mash tun. It's all cleared off now!