Another table, any tips?

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I am making a welding table. I am going with a simple design. The top is 1/2 inch steel, 30 by 60. The frame is 2 inch 3/16 wall square steel tube. I will post pics as the project progresses. I was hoping to use my 110 mig 135 but im not sure it's up to the task, so i tigged it with miller 165 diversion. Im happy with the welds but any thoughts would be appreciated. The top was delivered and it had a 1/4 inch bow the short way. The long way it looked fine. I asked them to replace it, since i need a flat top. I plan to bolt it or just set it in place...i have attempted to enclose pictures, the last one isnt part of the project Attached Images
Reply:The welds look good to me, add a little more filler on the end and swirl it before breaking the arc and it will help with the liitle dimple at the end of the weld, looking good though.Lincoln pro mig 180Lincoln Square Wave Tig 300/wp 20/home built water cooler Victor, Purox, Harris, O/A welding/cutting setupsVintage Craftsman drill pressVintage Craftsman/Atlas 12"x 36'' lathe7''x 12'' w/c band saw Everlast 140 st
Reply:In both metal working and wood working your going to have to learn how to straighten metal and make it square. There's simply no way around it. Steel doesn't come from the mill straight.
Reply:we call them grass hoppers, but their just c clamps cut in half so you can weld the base to the plate, and tighten on the tubing and weld to pull the bow out. We use them all the time for plate jobs at work. Does a VERY good job at straightening out plate.ESAB MigMaster 275Miller Econotwin HFMiller Syncrowave 250
Reply:Originally Posted by claymans13we call them grass hoppers, but their just c clamps cut in half so you can weld the base to the plate, and tighten on the tubing and weld to pull the bow out. We use them all the time for plate jobs at work. Does a VERY good job at straightening out plate.
Reply:can you elaborate a bit more on the grasshoppers - I didn't quite get it , master
Reply:I made some skids for the bottom of the feet, 3/16 steel 4x4 inches each. Migged these, also some gussets for insurance, migged those in as well. Then started the shelf supports. Please feel free to make suggestions for additional features or ideas. My band saw and vice are mounted on my other table, i'd like this to be mainly a fabrication station Attached Images
Reply:Nice table looks great!
Reply:Got the top , this one isnt warped. I attached it to the frame with 5/16 ths machine screws. Each is countersunk into the top. I rigged up a surface clamping system by drilling 5/16 holes every 4 inches, then tapped with 3/8 by 16 thread. I got some cheapo clamps and cut the bottom off of each. I attached a piece of 3/16 angle to it with 5/16 bolts. Each has a 3/8 inch hole to bolt it to the table. Hopefully these cheapo clamps wont break. Attached Images
Reply:remaining pix Attached Images
Reply:one more pic Attached Images
Reply:Interesting gussets. Scrap from something else?You mig welds look cold from what I can see. Pretty much to be expected considering the thickness of the materials. Should work fine for that application however.Project in general looks good. You might want to think about maybe some brass inserts for some of those threaded holes where you do a lot of mig welding Spatter on threads might be a real PITA. the steel spatter won't stick to the brass, so on top they won't stick, and the plugs will protect the holes. I'm thinking you can just buy some brass all thread and cut short pieces as needed and cut a slot for a screw driver. I use the same principal to protect the female inserts in the concrete floor from filling up with dirt etc when I don't have the bender bolted down..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:Your TIG is looking good, but the fit-up pretty much left you with a seal weld. I would have beveled the joint to give more of a groove to weld up. On the fish eye, the Miller Diversion has a handy feature where while welding and you get to the end of your progression, you can hold down the button on the rig, and it will slowly decrease amperage until the arc goes out. This should leave you with a spot of silicon in the center of where you got out, and is easily removed with the strike of a chipping hammer, or hit it with a file.Miller Bobcat 225Miller Diversion 180 - sold searching for a DynastyHobart TigmateMillermatic Challenger 172
Reply:Thanks DSW , I'm getting a miller 211 in a few weeks, then I'll have the juice to do good welds in the heavier stuff. The gussets are all me, just my little touch to keep it interesting. The fit up I showed is where the end of one tube meets the side of another tube. The tube has rounded corners so it doesn't meet up. I thought of grinding a place to accommodate the curve but that seemed like a pia. So I guess that left me with a root pass type dealio? Anybody seen this type of setup for surface clamps, I might have invented something!??
Reply:I haven't seen the clamps done with bolts before, but many with the ends welded. Looking at your clamps, bolts were probably the right way to go. I've had issues with welds on cheap clamps holding. I may have to do the same thing and then weld the angle or post to the unit if I want to use the busted ones in the scrap bin..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:Those mag drills come in very handy.
Reply:Nice table!You new guys overthink everything. I  Just weld the bastid to the table.  Then you can practice your grinding afterward, too!My table is my fixture.Buy American, or don't whine when you end up on the bread line.
Reply:Everything looks great! Im looking to make something similar pretty soon. Mind me asking how much you spent on the table top?thanks,-Dave
Reply:Originally Posted by FabWizardThose mag drills come in very handy.
Reply:The top was 255 dollars. Speedy metals new Berlin wi. I'm slowly working on tapping the holes for the clamps. I like that mag drill, would love to find one on cl!