Welding Table + Plasma Cutting

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FIrst post here!  I recently purchased a Millermatic 251 and and am learning how to weld.  I've done a few small projects, but now I'm planning to build a welding table.I've looked at a lot of the posts on various forums and have a basic idea about what I want to build.  Basically a 4x6 table, similar to the one on the Miller forum, with a few tweaks.I like the idea on the Miller table about having a grate for plasma cutting, but in the various threads I've looked at, no one ever seems to incorporate that feature into their table?The other thing I thought was that the size of the grate in the Miller table seems kind of small (12" x 14").Any thoughts/comments on the usefullness of this feature in a welding table?Thanks,John
Reply:My thoughts about the grate personally is that if I were to be plasma cutting something I probably would be aiming toward the ground at the edge of the table.  When I built mine ( a few threads below this one) I wanted all the useable area I could get.  If I decide later on that I need some grating I can just add on to my table since it is a bit smaller.Something you will need to take into account is how much space you actually have vs how much things you plan on cutting that won't just be a single pass cut.JoeMiller 140 Autoset (2010)Miller Syncrowave 250 (1996)
Reply:Originally Posted by giles45shopFIrst post here!  I recently purchased a Millermatic 251 and and am learning how to weld.  I've done a few small projects, but now I'm planning to build a welding table.I've looked at a lot of the posts on various forums and have a basic idea about what I want to build.  Basically a 4x6 table, similar to the one on the Miller forum, with a few tweaks.I like the idea on the Miller table about having a grate for plasma cutting, but in the various threads I've looked at, no one ever seems to incorporate that feature into their table?The other thing I thought was that the size of the grate in the Miller table seems kind of small (12" x 14").Any thoughts/comments on the usefullness of this feature in a welding table?Thanks,John
Reply:Thanks for the inputs!  Sounds like maybe I should just build a separate table for the plasma cutter (3'x4' or so) and that way I will have the best of both worlds.  Good thing is that I am not space limited, as I have a 30x60 shop.Looking forward to learning more about welding.  I'm planning on taking a night class at the local Vo-Tech school in January, but will be doing lots of projects before then.  I've got a fairly decent machine shop area (2 lathes, Bridgeport Mill, several drill presses, two band saws, etc.), but I've always wanted to learn more about welding and fabrication.30 years ago, I bought a Millermatic 200 but before I could really learn much I went off to school and my dad sold the welder.  Now that I'm older, I have the time and the funds to start a new hobby My next purchase is going to be a Hypermax Powermax 45, so I can quickly convert big metal pieces into smaller ones John
Reply:I plan on building a slide out water tray, with a flush mounted grate from under the table top.
Reply:Here's a thread about the welding table I built, I made the top sections removable so I could put a plasma grid in it. The pics of the grid are on page 2.http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=54932
Reply:on my old table i made a fold down grate that is 24"X30". when needed just raise up and drop leg down. works good for putting a fire brick on to hold my cup of coffee.225NT bobcatAEAD200LEScott 125mm175, mm252 w 30A, PT225mm211, TA 181iHyper Therm 380, cut master 529100X & XX, Digital Elite6 Victor setssmith little torch, meco midget kalamazoo band sawsteel max saw evoulution circular saw
Reply:Great ideas everyone, thanks for the inputs!  I can already tell that I will have to watch myself as I have a tendancy to overplan/overthink things and will spend too much time with the "what if's".  At some point I just need to say to myself, "that's enough" and just start cutting metal.I've got ~ 70' of 2x2x1/4 box tubing awaiting the bandsaw right now Thanks,John
Reply:Get to it then .  My suggestion would be having something drawn out, even if it's on a napkin, with basic dimensions so you have something to reference.  If there are small things that you want to change as you go, that's fine, but having something to look at while you work and to double check your cuts makes it easier.