My first from scratch project - a welding table.

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I'm not a young buck, and I never learned how to weld until last fall.  But there's lots of times when I need something welded on the tractor, or a an implement when it's just not convenient to take what's broke to a shop.  So, I decided it was time to learn.Then, I decided I needed a welding table for the shop.  Here's what I came up with.I found a piece of 1/2" plate that was 5'x10' and the price was right.  (It was left over from a construction site.)  I cut it down to 4'x6' to fit better in my shop.  The frame is 2" tubing, and there is a cross member in the middle that the top is welded to.  The plate was bowed a bit.  So,  I cut a couple of C clamps in two, then welded the cut off ends to a small piece of plate.  Then, weld that plate to the big plate on just the front side of the clamp, and used the clamps to suck the plate up to the frame.  It's still got a tiny hump in the middle but it's close enough for farm work.I wanted the table to be on leveling legs and be able to pound on it without damaging casters.  But, at the same time I wanted to be able to move it around in the shop.  So, I designed a cam system to extend the caster legs when needed.  When the casters are retracted, it sits on bolts.  I welded a nut to a piece of the 1/2" plate that is welded on to the end of the tubing legs.  I also added some 2" x 1/2" pads to the ends of the bolts so that they won't chip the floor in the shop when you pound on something.Here's a picture of the caster legs retracted.  You can see the cams I made from some 2" round bar.  The axle holes are drilled 1/2" off center to give me an inch of travel on the caster legs.Here are the caster legs extended.  I fixed the angle of the handles to the cams so that just after you pass top dead center on the cam, the handle hits the table frame.  That way gravity is pushing the cam back in the other directing and locks the legs into the extended position while rolling the table.I'm guessing the table weighs about 600 to 700 lbs, and you can lift one end onto the casters with about 10lbs of force on the end of the handle.I added a 1/2" rod for hanging clamps.There are receivers on all four corners for holding a vise, a grinder, or anything else I want to hang off the table.  I added set screws to each reciever to keep my tools firm while in use.My welding skills aint very good yet.  So please don't critized my beads.  I know they aint pretty.  But, it's good enough for who it's for......(grin, that'd be me.)  I'd like to hear your comments, good or bad.  I'm kinda proud of this for my first "from scratch" project.  Even an old dog can learn new tricks.Last edited by Lynyrd; 02-05-2011 at 01:51 PM.LynyrdAn old redneck who lives out in the woods.
Reply:So it's cammed over and holds in a natural position with casters down then? That's pretty good. Some thinking went into that. Works fine for me. Looks great from here.  Old bones aren't compatable with concrete floors. Ya can't get buy with out some kind of table."The things that will destroy America are prosperity at any price, peace at any price, safety first instead of duty first, the love of soft living and the get rich quick theory of life." -Theodore Roosevelt
Reply:Welcome to the world of welding!I think you have yourself a fine table there! (no comment on the welds, e-hem.... )Your leg raising cam is great! Those grinders are my all time favourites too!You could ad another bar going across the other end, like your clamp bar, for your grinders to hang from. Keeps them from getting tangled and out of the way. I have mine hanging on the front of my table, with a plug bar glued under the table top. All are plugged in and ready to go with different disk/wire cups on them. I do some production work so it speeds things up for me. It's nice having the power bar under the table as this means you've only got one extension cord going to the table.200amp Air Liquide MIG, Hypertherm Plasma, Harris torches, Optrel helmet, Makita angle grinders, Pre-China Delta chop saw and belt sander, Miller leathers, shop made jigs etc, North- welders backpack.
Reply:That's weldone...get it? weldone???  Sorry been cooped up all week from the snow and ice here
Reply:Bert, thanks for not commenting on the, e-hem... welds  Sandy, you're right about the old bones.  Although for me it's the scars and worn out joints.  Dang near every bone in my body has been broke at one time or another by a horse, a bull, or just plain carlessness.  I have to wear knee pads when I'm working on the floor.  The table will be a lot easier on my old back!  The key to the cam is to get your handles welded at the correct angle.  I used a floor jack to adjust the height of the table to just what I wanted while the cams were just resting on top of the caster legs.  Then clamp tack, and weld.  It also makes it easy to adjust the leveling bolts.  Just flip the handle to extend the casters, then you can adjust the bolts by hand.  No need for a wrench.And Marcus, thanks for saying its "weldone!"    Going a bit stir crazy myself.  That's why I'm in by the fire on the computer today.LynyrdAn old redneck who lives out in the woods.
Reply:very nice!!   I think you missed your calling!    that's a pretty kick a$$ table for you 1st welding project. love the design.  That's how you learn how to weld.  makeing around the shop and farm. Practice    I look at some of the stuff I made 20 years ago and go Yikes.DayePound to fit, paint to match
Reply:nice. really like the retracting casters. the tables at work need that.kilroy was here
Reply:Originally Posted by tigmuskyvery nice!!   I think you missed your calling!    that's a pretty kick a$$ table for you 1st welding project. love the design.  That's how you learn how to weld.  makeing around the shop and farm. Practice    I look at some of the stuff I made 20 years ago and go Yikes.Daye
Reply:Well done - looks like you have a very important part of being a welder already done!
Reply:Well done mister!! what retracts the casters? I didnt see a spring or anything. I need to come up with a set up like this, my 5 X 10 table eats casters so Ive been racking my brain and your idea is awesome! Thanks for sharing.
Reply:It looks to me like the castors just ride up and let the table descend onto the static legs once the cam is released.  I could be wrong.I will comment on the welds - they look pretty good in my humble opinion.That's a brilliant solution - the castor cams, I mean."These instructions are at our present level ofknowledge. Legal requirements do not exist.Technical issues subject to change."_________________________________________Lincoln MIG PAK 180Lincoln AC-225
Reply:I see a couple ideas that I am going to steal when I get around to building a table as that welding on the floor is getting old...... actually, it's the getting up part that is getting old. Qualified & experienced at welding scrap metal
Reply:Nice!  It would be fun to fast forward a few years and see all the additions you will put on this.  I love tricking out my table.  I lhttp://www.youtube.com/user/c599209/videos
Reply:Awesome! That shows thought and lots of hardwork, good job! City of L.A. Structural; Manual & Semi-Automatic;"Surely there is a mine for silver, and a place where gold is refined. Iron is taken from the earth, and copper is smelted from ore."Job 28:1,2Lincoln, Miller, Victor & ISV BibleDanny
Reply:That is a very nice welding table...exactly what i am trying to do for my first project
Reply:Now THAT is a NICE table!!! Great work!! Originally Posted by little JeepI see a couple ideas that I am going to steal when I get around to building a table as that welding on the floor is getting old...... actually, it's the getting up part that is getting old.
Reply:Originally Posted by 380bullelkWell done mister!! what retracts the casters? I didnt see a spring or anything. I need to come up with a set up like this, my 5 X 10 table eats casters so Ive been racking my brain and your idea is awesome! Thanks for sharing.
Reply:Thanks to all for the compliments.  I actually got to use the table today for a REAL job.  I had a set of front end loader forks for the trac/tor that a city cousin had bent by sticking them in the ground under a tree root.  The forks were built out of 1/4" channel with 1/4" channel welded underneath for stiffening.  I chained the forks to the table, heated them with a torch, and used a big come-a-long and a 6 lb  sledge to bend them back staiight.  I was kind of worried about my welds on the table holding up, but they didn't budge!One thing for sure, fixing implements and making stuff like hog trap gates is going to be a LOT easier with a table to work on.LynyrdAn old redneck who lives out in the woods.
Reply:That table is SICK!!!!! Great first project! I'm gonna have to steal that rod idea you did to hold all the goodies and slap it on my lil table  looks like you put alot of time and thinkin into it! Looks great!Ride it like you stole it!
Reply:Originally Posted by biker trashThat table is SICK!!!!! Great first project! I'm gonna have to steal that rod idea you did to hold all the goodies and slap it on my lil table  looks like you put alot of time and thinkin into it! Looks great!
Reply:Count me in with the majority, the castor set up is fantastic. I've been grinding my brain to try and come up with a castor system, your plan never even entered my mind. Nice job!Gordhttp://gordsgarage.wordpress.com/
Reply:Originally Posted by gordsgarageCount me in with the majority, the castor set up is fantastic. I've been grinding my brain to try and come up with a castor system, your plan never even entered my mind. Nice job!Gord
Reply:Nothing like a nice strong flat table!!AWS certified welding inspectorAWS certified welder
Reply:That's an awesome table.  I just got into welding a couple months ago and so far my biggest project is a welding cart for my MIG.I have a piece of 1" steel 2' X 4' that I have at the machine shop right now having a rough edge cut off.  Soon as it's back I'm going to start work on mine.  I'm using wheels from a 5 foot grooming mower for the casters (already have that welded to the legs) and that 1" piece for the top.I was planning to use something similar for the vice and grinder (or fan), however, my square tube will be vertical and flush with the top on 2 corners.  Also since my table will be 2' X 4', I'm thinking that if it needs some stability because it's so narrow I might use some outriggers.Anyway, super nice table.SteveLincoln Pro Mig 180Everlast PowerARC 200
Reply:I like the cam action, looks fine to me too. As good or better than any bead of mine.Bruce The Welding ChefLincoln Weld-Pack 3200 NORWELD StickStanford Hill FarmHere is a bench I built My bench is made from 1/2 plate also The size is 4'x8' by 1/2 plate Just would like to add. To people building a bench Do not over weld the plate to the legs. It will warp the plate. Well here's the bench. Vernonhttp://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=44215Homemade Belt Sander "LINK"http://s795.photobucket.com/albums/y...Belt%20Sander/