Yet Another GD Table...

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Arguably the last thing this forum needs is another darn welding table thread, but here I go anyway.  I wasn't going to do this, but I figure I was inspired by reading many of the threads on this topic, and since I tend to do things differently, I should at least throw my mistakes out there for others to learn from.   Some of you will have seen bits of this table already, as I've been working on it a while (very slowly) and already made one related thread about the top.  As is obvious from that thread, I'm designing as I go.  I started with just the idea that I needed to build a table, and then stumbled across a 4x8' 1/2" plate that I couldn't pass up.  I didn't have room for it, and it's bigger than I need... but what the hell.  Most of the rest of the table is metal I had laying around, or that I got a good deal on as scrap.   As a result of the top being too big, I've done some strange things.  I offset the top with a large overhang, in case I later decide to cut it down from four feet wide.  There's 12 inches more top on the front, versus the back ( 15" versus 3" ).  So far, this hasn't wound up being a bad idea... I can stand my 200 pounds on the overhang and the table doesn't care.   Most of my welding is tig, which is why I built the frame with 5 legs, leaving one side open to sit at.  Also makes kicking around the pedal a lot simpler.  Seems plenty strong.  The legs are 2x2x3/16.  The primered crossbars are 3x2.5x1/4 ( long side vertical ).  Once I got the top on, it was 36" tall.   The next step was wheels.  It will normally be up against that wall, but I want to be able to roll it out sometimes.  I cut 4 inch pieces of receiver tube, five 4x5" plates, and welded them up, and bolted on the casters.   Then I jacked up each end of the table with a floor jack, and slipped the feet on.  This would've been easy with four legs.  Getting the middle leg 5" in the air was a right bitch.  I almost tipped the table which would've made a mess, possibly of me.   In hindsight, removable feet was not necessarily a great idea.  I doubt I'll ever remove them.  Also, I wish I bought casters that lock the swivel as well as the roll.  These were fairly cheap, but the table has some wiggle to it due to the swivels.  Works fine for my purposes, but I miss how stable it was before I added the wheels.  It's now 40.5" high, by the way, which is exactly where I wanted it.  Another reason I won't be pulling the wheels off any time soon.to be cont'd...__David Hillman
Reply:Next was some tool mounts to go in the open ends of the frame.  Those tubes are 2x2, but 1.5" square telescopes with some slop.  Good enough for my purposes.   Not sure why I painted that... I haven't gotten around to painting anything else except the feet.   And one for an invisible vise...   Next up was a (small) plasma cutting grate.  I really stumbled across this aluminum grate at the scrap store (not really a yard), but as soon as I saw it, this idea was stuck in my head.  Just finished it tonight, and haven't tried it out yet.  Luckily they also had some dirt cheap 1.5 square tube.   The grate was too thick originally, so I took my router to the two middle bars, and trimmed them about 3/4" of inch.  That created a valley for the square tube to sit in, and makes the top surface planar with the table ( or, it will be, once I drill holes for some bolts to tighten up the telescoped tubes ).   I don't seem to have a picture of it, but I also added a diamond-plate four foot power strip under the front lip.  There's a four-way compressed air manifold on the wall just above the table, too.   This table is not near finished, I still have to figure out what I'm going to do with the space underneath it.  I may add shelves/drawers for storage ( not full depth so I can still sit at it like a desk ) or I may use the space for my 53" toolbox.  Can't decide.     Other tasks still to be done; clamp storage, grinder storage, add a pan under the cutting grate, renting a mag drill and putting some holes in the top for clamping.  Oh yeah, paint would be a good idea at some point.Last edited by David Hillman; 11-11-2011 at 01:53 AM.__David Hillman
Reply:Pedal is on the table because I standing up there to weld the lower braces on that end.   There was just enough room to get the torch in there for that last one.__David Hillman
Reply:Looks Great..Miller 211 & Spoolmate 100Miller Diversion 165Miller Spectrum 875
Reply:With a bit of thought I bet you could make some sort of "clip" that would fit over the legs and lock the sides of the casters from spining. The idea I have in mind right now would mean you would need to get the casters paralell to the sides of the legs, but with some thought I'd bet you could come up with an ide that would allow you to add a lock that used a set screw or knob to lock the clip at any angle.I'd probably have two sides that go along side the metal suports of the casters, and possibly a horizontal piece the centers the unit in between the two braces over the wheel, if this makes sense. A cross pin behind the leg once it's in position would lock it from falling out and make removal simple. the tighter yo make this fit the less wiggle you'll have. Wedges would allow you some "slop" for easy instalation and still allow you to get a very snug fit. That or  extend the side plates beyond the wheels on the far side and use a bolt and hand knob as both a lock to keep it from falling off and a clamp to take up the slack..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:Originally Posted by DSWWith a bit of thought I bet you could make some sort of "clip" that would fit over the legs and lock the sides of the casters from spining. The idea I have in mind right now would mean you would need to get the casters paralell to the sides of the legs, but with some thought I'd bet you could come up with an ide that would allow you to add a lock that used a set screw or knob to lock the clip at any angle.
Reply:Your casters already have spots for locks...look at the first page.  It's called a swivel lock plunger.  I don't know how much they are, but they can't be that expensive.  They look relatively simple enough to build too.http://www.magnusinc.com/mus/pdfs/Catalog/32-45_bp.pdf
Reply:It is a quick and dirty solution, but we use it every day in the shop I work in. We have about 6 4'X8' work benches on wheels that we move into different configurations all the time, and of course, no locking castors! We keep about 18" of chain hanging at each leg, and when the table is placed, we wrap it around each castor on the floor. It isn't too bad, very little wiggle. May give you some stability until you can lock the castors. M.
Reply:Mammaogi:GREAT TIP! That was the first time I heard this one. Tried it last night on my small table that has my bender and it worked like a charm. Saves me having to rig up some caster locks.Thanks again.......Sign on East Texas payphone: Calls to God 40 cents......it's a local call...
Reply:I haven't tried fixing the casters yet, nor have I rented a drill, but in the meantime, I built this.   It's not another zombie weapon   Until I do drill some holes in the top, I'm stuck clamping everything at the edge, and sometimes that doesn't work well.  This lets me clamp small items from the back and not have the clamps get in the way.  I'm not sure how much I'll use it once the table is done done, but it was all scrap plus $10 for that chunk of 1/2" plate.__David Hillman
Reply:I like the table.  I never mind seeing them... it' how I get ideas to make mine better!  :-)Not to mention, representin for Illinois!JoeMiller 140 Autoset (2010)Miller Syncrowave 250 (1996)
Reply:RE: The Chain idea..., I think I heard somewhere, the miners had a 'honey wagon cart' on the rails, there was a piece of chain, for putting between the rails and wheels,  to lock up the cart. As a joke, the boys would 'pull their chain' and send the guy 'doing his business'. on  a trip down the rails.so I've heard.MIG, Stick, Oxy/Fuel, mostly one-off fabrication and repairsMC Road Racer'kit' Cobra2 Vista Cruisers'29 Ford AA Dualie dump   "Live-Free-Or Die"
Reply:Originally Posted by David HillmanArguably the last thing this forum needs is another darn welding table thread...
Reply:Originally Posted by joebieI like the table.  I never mind seeing them... it' how I get ideas to make mine better!  :-)Not to mention, representin for Illinois!
Reply:run an extension cord around all four casters if you don't have chainmike
Reply:Slow progress continues...   I found one nice thing about my excessive front overhang... I can flip and hide-away my vise.   Also finally got around to making some tee handles to secure the tools.  Nothing special, 1/2" rods I had laying around.  I put this off too long, it turned out to be real easy to drill and tap a couple holes, and knock these out.   Still debating what to put underneath.__David Hillman