Welding table, ideas needed

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So I need to make myself a welding table for my projects. My current workbench is to high off the ground and I sit on a bar stool. I want something lower, so I can sit on a normal chair and roll around and something sturdy. Nothing too big maybe 4-5ft long and 2-3feet deep.However here is the tricky part. I have a small 2 car garage and would like to be able to put 2 cars in there if I wanted to. Of course after the other car is running and put to the side. I want have 1/2" (IIRC) plywood on the walls secured into the studs. I want the table to be able to fold up to the wall out of the way. And Want to be able to pull it down when needed.How do I go about starting this project? And for the top what thickness of material should be used? And where can I find a piece that big? I have seen nothing thick at lowes,homedepot,sears,menards. And the local welding supply store doesn't sell metal.EDIT: I found this link to some tables and this is exactly what I want to makehttp://www.newtableconcept.com/Last edited by Gamble; 04-25-2011 at 05:34 PM.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:Originally Posted by GambleSo I need to make myself a welding table for my projects. My current workbench is to high off the ground and I sit on a bar stool. I want something lower, so I can sit on a normal chair and roll around and something sturdy. Nothing too big maybe 4-5ft long and 2-3feet deep.However here is the tricky part. I have a small 2 car garage and would like to be able to put 2 cars in there if I wanted to. Of course after the other car is running and put to the side. I want have 1/2" (IIRC) plywood on the walls secured into the studs. I want the table to be able to fold up to the wall out of the way. And Want to be able to pull it down when needed.How do I go about starting this project? And for the top what thickness of material should be used? And where can I find a piece that big? I have seen nothing thick at lowes,homedepot,sears,menards. And the local welding supply store doesn't sell metal.EDIT: I found this link to some tables and this is exactly what I want to makehttp://www.newtableconcept.com/
Reply:Search "Welding Tables"...You will be reading for a month....zap!I am not completely insane..Some parts are missing Professional Driver on a closed course....Do not attempt.Just because I'm a  dumbass don't mean that you can be too.So DON'T try any of this **** l do at home.
Reply:There's a plate on Craigslist right now that will probably work, assuming you don't want a crazy-heavy 1" plate like most here have   I'll send you the link privately.__David Hillman
Reply:Here is where I'm at. I went to home depot and got some ideas. I bought a few pieces of L brackets and round tube and square stock.I drilled a hole in the square stock and cut them down to about 10inches or so. Tacked up the round pipe L bracket.Drilled 2 more holes in the square stock and I'm going to use lag bolts to bolt it to the wall. I only messed around for 10 minutes and I'll go do more this weekend. This is a great project for me to practice my tig welding.Sorry for the crap pics but this is just to give you the idea of how I'm thinking. What can I use to lock it up/open when I want to weld though? It will need to hold some weight.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:I saw Jack's table and it's awesome, but I need mine to fold up and not down. Also I wonder how he did his legs.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:Originally Posted by GambleNothing too big maybe 4-5ft long and 2-3feet deep....However here is the tricky part....I want the table to be able to fold up to the wall out of the way. And Want to be able to pull it down when needed.
Reply:That looks great, but way overkill for me. What are those round pieces that attach right underneath the table and go to the legs to make them swing out?Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:They're scratch built hinges, nitrited bolts with 25 mm  diameter.Overkill? May be, but you can do a light duty version. Attached Images
Reply:Does anyone sell those or have any ideas on what else I can use to flip out legs?Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:These are completely made by myself, but there are lots of hinges out there. Some of those may work for you: http://www.mcmaster.com/#heavy-duty-hinges/=c1oicz
Reply:I also have space constraints so virtually everything I build starts with wheels on the ground! See the link below for a welding table/cart for my stick welder. I was able to get a nice-sized table, more specifically a grid sort of surface that gives me lots of clamping options for putting stuff together. It works well for my needs anyway and I was able to add some more storage space in the process. Maybe there is an idea for you there.http://www.newmetalworker.com/Howto/linc225cart.htmlTom Hintz, publisherwww.newmetalworker.comLincoln Pro Mig 180Lincoln AC 255Determination
Reply:You could build a bench in the style of motorcycle lifts and simply park over it when not in use.  Many run off shop air, and manual pumps are slower but work. Avoids needing a hoist  or wrestling with heavy projects.http://www.motorcyclelift.cc/images/motorcycle-lift.jpgI have an pantograph auto lift the will turn into a welding table when I score an appropriate hunk of plate. It will easily lift any project I put on it from the floor, saving my back in the process!
Reply:I have two fold-down tables, one for welding and one for woodworking and/or cutting long stockThread about it here:http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=29481Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:I saw your thread and love your work. How did you make the legs move out?Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:Thanks.  They're welded to the underside of the table with large hinges.  Gravity keeps them pointed down, but the perpendicular piece you see at the top of the leg is a 200# magnet, which keeps them from swinging back and forth and snaps them into place as the table is lowered down.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:What type of hindge? Something I can find at a local store?Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer
Reply:Yes.  They're just very large strap hinges.  They were galvanized, so I ground that off before I welded.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:Here is a cutting/welding table I made from an old grill
Reply:haha that looks good!I almost need a table to build my table. I got a shelft from work and I welded a piece of angle iron to the end of that. Then welded the angle iron from that piece to the other angle iron. My welder isn't strong enough on tig to weld that together so I put the stick on it and wend to town.I then had some small square stock and cut 2 pieces to put under the shelf and welded them to the lip. I need a few more pieces to reinforce the shelf but it should come out decent when it's done. I'm done for tonight, I did it for a few hours.Torchmate 2x2 CNC with Flashcut CNC controlsHypertherm Powermax45 Esab ET220i Razorweld 195 MigRazorweld 200ac/dc TigTormach 770, Tormach xstechRazorweld, Vipercut/Vipermig, SSC Foot Pedal Dealer