Welding Deck - Aluminum vs. Steel

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Thinking about getting a Welding Deck made.. Either made of Steel or Aluminum. I know that Aluminum would be 1/3 the weight of steel, but if you were getting a Welding Deck, would you have one made of steel or one made of Aluminum? Also, What are the advantages and Disadvantages?46’ sae30047’ sa200 w/Wisconsin VF451’ shorthood56’ shorthood56’ shorthood68’ redface69 redface07’ ranger 305G13’ sae300Inconel/Hastelloy – SS – Duplex – Chrome/Carbon Tig – F3Downhand – STT/RMD – F3F4 – B Pressure
Reply:Thorton, I don't know the term? welding deck?what is a welding deck?  sorry to be ignorant of that term.cheers,Kevin Morin
Reply:If money was no object i would get aluminum, if i was paying for it i would go with steel.Vantage 500's LN-25's, VI-400's, cobramatics, Miller migs, synch 350 LX, Powcon inverters, XMT's, 250 Ton Acurrpress 12' brake, 1/4" 10' Atlantic shear,Koikie plasma table W/ esab plasmas. marvel & hyd-mech saws, pirrana & metal muncher punches.
Reply:Originally Posted by Kevin MorinThorton, I don't know the term? welding deck?what is a welding deck?  sorry to be ignorant of that term.cheers,Kevin Morin
Reply:Kevin's no idiot and either am I and I don't have a clue as to what your talking about. Maybe you could explain what a welding deck is? Are you talking about welding down decking?Welderbob
Reply:Originally Posted by ThortonI apologize that you are ignorant of the term.Cheers,Thorton
Reply:Originally Posted by boatbuilderKevin's no idiot and either am I and I don't have a clue as to what your talking about. Maybe you could explain what a welding deck is? Are you talking about welding down decking?Welderbob
Reply:A welding deck (or service deck) is the custom rear section of a welding truck (or rig).But I had to Google it.  It would have taken just as much typing for Thorton to explain it.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:Oops.  I'm too slow on the keyboard.  Ed got it.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:Welding deck is definitely a Canadian term. Not saying anything bad just saying most folks in the states call them welding beds. Aluminum would be nice because of the weight factor. Steel also has it advantages to work off of. Its really up to you bud. Why don't you build one yourself? Time,no place to Fab one? Just curious. I almost never got started on mine but now I'm half way through and it definitely has been funLast edited by slim83; 07-06-2012 at 08:55 PM.Reason: Added more
Reply:An aluminum truck deck is not much good for anything unless you are loading wood or aluminum.  The battle scars from steel on aluminum would look pretty ugly after a few years.  I cannot see you mounting a small crane or even a vise to an aluminum deck.   The connection between the truck frame and the aluminum deck would be subject to corrosion unless you carefully isolate steel to aluminum surfaces.  Certainly if you never use the truck deck for anything other than carrying your portable equipment and tool cabinets it would be a savings in weight.
Reply:When I first read this, I assumed he was from some other country and was talking about a welding table.  He didn't put his location in his user profile though, so who knows?I guess he can clarify if he wishes whether he's talking about some a vehicle-mounted welding surface, or a welding table that stands directly on the ground.Best of luck getting your questions answered helpfully with the attitude you choose to exhibit, OP.
Reply:Now hold on guys, Kevin said that he was Sorry for not knowing the term, and I simply apologized to Kevin that he did not know the term, because maybe I was not very clear - I did not realize that "Welding Deck" was not a universal term.Some guys think its a strange name when you call a "Shorthood" a "Stubby"Some guys call "Welding Helmets" "Facemasks"Some guys call them "Pipe Wrench", I always call them "Monkey Wrenches"46’ sae30047’ sa200 w/Wisconsin VF451’ shorthood56’ shorthood56’ shorthood68’ redface69 redface07’ ranger 305G13’ sae300Inconel/Hastelloy – SS – Duplex – Chrome/Carbon Tig – F3Downhand – STT/RMD – F3F4 – B Pressure
Reply:If money is no Object?  Aluminum.Otherwise?  Steel.An aluminum deck will save on weight and an added bonus...when you have to fab something on the back of your truck...spatter won't stick to it!
Reply:Personally I can't imagine using a aluminum welding deck! I've had an aluminum flatbed for 5 1/2-years now, don't use it for a dam thing and it is still getting screwed up. So bad I bought treated plywood to protect the deck! I have a dump trailer, and a gooseneck flatbed trailer for work around the place, the aluminum flatbed is just for looks.http://www.alumaklm.com/truck-beds/i...ruck-beds.htmlDon’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400
Reply:I apologize that you don't know what a Monkey Wrench is.It's this:not this:
Reply:Sometimes it amazes me the lack of courteous behavior. I applaud those that can answer politely and ignore it. I am not so nice I guess, I call you out.Miller diversion 165Miller mig 211Hypertherm pm 30Milwaukee 6230 14 inch chop sawMd 45 mag drill (RIP; fell on its head)New MD 45! Thanks to the esposa!Finally got an O/A setup
Reply:Pipe wrench have teeth, monkey wrenches are flat jawed, sorry you ignorant to the names lol just playing aroundMiller bobcat 225g  - spoolmatic 1Mm250 - 30a spoolMiller spectrum 375Thermal arc 95 Everlast Ex 250As the boiler turns, these are the days of our lives
Reply:I think steel would hold up a lot better, aluminum tends to distort with heat and will eventually be very untrue of a surface to work off of, durability, longevity, and truness my dime is on steel.Miller bobcat 225g  - spoolmatic 1Mm250 - 30a spoolMiller spectrum 375Thermal arc 95 Everlast Ex 250As the boiler turns, these are the days of our lives
Reply:Originally Posted by astaindsoul5446I think steel would hold up a lot better, aluminum tends to distort with heat and will eventually be very untrue of a surface to work off of, durability, longevity, and truness my dime is on steel.
Reply:Weld on a piece of 1/4 aluminum, on a piece, say 8x8x1/4. Run 4 6 inch welds in the center of the plate side by side, 4 stringers. Allow it to cool and take a piece of glass to use as a straight edge and on edge put it corner to corner both ways. You'll visually see the distortion. Over time heat from welding piece not the table is going to distort the aluminum. Then take a piece of steel cut with a torn an drag it across the top on the alumin 100 times..... Get my point yet? We can keep goingPs last time I checked the jaws of a pipe wrench are steel,  replace your jaws with aluminum one and tighten a few pipes, then let me know how the jaws look.Last edited by astaindsoul5446; 07-07-2012 at 02:45 PM.Miller bobcat 225g  - spoolmatic 1Mm250 - 30a spoolMiller spectrum 375Thermal arc 95 Everlast Ex 250As the boiler turns, these are the days of our lives
Reply:I was looking over the Website http://www.expresscustom.com/ Most specifically at the BB60 Series Welding Bodies - it is so difficult to choose between Steel and Aluminum, it really is. I wasn't thinking about building my own because I do not have the patience to build one. It is a great deal of work, requiring alot of time and dedication. To be honest, I am more willing to pay for the convenience of someone else to build one rather than save money and build one myself. But you never know - I may decide to make an attempt.46’ sae30047’ sa200 w/Wisconsin VF451’ shorthood56’ shorthood56’ shorthood68’ redface69 redface07’ ranger 305G13’ sae300Inconel/Hastelloy – SS – Duplex – Chrome/Carbon Tig – F3Downhand – STT/RMD – F3F4 – B Pressure
Reply:I always wanted to build an aluminum bed. Built several steel beds over the years, no one here couldn't build a steel bed. When I got my new 2007 3500 Dodge cab & chassis, I started pricing aluminum, I couldn't even come close for the price of buying new bed. I bought a 10 1/2 foot bed, side boards, and tail gate for under $3,000.00. I'd be floored if you could build a bed cheaper than buying new!Don’t pay any attention to meI’m just a hobbyist!CarlDynasty 300V350-Pro w/pulseSG Spool gun1937 IdealArc-300PowerArc 200ST3 SA-200sVantage 400