Newb -- First real project (welding table of course)

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Well, I guess my first real project was a ladder for the trampolene for the kids.... but I got tired of welding it on the floor (and all of my practice).I tried to talk my wife into letting us move so I could have more garage space, but she wouldn't go for it, so in some of the pics I am showing the shelving and stuff I did so I could have more floor space.For the table, I was using my little Lincoln HD 3200 (the only welder I have so far).  I think it is only a 90 amp machine or so.  I used flux wire as the other wire isn't rated to penetrate far enough.I am new, no welding classes or anything, so it isn't perfect, but I wouldn't mind some feedback. 2x2x3/16" tubing (frame is 2' x4' x 38")Dimensions (after the top plate is placed on)W - 56"D - 30 "H - 38.5 "It is a copy of the Miller weld table, but adjusted to be smaller to fit in my garage.  I plan on "accessorizing" it later.Finally, enough talk.  I will post pictures now.  I have to say it was a lot of fun though.  Looking forward to finishing it and moving on to the next project (tubing bender).   Attached Images
Reply:more pics Attached Images
Reply:Finally, some pics of some of my better welds. Attached Images
Reply:Looks good,i like how you get the bikes out the way for more floor space.Lincoln 225 ACLincoln Mig Pak 15Lincoln Mig Pak 10Purox Oxy-Acet Outfit20 Ton PressHonda Generator
Reply:The table looks good.. The welds are ok I have the same welder.. On the vertical up welds you need to pause in the corners a little longer and less time in the middle if its humped up in the middle..like one of the welds you started out good then speed up but it will work. also crank the welder all the way up put it on D and about 3.5 on wire speed it will help on the thick metal that your using.. Hope this help you i'm in school now and learning to do all the different stuff with the thicker metal and all positions..
Reply:If you ever buy a tig you could cut the bar in the front off and gusset the corners so you have room for your feet with a foot pedal
Reply:Originally Posted by LT1PatIf you ever buy a tig you could cut the bar in the front off and gusset the corners so you have room for your feet with a foot pedal
Reply:OK, I decided to make the mod sooner than later.  Funny thing is I was getting some really crappy welds.  Welding wire was bouncing..... kind of like the wheel holding the 10lb roll of flux was too tight.  I watched it though, and it was fine.  I messed with wire speed, and that didn't make a difference.  I made sure my line was straight (the one from the machine to the 'gun') and that didn't help. I ended up finally replacing my tip as a last resort, and the bouncing (by bouncing I mean it would speed up and slow down rapidly, like it was having a hard time pulling the spool) stopped.  Apparently my tip was a bit screwed up.  Does that happen often?  After replacing it the welds drastically improved.Anyway, I will grind some of the welds down as they aren't that purdy anyway, but at least it will hold.  Attached Images
Reply:Awesome looking table.  That's exactly the kind of table I'd like to replace my 'current' one with....  What's the trick to getting everything square and lined up properly.  I've always wondered how that is done... (As you can tell, I'm new to the these kinds of things and not real 'tool savvy'...)Do you need a flat surface to start with or do you use some kind of special measuring tools to make sure the tops are 'perfectly' flat and straight before you tack em' in place ?Cheers,/Jman...
Reply:Originally Posted by jmanAwesome looking table.  That's exactly the kind of table I'd like to replace my 'current' one with....  What's the trick to getting everything square and lined up properly.  I've always wondered how that is done... (As you can tell, I'm new to the these kinds of things and not real 'tool savvy'...)Do you need a flat surface to start with or do you use some kind of special measuring tools to make sure the tops are 'perfectly' flat and straight before you tack em' in place ?Cheers,/Jman...
Reply:Great work man! Thats a pretty stout looking table you made there. Really like how you removed one of the bottom bars and made the inset for a pedal. Always best to get it out of the way ahead of time Beer is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy!
Reply:Now yer gonna need a cartTips do get buggered up with Fluxcore.Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Originally Posted by Jst_Spark_It09Great work man! Thats a pretty stout looking table you made there. Really like how you removed one of the bottom bars and made the inset for a pedal. Always best to get it out of the way ahead of time
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli1Now yer gonna need a cartTips do get buggered up with Fluxcore.
Reply:Good job on the table modification ,by the way what type of saw did you use to cut square tubing?Lincoln 225 ACLincoln Mig Pak 15Lincoln Mig Pak 10Purox Oxy-Acet Outfit20 Ton PressHonda Generator
Reply:Originally Posted by bensweldGood job on the table modification ,by the way what type of saw did you use to cut square tubing?
Reply:JDH, you are the man! I love your shelves. I too and a space freak. I am always trying to buy floor space. the way to precovered your sheetrock before mountinf the shelf brackets - that's a BIG DOH! on me! That is so practical, spreads thew load and, you actually have someplace to mount all three screws into! Great job, now I halfta rip all mine down and start over.Are the little drop down pieces of particle/MDF board part of the horizontal backing or separate? Possibly a close up Photo of one of those intersections with the shelf bracket screwed on???Stew
Reply:Originally Posted by cranestJDH, you are the man! I love your shelves. I too and a space freak. I am always trying to buy floor space. the way to precovered your sheetrock before mountinf the shelf brackets - that's a BIG DOH! on me! That is so practical, spreads thew load and, you actually have someplace to mount all three screws into! Great job, now I halfta rip all mine down and start over.Are the little drop down pieces of particle/MDF board part of the horizontal backing or separate? Possibly a close up Photo of one of those intersections with the shelf bracket screwed on???Stew
Reply:OK, so I decided to post them tonight.  In the pictures, you will see that I found the studs and marked them on the wall with lines, you will see generally how I nailed them to the wall (again, I used liquid nails behind the hook strip and on the back corners of the hook strip where the shelves rest on the hook strip), I sandwich the shelving with more hook strip (after nailing the shelving down into the hook strip), and then add the shelving brackets with #8 5/8 inch sheet metal pan head screws (into the shelving and hook strip---same size screw).  Each bracket is rated for 75 lbs.  Oh, and when you have corners or one shelf that isn't long enough and you have to butt it into another piece, I put a piece of hook strip under the butt joint (again with liquid nails), clamp it, and nail it with some 1" brads.  I take the clamps off 24 hours later and it is pretty solid.  Hope that helps.   Attached Images
Reply:A few more . . . . Attached Images
Reply:Nice work, that's a project I need to tackle myself.
Reply:OK, I worked on this today.  I added expanded metal to the bottom shelf, 1/2 plate to the top, and added some reciver tube on both sides of the top (under the plate) with a screw that comes in from an angle.   This is so I can put clams/bench grinder, and other tools up there when I need them and remove them when I don't.  I still have a few more mods I want to do, but that will have to wait until next week.    Attached ImagesThe Lord has declared, "This is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man"  Moses 1:39Link: My name is John, and I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.-- ColdCreekWorks.com --
Reply:more pics . . . Attached ImagesThe Lord has declared, "This is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man"  Moses 1:39Link: My name is John, and I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.-- ColdCreekWorks.com --
Reply:maybe too many pics.... but oh well Attached ImagesThe Lord has declared, "This is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man"  Moses 1:39Link: My name is John, and I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.-- ColdCreekWorks.com --
Reply:nice table man, what other mods are u looking at doing to it?Originally Posted by beamed94OneFiddYnice table man, what other mods are u looking at doing to it?
Reply:Awesome awsome work on the table.  The receiver-type vise stands seem to be fairly popular on this site, and no wonder, since they work so well ..... The expanded-metal grate for the bottom shelf is very nice.  Another consideration may be to mount a couple of receiver tubes mounted sideways, so you could add an extension on the end of the table for longer pieces.  (Also in case you wanted the vise or other tools mounted off to the side of the table instead of out in front - just another option.)Is the whole top of the table welded on already?  Several people on here have suggested countersinking bolts into the top and bolting it on, as excessive heat from trying to weld the tabletop to the bench can cause it to warp and distort.  You may also want to consider a "ground bolt" underneath the table, too, so you don't need to clamp onto the piece you're welding.For scraps, use a barrel or make a separate small rack - the table will be heavy enough with just all your welding equipment and tools on it, and you can always use the exercise walking back and forth from the rack to your bench .... Great work on the garage racking.  I like the bicycle lift, and the way you mounted the shelving over the top of the garage door roller.  Now I gotta do that myself ......
Reply:Originally Posted by jdh239I may have to grab a close up tomorrow.  The drop down pieces are just pieces of MDF, same as the shelves (I cut them at around 9 or 10 inches).  Actually, they are 16' pieces of "hook strip" made of MDF.  I glue them down with liquid nails and shoot a lot of nails down the center (on a stud).  Also, I hook strip the top part of the shelf too (kind of sandwhich the shelf) which adds a lot of strength to it so I can place on heavier loads.  Glad you like them.
Reply:Originally Posted by Sparky#1Your table and garage are awesome !!! Peace of advice,either paint that MDF of find a sealer for it because over time it will swell. You can also laminate it.
Reply:It turned out very nicely.Fun to move the plate huh?"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/
Reply:Very nice table.... I can't believe nobody commented on the receiver tube lock bolt mounted on the corner so it tightens in both directions at the same time...(instead of using two locking bolts) even if I used two locking bolts I'd probably still use that method of locking the shaft into the receiver...I like it---Pretty nifty
Reply:Originally Posted by mudbugoneVery nice table.... I can't believe nobody commented on the receiver tube lock bolt mounted on the corner so it tightens in both directions at the same time...(instead of using two locking bolts) even if I used two locking bolts I'd probably still use that method of locking the shaft into the receiver...I like it---Pretty nifty
Reply:To whomever im'd me regarding the shelving... I said it was 1/2" shelving, but I was wrong.  I believe it is 3/4" particle board shelving.  Sorry about the confusion
Reply:that is one slick welding tableSomeone needs to make an auto-darkening Predator welding helmet...complete with dreads and multiple spectra of IR vision.
Reply:Quick question:  Is the 38" tubing frame height with or without the casters?Great looking table, btw!Larry B. in Terrell, TX.
Reply:Yes nice tight and pro looking welding table.I have thought about later on making another welding table with  a proper thicker plate steel top.On the underside of the table I though it would be cool to have like the welding vice, and chop saw etc so that they are attached via arms and can be lowered and raised up to the sides of the bench.This way you could chop up your steel then lower the saw down below the height of the table so that you will have a full flat working area.Peter
Reply:Originally Posted by WaterlooQuick question:  Is the 38" tubing frame height with or without the casters?Great looking table, btw!
Reply:Great looking table!
Reply:Gotta say,  I'm a little jealous! Looks great! Lincoln Ranger 250- Kohler 23hpVictor SuperRange II torch03 Ram 3500
Reply:That is an awsome table. I am in the process of gathering ideas to build myself a table. Thanks for the great pics.Millermatic 130Hypertherm Powermax 380
Reply:Nice work. It deffinately goes to show that you don't need a huge shop to weld.
Reply:nice lookin table.i already have your next project for you, and you can build it on the table. you need a stand or storage device for you 80cuft scuba tanks as well as your CO2 tank. nothing more dangerous than a loose tank with a busted valve. just leaning them agains the wall isnt sufficient enough. i recommend a stand with chain thats attached to the wall so unless the wall falls down the tanks are fine.you would be surprised just how much damage a scuba tank with a busted valve can do to a house....I break things for a living...
Reply:The table looks great and great pics. I hope my first table comes out this good. I want build something similar to this. Can i ask how much did the material cost with and without the top plate? This way I know what I am spending. ThanksShare your Knowledge!
Reply:Originally Posted by bensweldLooks good,i like how you get the bikes out the way for more floor space.
Reply:I didn't see it, but how is the table top secured to the table?
Reply:Originally Posted by googlesThe table looks great and great pics. I hope my first table comes out this good. I want build something similar to this. Can i ask how much did the material cost with and without the top plate? This way I know what I am spending. Thanks
Reply:Originally Posted by BurningMetalI didn't see it, but how is the table top secured to the table?
Reply:Originally Posted by smokin_dodgenice lookin table.i already have your next project for you, and you can build it on the table. you need a stand or storage device for you 80cuft scuba tanks as well as your CO2 tank. nothing more dangerous than a loose tank with a busted valve. just leaning them agains the wall isnt sufficient enough. i recommend a stand with chain thats attached to the wall so unless the wall falls down the tanks are fine.you would be surprised just how much damage a scuba tank with a busted valve can do to a house....
Reply:Originally Posted by jdh239maybe too many pics.... but oh well
Reply:Nice table ,   I also just built one similar to that.  The cut out for foot space looks better. Used a modified desk on the bottom shelf, also have stabilizers on the corners.  The top rails are open for extensions.  Fred Attached Images