cheap spark table

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Pretty new to welding and I am quickly realizing I need a spark table. So far I've been clamping the pieces directly or using a vice for the small stuff.I am thinking a used table saw off craigslist might be cheaper and easier than buying the steel to make one myself.Any other ideas?
Reply:WTF is a spark table?Spark proof, or spark enhancing?Buy American, or don't whine when you end up on the bread line.
Reply:Maybe I am using the wrong term. Arc station then.
Reply:hi,not sure about prices  in your area but 10'' craftsman table saws are cheap as 20 bucks on craigs list. Some even have table extensions that are open diamond shape that would be good for cutting on too. I thought the same thing as using it for a additional welding table. The old sears ones are cheap $$  and would work good. Most cheap one might need some wire wheel work but price is right and you have a flat top. Good luck! Bring it home and start ''sparkin''.
Reply:Sounds like a good idea for a cheap fab table.
Reply:I know scraps of this are hard to come by but for a cheap and useful cutting table just find a section of 1" bar grate and flip it over set it into some angle and walla....cutting table. When the 1" bars get really ugly simply cut the tack welds and replace. I've been using an about 4'x4' piece for a couple years now. Works in a pinch. Sure the 3/8"x 2" bar stocks are better but hell.....$200.00 + for a cutting table?Now this is cheaper if and I say if you can find some bar grate....bare steel, or you'll be feeling sick alot....A young green pipe welder asked an old salt one day...How can I make the weld on the bottom of the pipe look like the top.......The old salt replied....Screw up the top......
Reply:Its not near as good as bar stock but a cheaper choice could be 3/4" cold roll.....will work really well for light duty cutting welding. Just another thought.A young green pipe welder asked an old salt one day...How can I make the weld on the bottom of the pipe look like the top.......The old salt replied....Screw up the top......
Reply:What about a 55 gallon drum? $10 or so, add a grate or couple square feet of 1/2" plate on top, and make sparks!Last edited by wirehead; 12-13-2011 at 07:18 PM.XMT304 (school)SP125+ (home)HF 4x6 BandsawGood judgement comes from experience and much of that comes from bad judgement.
Reply:A buddy of my got into welding and spent all his money on a beautiful machine, torch, grinder, chop saw and grinders.  He forgot money for steel to make his customized welding table.  So what he did in the mean time, he got a piece of plywood about 4' x 3'.   He simply laid it up on two Home Depot style PLASTIC saw horses in his driveway.  Next, he got a piece of 14 or 16ga (IIRC) steel that was about 3'x3'.  He simply used two vise grips at opposite corners of the sheet metal and clamped it down on the table.That was now his "garage portable" welding table. If he burned a bit into the table, he didn't care.  He pretty much was raising the piece to be welded onto a thicker piece of scrap steel and he used his home made table that way for about 4 months straight!  Worked good.  Just an idea.Lincoln Power Mig 216Lincoln AC/DC-225/125Miller  625 X-Treme PlasmaMiller 211 Forney 95FI-A 301HF 91110Victor Journeyman O/PMilwaukee DaytonMakita  Baileigh NRA Life Member