Top for welding table??

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Hello....I have been building a welding table I am pretty much done with the exception of putting on the top and installing the wheels... I bought a sheet of 3/16 for the top.. but am having second thoughts about it.. the size of the top will be 40"x72"....the table is built with 3"x3"x1/8" for the legs...the supports for the top are 2"x3"x1/8"  the opening is 29"x61" I welded in a piece of 2"x3 "across the center so now I have two openings 14"x61"... I then welded in 2"x3"X1/4" angle iron sooo. now I have 8 14"x13" (approx ) openings will 3/16" be thick enough for the top so that it wont bounce? or should I trade up to 3/8" or 1/2".. I do mostly lite stuff but do heavy stuff at times, I would rather annie up the extra bucks and save time if its going to be a big deal down the road when I do heavier stuff.... also are the harbor freight casters any good???... any suggestions on how to weld on the top to minimize warping would also be a help...Thank you ... Marty
Reply:Martyits my opinion you want it heavy.   3/8" will work...half better but expensive.  this pays off for all sorts of jobs.    weld with short skip welds.   dont need many.  jump them around too.   i dont see a big prob with hf wheels.  make four feet plates...drilll them for holes to match caster,  then weld foot, then bolt caster on.  i recomend big plastic or rubber casters to steel.   they wont last as long,  but they will be soo much easier to move the table when you need.  this method replacement is easy.   use your hoist lift one end of table,  replace two casters,  then do otherr side   i currently have a 1/4" top,   smaller table.   it works,  but its weak.  i used to have a 3/8" and before 1/2" at work.   3/8" my choice for at home it works well    good and solid          ghood luckIF it Catches...Let it Burn
Reply:If you are worried about stiffness, couldnt you lightly weld a couple of cross braces running across the diagonals of the top, up to the inner edges of the base.  Seems like you'ld get a bunch more stiffness in the areas where you have the least support without the added expense and difficulty of getting another sheet.  Just something to consider, maybe.Smithboy...if it ain't broke, you ain't tryin'.
Reply:www.metalwebnews.com has a good design for a table.  Perhaps it will help you with some ideas for finishing. 1/2 in is over 600lbs.  3/8 is 390lbs @4x8 sheet.  Something to consider.
Reply:I second Chris's recommendation to skip weld the bottom.  I put together a small table for a friend the other day using a 30x36 3/8" top and put too much heat in it.  The lip of the table is now bent down all around the lip as a result of distortion.-Heath
Reply:Should only need four to eight stitch welds an inch long in an easy place to get at with a grinder. Then when it's time to replace the top - no problem
Reply:heath.. use the torch and wet rags to pull it back...time consuming but itll workIF it Catches...Let it Burn
Reply:you need to put the heat over the weldsChuckASME Pressure Vessel welder
Reply:I would suggest welding nuts on the inside corner of the angle legs then getting good casters with the same thread as the nuts and an extra nut to lock each of them on then you can adjust the hieght of your wheels if the floor is uneven.Nobody moves nobody gets hurt(safety first)millematic passportmiller 375 plasmacutter
Reply:I called the steel yard and if I return the piece of 3/16" that I have it will cost me another 80 bucks to step up to 1/2" which isn't bad .. laser cut for free.. the second time I bought steel from this place I took them enough free food to feed the sales staff left lots of menus and cards as a result I have a very good customer that is a salesman there and hooks me up big time .. it works out to about 230$ for the 1/2" top.....I also spoke with a friend who works in a fab shop I trade his boss pizzas for large scraps that I need I think he is going to trade me a 1/2" top for a company BBQ.... about 12 people my cost bout 60 bucks and a hour and a half driving it over and setting it up....even better so at any rate I have decided to go with a thicker top most likely 1/2"....I plan on putting the top on the ground and putting the table on top of it to weld it... is that going to be a problem???.....also WTF is up with all this Asian steel..... can you even get US steel anymore??? I would like to know who ya gotta blow to get it.... this stuff is nasty... looks like it was dipped in 90 weight and smells like ***.... I hate it... anyway thanks for all the help.......Marty
Reply:I got a piece of 36" by 96" by 5/8" just screaming to become a welding table.  Shame I don't have any room in my shop to put one. Other wise I would whip one up in a hurry.Lincoln 300 Vantage 2008300 Commander 1999SA250 1999SA200 1968Miller Syncrowave 200XMT350MPA/S-52E/xr-15Xtreme 12vs Millermatic 251 w/30A  Millermatic 251 Dialarc 250 Hypertherm 1250 GEKA & Bantom Ironwokers
Reply:Hyjnx-Its only a problem if you cant turn it back over!.......But don't do it. Your not going to need that much weld to justify the work. Just big tacks is really all you need.
Reply:I usually clean my metal with xylene.  I use xylene only because I have it for thinning paint.  I have heard Asia steel is coated in fish oil.    I looked at some 1/2 inch metal last week,  though I was concerned about moving it to my existing table.Any suggestions on how to move it from my trailer rack to a table top?  I don't have a lift.
Reply:thanks Tek I was worried about that (turning it over ) ... I really really suck at overhead welding... the real problem with the top is smuggling it out and a new one in without the the girlfriend catching  me being spending way to much money on welding and related hobbies.. doesn't matter what it cost or if I trade for it... still something new.....I'll figure it out   Have a good day all... gotta go make the chowder Thanks Marty
Reply:i have a 60"x60" piece of 1" jigplate aluminum for the "good" bench12'x8' platen table for the big crap...zap!
Reply:Originally Posted by TxRedneckheath.. use the torch and wet rags to pull it back...time consuming but itll work
Reply:Well... after all that I went with my original top 3/16", I put plenty of support under it.. I had to put a few more welds on it to get rid of the rattles but its very solid. when I welded on the top I filled a couple of cookie sheets with ice and set them on top in the general area I was welding and moved them around.... I have no idea if it worked or not... but I didn't have any distortion I also didn't weld to much in one spot moved around alot.... I like it .. lite enough to be moved easily and heavy enough you can get rough on it ... Smithboys thoughts on this convinced me to use it... I would have had to put a 4"x8" 246# sheet of metal in the back of a Honda Element to return it ... then I would have to haul the other one back...420#.....I didn't see this happening.. or spend all day unloading all my BBQ crap out of the van and getting insurance on it for the day  (I just use it in the summer )... no thanx!thanx for the help.... Marty
Reply:I'm about to put the top on my table. Gee, I'm glad I read this thread before I did it. I would have ended up with a warped top for sure.I like this idea:when I welded on the top I filled a couple of cookie sheets with ice and set them on top in the general area I was welding and moved them around.... I have no idea if it worked or not...
Reply:I'll add my $.02.    Among the vast lineup of future projects, is a small rolling welding table, 60" x 28" with a 1/4" or 3/8" top.    I plan to not weld the top to the frame, rather bolt it to the the frame.    I plan to add a beefy grounding strap from the underside of the top to the frame.   My idea is that they'll be no risk of warping it during construction like has been mentioned repeatedly in this thread.    While using the table, when heated the top will expand more than the frame.     The fasteners will be able to "give" a little to relieve the lateral stress the top is applying to the frame.    Should I "overcook" the top while welding on a project, I'll be able to unbolt it and flip it over or replace it easily.By the way, are $.24/lb for used plate and $.50/lb for new plate, decent prices?There are no small projects
Reply:If that new price includes cutting (nonstock sizing), prehaps.  I can get 1/2"X4'X8' in plate for $230.  It weighs approx. 600 lbs.
Reply:Originally Posted by tapwelderIf that new price includes cutting
Reply:Must be a volume thing.  I've ordered $600-$800 per month for 2 years and still don't get the best prices.  Though it is much better than I used to pay from the same company.  Different sales people would quote me drastically different prices.