Woodworking bench turns into Welding Bench

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So, I was looking for a cheap welding bench for hobbyist welding, I had a decent woodworking bench in my garage, here's what I did to it. Went to menards, got a roll of galvanized roof flashing ($12), cut to size of the top of my table, sprayed with 3M contact cement, and glued the flashing to the top, then used some cheap shelf hanging galvanized material from menards ($16), turned out pretty good, at least now I wont burn my bench down when welding. Attached Images
Reply:More Pictures Attached Images
Reply:Final Product...Only thing left is to paint the bottom of the bench flat black. Attached Images
Reply:Congratulations!  You just turned a fire hazard into a health and a fire hazard.  It does look pretty good though.  What did you use for the edging.My name's not Jim....
Reply:You really did a good job on that bench. But I can tell you from experience that the wood is gonna light up. If it gets too hot under the metal, to the point it's charring, it'll be tough to put the fire out.  Watch it closely when you're welding.
Reply:You might fnd this crowd pretty critical...we are not jerks, we prefer safety and that you to survive to become a good hobby weldor.  The sheet material is galvanized, not good for your lungs, gives off toxic fumes around welding temps. The same for the edging if it is Galvanized.  There is still a pretty high fire hazard. as hvw said so well.  However, what ya got is useful,  good for disassembly of greasy parts etc.  and your workmanship is good, you already know it looks good. The Hobart is well organized.So you might reviews some of the steel benches on threads here,  that will help.  Stick around,  read a few threads and it will get better.  The hardest part is finding a reasonably priced suitable flat thick steel top.  Maybe some of these guys will mention where and how they acquired theirs.enjoyLast edited by PapaLion; 09-09-2010 at 08:00 AM.Lincoln Power MIG 215Lincoln WeldPak 3200HDLincon ProCut 25Lincoln WeldanPower 225 AC/DCIf all else fails... buy more tools
Reply:Ya, It's not really meant for welding on the bench, I am going to use it basically for sitting my chop saw on for cutting and grinding parts in the vice.Last edited by cchazer; 09-09-2010 at 08:49 AM.
Reply:Good work table.  Poor welding table, for the reasons already described.  Also, the heat from welding will badly distort the nice flat sheet top you made.  It will be perfect as a chop saw and general working table though.  Nice work.  Lay a thick (1/4" or more) flat plate on top of the table if you want to weld on it.MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Nice work. I"m going to do the same with my workbench which has a butcher block top. However, I also have a welding table that is 3/8 thick and another that is 1 inch thick. I found a place that sells steel that is mostly end cuts, and short pieces. Got my 3/8 piece that was 24 X 38 for about $60.00. It has done me very good service. Then a friend gave me the 1 inch thick piece.As stated above this will be a great disassembly and mock up table but not a good welding table.Do you have a picture of the label for the edging material? Can you tell me who manufactured it and the details of it?Thanks.Glenn.Last edited by Stampeder; 09-09-2010 at 10:08 AM.Sign on East Texas payphone: Calls to God 40 cents......it's a local call...
Reply:I also echo the comments - good work table, not so good welding table.  The heat will kill it.I'm considering doing the same to my current workbench as far as laying a metal sheet but that's purely to keep the top easier to clean.  THere would be no welding on it.Lincoln AC225 and CartLincoln WeldPak HD and CartOne hand
Reply:Workbench with the galvanized sheet metal top?  Sure, makes it nicer to work on greasy or oily parts without the grease or oil soaking into the wood.As a welding bench/table/surface?  Nope.  For all the reasons already said.  Charring or burning the wooden structure underneath, charring or burning the spray contact cement/adhesive between the sheet metal and the wooden bench underneath, the zinc on the sheet metal causing health and welding problems, the sheet metal distorting and warping if you actually did weld on it, etc, etc.There are reasons why welding benches/tables are made of metal.  Usually steel, although sometimes aluminum or cast iron.  Because it would really-really-really suck to have your welding bench/table catch on fire.  And it is really-really-really nice to have a smooth (mostly), flat durable surface to put the parts to be welded onto and then clamp or line them up and then be able to weld as needed.  Etc, etc, etc.  The best laid schemes ... Gang oft agley ...
Reply:Stampeder> so that's how U get one of them slick 1" plates... first you get a friend who has one extra, and who probably cannot pick it up either and is moving,  then, hmmm seems EZ enuf. I have not been that lucky yet  but I really like the price.Lincoln Power MIG 215Lincoln WeldPak 3200HDLincon ProCut 25Lincoln WeldanPower 225 AC/DCIf all else fails... buy more tools
Reply:I have a similar table in my basement,somebody made out of an old front door and stainless steel a long time ago..I got a small tig welder running over the weekend..On sunday I was welding and when I lifted my hood smoke was pouring out from under the sheetmetal ..I ran upstairs grabbed a bottle of windex (first thing i found) , pried the sheetmetal up and soaked it till i made sure it was no longer smoldering.Didnt think the tig welding would do that but it did in under a minute.So be careful..I'm going to look for a big slab of metal or something to weld on..nice work on the table though
Reply:Originally Posted by ak4130I have a similar table in my basement,somebody made out of an old front door and stainless steel a long time ago..I got a small tig welder running over the weekend..On sunday I was welding and when I lifted my hood smoke was pouring out from under the sheetmetal ..I ran upstairs grabbed a bottle of windex (first thing i found) , pried the sheetmetal up and soaked it till i made sure it was no longer smoldering.Didnt think the tig welding would do that but it did in under a minute.So be careful..I'm going to look for a big slab of metal or something to weld on..nice work on the table though
Reply:You need a Wilton vise... Nice job on the bench.
Reply:go and visit the scrap yards... there are still a few around that will sell stuff to the general public... i bought a piece of 1 inch 5 ft by 10 ft... cost me a little bit, and had to run a few beads underneath to get it flat. once done, i sent it to be blanchard ground and have been using it ever since... 9 years agonothing fancy, just a few hot glue guns for metalwww.sicfabrications.com
Reply:Watch Craigslist and Ebay for used welding tables for sale where you live.  A lot of times you can get them for less than the scrap value of the steel.The next time around, don't use wood, contact cement, or galvanized metal for any of the components, if you can help it.  If you're going to weld indoors (even without zinc oxide from the galvanized), you might want to install some decent ventilation.  Or at least keep the big door open.Are your walls wood?  Aluminum flashing works pretty well for protecting them from catching on fire.Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:Sometimes I use my wooden workbench for welding when I don't want to roll my equipment out of my small shop to my outdoor shop with a steel table. I have a nice piece of 1/4" plate that I lay on top of it, but I soon found the wooden top smoking and turning black. I placed some square tube between the wood and the plate which fixed the problem.Miller Challenger 172Miller Thunderbolt AC/DC 225/150Miller Maxstar 150 STLVictor 100CVictor JourneymanOxweld OAHarris O/ASmith O/A little torchNo, that's not my car.
Reply:LOL....  I REALLY don't understand why 'some of you' are (Boost..) so critical regarding this table...  I mean ISN'T it OBVIOUS that the OP isn't going to use this for 'SERIOUS WELDING'??  It's got a lip on it for Christ Sakes!  LOL....  Hell, the first tip-off should have been the Adhesive.  Nothing wrong with Tack-Welding, or running small beads over this table.Either way, GREAT table and with that 'lip' it would make a fantastic 'Parts Table' too...  I'd re-think the 'Flat-Black' though...  That table will look REALLY ugly VERY quickly once you start 'jammin' or dropping stuff onto it.Cheers,Miller Diversion 165120 amp Buzz BoxVictor Oxy/Ace Oxy/LPGSmith "Little" Oxy/LPGHypertherm Powermax 30Lot's of Misc. tools n' crap....
Reply:Still makes for a great auto / motorcycle parts table....Gotta tell ya I think I'll " Borrow" your idea as I'm restoring an old Shovelhead and its all about the greasy stuff this winter. Funny where you find the answer to questions you hadn't even asked ! !BigB;  I do something along the same lines. I have a small piece of 1/4" plate that I put on top of scrap inch & 1/2  angle to get it off my woodworking bench and let some air flow under it. No Smoke, Char or flames......so far !Last edited by GrumpyBiker; 09-11-2010 at 08:45 PM.U.S.M.C.VFW-8054www.usmvmc.orgusmilitaryvetsmcmarion@gmail.com
Reply:Don't listen to all these guys, if you wanna use it as a welding table, use it as a welding table...after all its not theirs.