Welding Table, 0.5inch Aluminum?

admin

Is half inch Aluminum (5052) ok for a welding table?I have a 30" x 72" x half inch piece of 5052 aluminum. Weight is 105 lbs.I want to weld steel square tubing 14g-16g on it mostly with my Lincoln weld-pak 100.ThermalArc 161STL TIG/Stick (160amp)Lincoln weld-pak 100 (fluxcore)4X6 Enco bandsaw10" skillsaw with metal blade for 45degrees (works)4" grinderWeld for fun. Very rare I do it for Money.
Reply:Trade the aluminum to someone for some 1/2" steel.  On a welding table, you often tack some of your steel projects to the table, or pieces of metal to help shape tubing, smooth rod etc.  That would all be pretty difficult on an aluminum table, UNLESS you are planning to do nothing but aluminum on your new table.  The steel will hold up forever and won't move around when you are shaping the metal due to its greater weight.Miller Syncrowave 350Millermatic 252/ 30A spoolgunMiller Bobcat 225g w/ 3545 spoolgunLincoln PowerArc4000Lincoln 175 Mig  Lincoln 135 Mig Everlast 250EX TigCentury ac/dc 230 amp stickVictor O/AHypertherm 1000 plasma
Reply:If you are just welding on the table it may work alright for you, especially if it's just the smaller gauge of steel. The heat transferring properties of the aluminium and the size of the table may be your saving grace. I would be cautious about having the piece you are welding directly on the table because the hot steel (even red hot) would begin to melt and deform the aluminum under it. All that said I agree with DougAustinTX switching to steel, even 1/4 inch, would be a much better option for a welding table.
Reply:Long story short: Bad Idea
Reply:I think that for the machine your using the aluminum will hold up fine.  But any hotter your going to have to re-think your table.I've used aluminum before and it worked very well for me. However it had a steel backing underneath.I used aluminum as a welding top over the stake tables at a forklift attachment mfg co. We put approx 1/4-3/8th" aluminum down over the stake tables so no spatter would get on them when they were not in use for fitup.All the stake tables were calibrated to less than .001" for the ISO 9001 certification.  And they needed to stay that way.  Our tolerances were mostly .002" +/-    We made forklift attachements that were hydraulic clamping custom forks, Bale Clamps, Push pull units, for every size forklift.   I welded w spray and dual shield .045 at max settings to lay in heavy deposits 26-28 Volts and 300 ipm  Most of the weldments were anywhere from 1/2" to over 1" double U or V groove on plates pre heated to 400 deg and done in 1-2 passes per side.  The way to get the deposit that heavy is to start the puddle 1" or more in from the edge of the weldment with a piece of copper held on the edge by hand (in vice grips) to let the puddle build up. Drop the copper and take off.  If you've never tried it before its petty friggn cool to see.  But its some extreemely hot sh#@ when your done.The aluminium actually held up fine.   Probably because a lot of the heat transfered to the stake table and not 100% on the aluminum.“I'm going to do the thing that God put Galen Beasley on this Earth to do:Have Salon quality hair and weld.Nothing like a good cup of coffee and the smell of 6010 burning in the morning. 971-204-3444 cell API ASME Structural NDT and Repair
Reply:dont be dumb yeah aluminum is cheaper but steele is just better for a table.  when i get home from germany im gonning to make mine out of 3/4 or 1 inch because all the tables at the shop are 1/2 and they bend when i hit it with my BFH. and youll want at least 48X96 30X 72 is just to smallLast edited by USARMY44B; 04-15-2011 at 04:38 PM.WELD TO LIVE LIVE TO RIDEA bad welder blames his equipment, a good weldor can lay a perfect bead on any thing
Reply:Where are you located?  I've got a piece of 1" steel that I might consider swapping with you, if you are in the area (I'm 40 minutes North of Atlanta).Who is John Galt?
Reply:Originally Posted by bassboy1Where are you located?  I've got a piece of 1" steel that I might consider swapping with you, if you are in the area (I'm 40 minutes North of Atlanta).
Reply:Thank you all very much for the input. I been welding 1.5 inch 14g square tube on it already with my weld-pak 100. I do get worried about it melting. Put a piece of scrap HVAC sheet metal right under the weld and made my welds all the way down to the table. Table seams fine. SO FAR. haha.ThermalArc 161STL TIG/Stick (160amp)Lincoln weld-pak 100 (fluxcore)4X6 Enco bandsaw10" skillsaw with metal blade for 45degrees (works)4" grinderWeld for fun. Very rare I do it for Money.