is it necessary to weld all corners?

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I am building a welding table out of 2 inch tubing. It has a lot of support and is going to be very strong. My question? Is it really necessary to weld every single weld where the tube meets up? For example, on the legs - could you weld just two opposite welds for each piece of tube. I just don't see the point in welding every single fillet, etc..... There is only downward force obviously, and no lateral movement, so what is the point of overkill? As long as you have solid welds so it won't come apart, I don't see the point in overwelding it? Correct me if I am wrong. Thanks!
Reply:If you're going to skimp, I would suggest welding it on adjacent corners. This would be right, on the right side and the back on the back right leg. Then front right leg would be the right side and right front...follow? Otherwise weld all four sides. I say this because you don't specify the entire materials list for your table. What is going on top of it - a 1/4 piece of 2'x2' square material or 1" x 8' x 10' piece of material. Big differences in weight.John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com
Reply:Thanks Micro. It is a 4x7 table and will have 1/2 inch on top. It is all being tig welded (reason for skimping because I am loosing my mind welding all the welds with a tig). Don't have a mig or a welding table obviously to do it on. Kind of a paradox eh? Welding a welding table without a welding table? LOL.  Will post pics later today on the projects forum and maybe you can take a look. Can you explain why all four welds are needed if no lateral force is being applied? Is it just the shear weight of the top? I would think if downward force is being applied, the weld just keeps it in place, but the tubing laying on other tubing is taking all the force, since all angles are at 90 degrees????
Reply:Originally Posted by kshellrazorThanks Micro. It is a 4x7 table and will have 1/2 inch on top. It is all being tig welded (reason for skimping because I am loosing my mind welding all the welds with a tig). Don't have a mig or a welding table obviously to do it on. Kind of a paradox eh? Welding a welding table without a welding table? LOL.  Will post pics later today on the projects forum and maybe you can take a look. Can you explain why all four welds are needed if no lateral force is being applied? Is it just the shear weight of the top? I would think if downward force is being applied, the weld just keeps it in place, but the tubing laying on other tubing is taking all the force, since all angles are at 90 degrees????
Reply:Can't you use your TIG as a stick?Stick weld it....Me!
Reply:the tubing is only .083 wall. Doubt I can stick it. Will just tig it. Not for a business, just mine. Will post pigs tomorrow. Should be plenty strong. Thanks for the thoughts.
Reply:I would weld it all around, just for the fun of it!   I'm usually not in a big hurry on my own projects....MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by kshellrazorthe tubing is only .083 wall. Doubt I can stick it. Will just tig it. Not for a business, just mine. Will post pigs tomorrow. Should be plenty strong. Thanks for the thoughts.
Reply:Originally Posted by Me!  I just figured with a 1/2" top the legs would be a bit thicker....
Reply:I would weld all corners and edges.  If they didn't look good, I would grind them off and do it again.  My welding table reflects my welding skills.  Do you have an air cooled torch?DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Originally Posted by David RI would weld all corners and edges.  If they didn't look good, I would grind them off and do it again.  My welding table reflects my welding skills.  Do you have an air cooled torch?David
Reply:The more out of position welds you do, the better you will be at them.SHOW US PICS DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.
Reply:Originally Posted by kshellrazorI think a ton of things are over built for their purpose. 2 inch tubing, even in .083 wall is incredibly strong, and if built right, is going to be more than adequate for 1/2 inch on top. I am not going to be putting 1000 lbs on my table.
Reply:If you're not comfortable welding them out of position, flip the table over and weld them flat...MM350P/Python/Q300MM175/Q300DialarcHFHTP MIG200PowCon300SMHypertherm380ThermalArc185Purox oaF350CrewCab4x4LoadNGo utilitybedBobcat250XMT304/Optima/SpoolmaticSuitcase12RC/Q300Suitcase8RC/Q400Passport/Q300Smith op
Reply:Originally Posted by William McCormick JrWhat happens years down the road is that, you and two other guys are straitening out a part. You clamp or weld on a big bar, and clamp it to the leg of the table to hold it while the other guys are bending. Boom, it lets go and hits you in the shin so hard it depressed the bone. Not that I stood there, afraid to look down at it or anything. It was actually two inch legs with one and a quarter inch supports at the bottom. Those welds broke.        Sincerely,             William McCormick
Reply:Here is the pics. I did what I could out of position, but some of them I had no choice but vertical up, and some of the butt welds sucked because I was freehanding it because I had nothing to rest my hand on. Now I got a table so no more of that!   ...... and yes, I ended up welding all four corners, because of some of the advice given here. I think this table is going to be very strong for what I need it for. Next is the top ($$$$) and 5 inch HD Casters. Any advice on leveling legs also? My garage floor is not level, and I already welded the caster plates on. I am thinking of putting leveling legs about 5 1/2 inches from the casters, the problem is I can't have a bolt that long because of lateral force. I wish I would have built it for leveling legs, and casters secondary, then I would have extended the outside legs down and the casters and legs would have been very close to the same length. Oh well, hindsight is a bitch.pics:Last edited by David R; 01-02-2008 at 05:42 AM.Reason: Fix Pics
Reply:More Pics:Last edited by David R; 01-02-2008 at 05:43 AM.Reason: pics
Reply:Sure did sharpen your TIG skills didn't it?  Nice work. I had a guy tell me to learn out of position not to turn anything to weld it.  Just weld it in the  position its in.  Now I don't HAVE to turn anything.Really nice work table. We could always put a nice exhaust fan on it and use it for a JennAir grill.DavidReal world weldin.  When I grow up I want to be a tig weldor.