Welding table (How to build )

[widetrackman]

I'd been complaining about not having a good welding table , well about a month later my brother-in-law shows up at the farm with a trailer w/ a piece of steel plate 4'-1" x 8'-0 x 3/4", ****, i didnt have anything to lift it with ,so i got the tractor & chain - pulled it off, its still where it hit the ground. Been looking at this plate too long & wondering Is it table time ? Anybody got any suggestions on what i'll need for legs/supports, also is there anyway to put it on casters with a device/pivot that would let me swing the casters up and down ( with leverage ) I dont want the casters down when working on the table. My shop is small and i will need to move the table around

[deere_x475guy]

Hi Widetrack, Thats one heck of a top. Mine needs to be replaced someday. It's only 3/16". Sounds like you could use some 2 x 2 x 1/8" tubing for the frame. As far as the swing-away casters I am working on the same idea for mine. Haven't come up with a good solution yet as it seems there is always something else to do first. If you come up with something be sure to post it.

Here is a link to a drawing I did for mine. I never added the wheels on the back. The dang thing turned out to heavy for me to lift one end anyway...lol

http://www.hobartwelders.com/mboard/showthread.php?s=&threadid=532&highlight=welding+table

Hope this helps.....and have fun

Bob

[cope]

That top is going to make a heavy bench. I would use 4" tubing or angle iron. I saw one similar that was made with I-beam legs. However you make it, portability is going to be an issue. Ask a local steel supplier for an approxomate weight so you can plan for heavy enough wheels.

[INTP]

A small hydraulic bottle jack might be helpful in driving the pivoting casters when you need to move it. Maybe one on each end, with two casters per "pivot"? Kind of vague, I know, but I was thinking about the weight.

[d110pickup]

Widetrackman,

Here's what I did to be able to move my table around.

http://www.hobartwelders.com/mboard/showthread.php?threadid=423

I posted a bunch of photos in that thread. Maybe this'll give you some ideas.
Later,
Mike Pado

[widetrackman]

Thanks guys, will start digesting your suggestions sone as i get the Honey Do' s out of the way will i need six legs w/ center post ( will this thing sag with a 200# load ) what about knee braces, I guess i could cut to a little smaller size but kinda hate to do that ( nice piece of iron and dont know value )

[pontiac]

My thought was to add a cross on each end high enough to get a floor jack under..

make the cross brace out of say 2.5" box and leve the ends open.

Now make 4 L brackets from 2" box and put a caster on 1 end.

when you want to move it just jack the bench up, slip the casters into the cross braces and roll away.

2nd but cooler option

Get 4 300lb Air Cylinders from Surplus Center ($13 each)

Mount the casters on the air cylinders or on arms moved by the cylinders..

Simply attach compressed air & turn a valve to lift the table..

[bill400]

Welding Table

Hi,

How about a trailer jack? Harbor Freight has one on sale for $15.97 although you may want a heavier one. (or two).

I have a much smaller table with wheels at one end and adjustable legs at the other. Mine is small enough to allow me to pick it up at one end. The other end is always on the wheels. It isn't rock solid but it works ok. Since yours is so much heaver I would expect it to be much more stable.

Another thought is don't move the wheels, move the legs. Just make some screw down legs that lift it off the wheels.

(Gee I think I'll add that to mine.)

Bill

[Guest]

A table that size, you won't want to move around. Not without a fork lift. Even on a flat, the table will be difficult to deal with. One thought is to cut that puppy in half and make two tables that can attach together for big jobs. I have never found a jacking system, like floor locks be withstand the force I put on it when bending something, so here's how I solved the problem...I shown this before, so bear with me...I made sliding dowels to go into holes in the concrete, to keep it from moving around. A pair of holes inside the garage and some out in the driveway, for when I move it outside for more room. Also, you're going to build the table upside down, and you can leave an over hang of say, 6 inches to a foot...don't build your supporting structure the same size as the table...you will need room for clamping stuff.

have fun

[widetrackman]

Hey guys, thanks for the comments I yould like to keep table in one piece- but its got to move occassionally when i need a tractor or trailer inside. For my use (I hope i dont have to bend stuff like Rocky D does ) I dont think table movement will be a issue. If it gets in the way to often it'll go outside for stick welding I like Pontaic's idea if it'l work, it sounds like how the ext. legs on my eng. crane work ( its a 1000# w/ boom is extended, i move it around (very carefully ) with a 850# eng. hanging. Guys, take a shot at this; is it over or under kill ? I like sq over L's---legs, tubing 3x3x1 /8 (6 ) W/ 4x4x1/4 Pl on top for better weld joint (1/4 to 3/4 ) put a 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 x1/8 between the legs ( all sides ) one wrap 8" ? below table & one 8" ? above floor ( ends open @ floor for casters. Do i need a center post ? table height 32" ? Whooo ,a lot of pecking!!! hope this is understandable, thanks much.

[FlashBlind]

That's gonna be one **** of a table. If you really need one that big, go for it OR; save the plate for another project (Or trade it for smaller stock) and try a smaller- 2x4 or 3x5 table out of 1/4"- 1/2" plate. If supported properly, will hold well over a ton. Whatever you decide, keep one of those black Scotchbrite- looking abrasive grinder wheels handy to remove the rust if your going to use the table as the ground for your work.
-In edit, If you go with the big plate for the table, consider 4" square 3/16" wall tubing or old oilfield pipe. whatever you use, ensure it's adequately braced. It's easy to hold up a static load, but bump it off center or from the side and you might end up testing your welds.

[AV8OR]

Sunnex makes a "Leveling Caster" you might want to look into

Click Here For Sunnex

You can get them at Reid Tool Supply Co.

[Franz]

If you have unlimited shop floor space with a perfectly nice clean concrete floor, go with casters, preferably large wheels like 8" scaffold casters with leveling screws.
If you don't have unlimited floor space, put a pair of tires on an axel at one end, and a pair of removable legs or fold down legs at the other end, and a removable toung, sort of a reverse Reese setup. That way, when you need to move one project out to get a quick job in, all you need ia a tractor with a 3 point lift.
I have 1 table the size you're talking about that sits on 6 3" pipe legs, and has 4" I beam for a subframe, and that table moves very nicely with a forklift, and no other way. It has 2 or 3 presses mounted on it, and has no reason to move. I have another table that is 4 x 6, built on top of a hospital bed frame with 4 wheels, and it comes in real handy cause we can slide a job out of a pickup onto the table. I also have a couple portable carts that are about 6 x 8 feet, on tires. The ones on tires work out really nice cause we can tow them outside, and don't need to be concerned about asphalt damage or sinking into the ground.
However you decide to build, the most IMPORTANT thing is to round off the corners cause square corners hurt like **** when you walk into them.

[widetrackman]

Originally posted by AV8OR


Sunnex makes a "Leveling Caster" you might want to look into

Click Here For Sunnex

You can get them at Reid Tool Supply Co.

HI AV8OR , I took a look at those casters, super nice , but $50 + ea a little expensive , glad to know about them. thanks.

[bill400]

Welding Table

Hi,

You mentioned moving a tractor inside. It wasn't clear if that meant you had a tractor but if you do couldn't you move it with the tracor? If the tractor has some kind of lift like a three point hitch you could use that to lift one end of the table and use wheels on the other.