Best welding bench surface
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Best welding bench surface
Hi guys, just thought I would get all your opinions on the best bench top surface for a welding bench, The bench will be used for welding, (mig/arc future tig welding) also for fabricating with aluminum, stainless and steel. Bench top size is 2'x4', my idea was flat steel plate 3/8" or 1/2" thick. Let me know wat you think or what your using thank's Domenico.
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For me I used 3" channel for the frame and welded 2" angle between the channel with 6" gaps. It lets me use vise grip type clamps in multiple positions, I then mounted a bench vise to some square tubing and can slip it into 4 recievers made with angle welded to the channel on the inside corners. I have a piece of plate I put on when I need a solid surface.
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I'm not to worried about the price, it's the kind of thing you build once in a life time (if you build it right the first time). As for cost 3/8" will cost $167.00 and 1/2" $200.00 it seems like a lot of coin but in the long run look at what you spend on good tools. Here's a thought how about the best of both worlds, channel top with a 1/2 " lid on hinges? boy thats going to hurt when you get you fingers caught droping the lid! (ha,ha,) thanks , Domenico
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Found the steel for my top at the scrap yard for 25 cents a pound, IIRC. Then built the cart to match it. If you have one near you, many of these yards sort out "usable" material. in a resale area. A friend bought a nearly new Atlas lathe that local Indian school had tried to use as a wood lathe and then scrapped.
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From: NY and VA
Go with the 1/2" I've got a 2'x2' that is too small. I have also seen what looks like a road grate, which allows slag and spatter to fall through onto a pan, of course this would probably be good for larger pieces.
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Assuming you will be working off the 4' side, that is a good size. We have a 4'x10' bench at work and I mostly weld off the short side. You may want to think about making your once in a lifetime bench a little wider than 2' though. That's okay for welding. But once you lay out three grinders, a couple hammers, a file, squares, clamps, goggles, a striker ...etc, the bench gets pretty crowded. It's also real nice to have enough room for a chop saw on the bench.
One other thing to think about is making a side leaf on one end of the bench. It doesn't have to be as heavy as the rest of the bench top. Attach with tubing so it can slide apart just like the dining room table when you add an extra leaf to make it bigger for Thanksgiving dinner. This lengthens the bench. It's real handy when you have a long piece of angle to cut and you need a longer bench to support it. It's also great for cutting long pieces of sheet metal with a sawsall. You are able to clamp both ends of the work and run the saw blade through the void between the bench and the leaf.
One other thing to think about is making a side leaf on one end of the bench. It doesn't have to be as heavy as the rest of the bench top. Attach with tubing so it can slide apart just like the dining room table when you add an extra leaf to make it bigger for Thanksgiving dinner. This lengthens the bench. It's real handy when you have a long piece of angle to cut and you need a longer bench to support it. It's also great for cutting long pieces of sheet metal with a sawsall. You are able to clamp both ends of the work and run the saw blade through the void between the bench and the leaf.
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Would you suggest a 3'x4' bench of 1/2" plate with a 2'x3' extension leaf on the 3' side then? Maybe make the leaf out of grating to save weight and make it easier to move? Grating works great for a flame cutting bench also.
Has anybody considered putting the whole bench on casters so it can be moved back out of the way when working on other projects? A 3'x4' x1/2" plate weighs 242# and the support structure would probably weigh another 50-75#. The 1"x3/16" grating weighs 7.6#/sq' which would be an additional 46# + whatever type of support you used for it ~20#. Totaling ~380# +tools etc
Harbor freight has some 330# casters:
38711-2VGA
5'' 330 LB. CAST IRON/MOLDED RUBBER SWIVEL CASTER $6.99
Has anybody considered putting the whole bench on casters so it can be moved back out of the way when working on other projects? A 3'x4' x1/2" plate weighs 242# and the support structure would probably weigh another 50-75#. The 1"x3/16" grating weighs 7.6#/sq' which would be an additional 46# + whatever type of support you used for it ~20#. Totaling ~380# +tools etc
Harbor freight has some 330# casters:
38711-2VGA
5'' 330 LB. CAST IRON/MOLDED RUBBER SWIVEL CASTER $6.99
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Casters now there's an idea, the 330# caster you mentioned are the lockable?. Or maybe to solid wheel and 2 swivel wheels that lock? (I like that mobile idea if I can get the bench to lock when in use). As for size I am limited to 2'x4' bench due to size of welding room and other equipment, but If needed I could roll the whole works into the main bay. Thanks Domenico..
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You can find more casters and locking ones at:
http://www.northerntool.com/
Some of them are locking. Remember the larger the caster the easier they roll. Rubber or plastic casters can take a "set" or get a flat spot if a heavy load is on them for long periods. For a heavy welding table a metal caster may be better but it will make some serious marks on your floor. Nothing in life is ever simple is it...
Grainger also has a great selection of casters but if you do not have an account it is hard to buy from them.
The weight rating system for casters is strange. The weight ratings given are for individual casters and they say they have a safety factor. It has been my experience that you should divide the weight "rating" by at least two in order to get satisfactory operation and life. In other words the casters I mentioned b4 were 330# casters but should be derated to 165# max each. -Just my 2¢
To tell you guys the truth a welding table is a great idea. I am real tired of welding on the floor. My knees hate it for several reasons. My wife hates it when those sparks burn holes in my jeans also.
http://www.northerntool.com/
Some of them are locking. Remember the larger the caster the easier they roll. Rubber or plastic casters can take a "set" or get a flat spot if a heavy load is on them for long periods. For a heavy welding table a metal caster may be better but it will make some serious marks on your floor. Nothing in life is ever simple is it...
Grainger also has a great selection of casters but if you do not have an account it is hard to buy from them.
The weight rating system for casters is strange. The weight ratings given are for individual casters and they say they have a safety factor. It has been my experience that you should divide the weight "rating" by at least two in order to get satisfactory operation and life. In other words the casters I mentioned b4 were 330# casters but should be derated to 165# max each. -Just my 2¢
To tell you guys the truth a welding table is a great idea. I am real tired of welding on the floor. My knees hate it for several reasons. My wife hates it when those sparks burn holes in my jeans also.
Last edited by Torque1st; Apr 28, 2005 at 04:35 AM.
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I built mine 4 x 8. 1 1/2 x1 1/2 steel frame 2 1/2 x 2 1/2 legs. I used 2 sheets of 3/4" plywood for the top and set it inside the angle frame It's easy to clamp on good and solid I can screw down any thing I'm working on easily. If I'm tig welding directly on it I have a 2 x 3 Alum plate I lay on the table. I work with Stainless alot and don't like to use a steel top.
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Here's what I'm talking about...
Put the extendable leaf lengthwise on the table. Eric's suggestion to use grate is a good idea. It doesn't have to be very wide though. So a piece of channel or even 2" angle might work. You could still incorporate this idea into a 2'x4' bench. Make the bench 2' x 3' 6" with a 6" extendable leaf.
Here's some photo's of our bench at work to give you and idea:
top of bench
underside of bench
Here's some photo's of our bench at work to give you and idea:
top of bench
underside of bench
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From: Lancaster County PA
I am a school shop teacher. We made one out of scrap 6" I beam for the frame and legs and 3/4" plate for the surface. It is a 3 legged table on lockable casters. The triangular surface is about 3' on each side. At each point we have a vise of some sort. One very heavy duty vise, one heavy duty vise and one pipe vise. Long items can be clamped in 2 vises if need be. The whole thing weighs 660 pounds and despite the large size of the casters, a small nail underneath ony one of the wheels will prevent it from rolling.
I thought I had a picture here on my home computer, but I can't seem to find it. If I have a copy on my computer at school, I'll show it to you.
We chose a 3 legged table because rarely is a floor perfectly flat and 4 legs will rock but 3 never will.
I thought I had a picture here on my home computer, but I can't seem to find it. If I have a copy on my computer at school, I'll show it to you.
We chose a 3 legged table because rarely is a floor perfectly flat and 4 legs will rock but 3 never will.
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66fdtrucknut, You mentioned that you don't like to use a steel top bench when working with stainless steel, just curious on the problems you ran into?. As for the casters on the bench added that to the design (just love that idea). Thanks Domenico ..