Project 6 Welding Table, Mean Green Contest, SeanMurphy265

Picked up this 3'x4'x3/8" piece of plate at the local steel supply for $110.00. Decided that I would build a welding table with it. The table frame is 1-1/2" square tube 1/8" thick. Started on it yesterday evening, and I have a few more braces to add along with some wheels.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d2...6-02144924.jpg

That plate was a little heavy to lift by myself. I need an engine hoist! The table is 3' high; I have had back problems so I do not like being hunched over when I'm working. I'm 6'2" so the height is good for me.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d2...6-06173752.jpg
Using my plasma table to square things up.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d2...6-06175932.jpg

Bottom rail squared up and tacked. I then slid the plate from my Blazer to the top of the frame.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d2...6-07164544.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d2...6-07170445.jpg
Making sure their is not bow or sag in the plate. Some of the tube had a slight bend from transportation. My next project is a rack for my blazer.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d2...6-07172445.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d2...6-07191625.jpg

I'm going to add some 45 degree braces along the bottom to keep the legs from getting bent.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d2...6-07191635.jpg

The only thing I see that I would have suggested, but too late now - On mine I put a couple inches of overhang of the table top all around, for the use of clamps. I like to use simple spring clamps whenever I can. You will be limited to large c-clamps or bar clamps that spread to include the 1-1/2" tube. It will work ok...just wanted to mention.

ken

The top plate is tacked on for right now. I'm looking at two options in the future. To cut slots with my CNC plasma table when I finish it up, or get a mag drill and put some holes in it. I was afraid that I could bow the plate if I put a lot of pressure on it, that's why I went all the way to the end. I built the table because I am tired of laying stuff out on the ground and trying to keep it square.

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Originally Posted by SeanMurphy265

The top plate is tacked on for right now. I'm looking at two options in the future. To cut slots with my CNC plasma table when I finish it up, or get a mag drill and put some holes in it. I was afraid that I could bow the plate if I put a lot of pressure on it, that's why I went all the way to the end. I built the table because I am tired of laying stuff out on the ground and trying to keep it square.

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Sean, if you are worried about bowing you could put another square tube below across the midsection, and tack it to the table top for extra strengthening. The holes in the plate for fabrication clamps will work great.

ken

I've been looking into one of these mag drills. I'm not sure how much I would use one, but it would give me the capacity to drill large holes.

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Originally Posted by SeanMurphy265

I've been looking into one of these mag drills. I'm not sure how much I would use one, but it would give me the capacity to drill large holes.

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I don't have a mag drill. On my table I still want to drill a series of holes for screw-in clamps. I will drill and thread the holes 3/8, as perpendicular as I can with a 1/2" chuck drill. I will build a little slop in the little clamp, that the bolt will press against the work, so that it will face the work square in the end. For large holes I think using the plasma to pierce is a decent way. I have a set of these demming bits too, up to 1". http://www.harborfreight.com/8-piece...t-set-527.html Pierce with the plasma cutter, then clean out with the demming bit. A bit rough but is do-able.

ken

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Originally Posted by KSmith

I don't have a mag drill. On my table I still want to drill a series of holes for screw-in clamps. I will drill and thread the holes 3/8, as perpendicular as I can with a 1/2" chuck drill. I will build a little slop in the little clamp, that the bolt will press against the work, so that it will face the work square in the end. For large holes I think using the plasma to pierce is a decent way. I have a set of these demming bits too, up to 1". http://www.harborfreight.com/8-piece...t-set-527.html Pierce with the plasma cutter, then clean out with the demming bit. A bit rough but is do-able.

ken

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I own that set, I have not had too much luck with it. My drill press spins as 250 rpm at the lowest speed. For larger holes on a drill press you need 180rpm or lower. I have had better luck with the harbor freight uni-bits. When they run them on sale I get a pack or two. The shorter bit makes a better hole. I have drilled 7/8" holes in 5/8" thick flat bar for my got trikes bender with no problems.

Got her all tacked together and added more bracing and some expanded metal. I have some wheels for one side, but now I'm not sure if I am going to use them.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d2...6-08102447.jpg

Picked up one of these at HF with a super coupon last Saturday, and thought I would try it out.

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d2...6-08131534.jpg

http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d2...6-08131500.jpg
I will have to use this cut-off tool more, but it seems to throw an internal breaker when it overloads. You hit the reset switch and it fires back up.
http://i32.photobucket.com/albums/d2...6-08142707.jpg

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SeanMurphy265

Got her all tacked together and added more bracing and some expanded metal. I have some wheels for one side, but now I'm not sure if I am going to use them.

Picked up one of these at HF with a super coupon last Saturday, and thought I would try it out.

I will have to use this cut-off tool more, but it seems to throw an internal breaker when it overloads. You hit the reset switch and it fires back up.

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Coming along really nicely! I saw that cut-off tool coupon too. Would really like to hear your opinion about it when you use it more. Sometimes I feel so lazy and don't want to drag the air-powered cut-off around and hearing my really tiny compressor droning endlessly. The cut-off tool that came with the compressor isn't very efficient to boot so that certainly does help the cause.