DVA Project #2: Welding Table

[DVA]

When I first started welding with a HF 90 amp welder I quickly found out that welding on top of saw horses was not effective. I started looking into welding tables. Most welding tables at work are at least 5/8" thick but I could not see having such a heavy table to move around at home. I found a metal supplier in Phoenix that always has partial sheets. After locating a 3/8" thick plate measuring 60"x48" for $155, I decided this would the top piece to my welding table.

The table top was not the flattest in the world but it works. To help flatten the table, extra caution was taken during fabricating of the frame to help straiten the table top, 1/8 inch by 1/2-3/4 inch stitch welds to secure the table to the frame to avoid warping the table top. I have seen some tables with table tops warped by using such large welds to secure the table frame.

The frame was constructed out of two 20’ sticks of 2X2X11 Gage steel costing about $45 each. The frame was sized to have a three inch lip around the edge of the table to make clamping easer (not having to reach around the 2" tubing and the 3/8" thick table top to clamp). Table top height was originally 38" measuring from the ground to the top of the welding table. I am 5'9" tall and this was a bit too tall for comfort. The frame was chopped for a table top height of 36". I still may cut it again and lower it to 34" or 35" height.

The swivel wheels are 5" locking 1000 lb wheels purchased on Amazon for about $25 dollars each. All four wheels are swivel wheels, I should have only used two swivel wheels as pushing the table around is like pushing a cart at Ikea.

The wheels mounts were purchased at a metal supplier for about $1.50 each and 3/16" bolting was used to secure the wheels to the frame.

I added electrical connections to allow electrical access on opposite ends of the table. This is a nice feature to allow easy access to either end of the table and this added up to about $30 dollars in equipment.

The project took about two months scouting out the correct table top and fabrication time was about 5 hours. Total table cost was just under $400.