Project 2 from KSmith. Cateory: Welding Table

[KSmith]

This is my welding table, mobile and relatively small. It is made for sitting while welding. I built a short extension on the opposite end from the handle, for holding tools and misc. Works great.

Dimensions:
Table Top size: 28x36” / 30x36” with brake surface.
Overall Length with handle and extension rack: 47”
Table height: 25-1/2”
Casters: Two swivel, two fixed, 5”

Materials:
2”x3/16” angle
2”x2”x3/16” sq. tube
5/16” top

FYI: I have recently built a layout table of 4x8’ osb, with a 4’ square sheet of 18gauge steel countersunk screwed to the top so I can do some tacking and light welding on the surface. You can see it in the background in one of the pictures.



ken

[undercut]

Nice. That's a great idea - having a place to sit while welding. I don't have a welding table (yet!) but this has given me some ideas. Did you MIG the whole thing?

[KSmith]

Nice. That's a great idea - having a place to sit while welding. I don't have a welding table (yet!) but this has given me some ideas. Did you MIG the whole thing?

I started with flux core, then got rid of that thing, and finished with mig solid wire. Night and day.

ken

[KSmith]

I plan to drill and tap a line of holes, spaced evenly, to use as hold down points. That way I can hold a piece down away from the edge, which I can now do with clamps, c-clamps. I will make some clamps of 1/4" plate, with bolts to thread into the holes in the table top.

ken

[undercut]

Don't have a welder, yet. Thinking about getting my feet wet with a stick welder as that would probably the only thing my current budget will allow. Would this type of project be outside the realm of stick welding?

[Rodsmachineshop]

to me you can do about everything with a ac dc stick welder , I am not stepping on everlast welders but for a first stick welder since i don't think everlast makes a ac dc stick welder all i see is dc sticks in everlast . i would recommend a Lincoln ac dc stick welder you can get anew one at home depot for 387 dollars . that what i started with and still use it . reason ac and dc stick then you can use aluminum stick rods and other rods that need to be used on ac just like some rods like dc also http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...5X-_-100053881

[undercut]

to me you can do about everything with a ac dc stick welder , I am not stepping on everlast welders but for a first stick welder since i don't think everlast makes a ac dc stick welder all i see is dc sticks in everlast . i would recommend a Lincoln ac dc stick welder you can get anew one at home depot for 387 dollars . that what i started with and still use it . reason ac and dc stick then you can use aluminum stick rods and other rods that need to be used on ac just like some rods like dc also http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...5X-_-100053881

Ahhh, that's the tombstone I keep reading about? I've tried to do a bit of reading about stick welding aluminum but I keep reading conflicting reports. Don't want to hijack Ken's thread as he's got a great project here so I'll create a new thread about stick welding aluminum.

[KSmith]

You notice, I added a light duty sheet metal brake to the long side, 36”, made of 2”x1/4” angle. Made hinges from tube, and using ½” bolts. 1” square tube handle, with adjusting stop for leveling of the brake with table top. I can use an angle to check bending angle that way. The method of holding down the 2”x1/4” brake die is so-so, but for now it works.

The 2”x1/4” angle brake die edge which meets the metal was flattened with an angle grinder to give a sharper bend radius. The metal in these pictures is 18gauge, about .047”.



The brake doesn't get in the way, has a solid support, and comes in handy when I need it. I've used it with up to 16 gauge steel with no problems so far.

ken

[67cudafb]

I was trying to figure out how the brake worked, now I see you use the angle clamped down to hold the sheet metal. Smart. Table just the right size to wheel around as needed.

[KSmith]

Don't have a welder, yet. Thinking about getting my feet wet with a stick welder as that would probably the only thing my current budget will allow. Would this type of project be outside the realm of stick welding?

In my opinion, this project could be built with a stick welder, since it is all fairly thick material. The only problem with stick is when you get into thin gauge steel.