Welding bench project in waiting

[EchoSixMike]

I acquired this 3/8" steel bench for a great price(free) during a recent shop move, and it's a project in waiting. For the immediate future I'm going to grind off the piece of angle someone tack welded to the top, then add shelves, and possibly a drawer, underneath for various electrodes, stock metals and such. Something like a SWAG clutter catcher off the right side and a set of legs on rollers off the left for working on long pieces of stock are planned also. My electrical situation is bizarre at the moment. I have 115v 20amp coming in from the right side. I have 50amp 3 phase 460v coming directly from the panel at the edge of the picture, which will be great for my Thermal Dynamics 1250XL plasma cutter. I have no real single phase anywhere near(120ft+) in the shop, nor any chance of getting it, due to limited panel space.

So I'm kinda hosed. My MIG is single phase, so I'll have to figure something out there. My diesel unit is sitting on the floor right next to the table at present, so I could have 200amp DC/225amp AC SMAW if I like. My TIG is limited to about 85amps output on 115v. I may see if I can scrounge a three phase welder for cheap off craigs or something, maybe an XMT 300, they seem to be $500'ish in decent condition. Everlast doesn't seem to have anything listed for 460v 3 phase.

Anyhow, that's the project. I intend to update this as the work progresses, which is going to depend on how much work comes in the door and how much free time is available. S/F....Ken M

[undercut]

I acquired this 3/8" steel bench for a great price(free) during a recent shop move, and it's a project in waiting. For the immediate future I'm going to grind off the piece of angle someone tack welded to the top, then add shelves, and possibly a drawer, underneath for various electrodes, stock metals and such. Something like a SWAG clutter catcher off the right side and a set of legs on rollers off the left for working on long pieces of stock are planned also.

I like some of your ideas. Taking notes now!

My electrical situation is bizarre at the moment. I have 115v 20amp coming in from the right side. I have 50amp 3 phase 460v coming directly from the panel at the edge of the picture, which will be great for my Thermal Dynamics 1250XL plasma cutter. I have no real single phase anywhere near(120ft+) in the shop, nor any chance of getting it, due to limited panel space.

I'd never even heard of 460v being used before LOL. Wow, that is a unique setup ... and I thought I had problems! Have you had a second opinion on your situation? Sometimes an idea you hadn't thought of will come from left field. Just a thought.

[EchoSixMike]

Well, this a commercial shop. I do truck repair and all manner of towing and heavy haul, welding is a collateral duty. So we get 600v 3phase in and transform it accordingly, and this panel, where my space is at, is 460v 3 phase. There's 115v all over, but that's for hand tools and rinky dink stuff like that. I could get a transformer and maybe setup another panel, but that's $$$.

More practical is drag my MIG over to the 230v outlets by the vehicle lifts and work over there. Most of the work is mobile, so that's a viable option. The table is for fab work and my hobby stuff (steel targets) and the like. Stick is better there anyways. S/F.....Ken M

[SeanMurphy265]

I like some of your ideas. Taking notes now!



I'd never even heard of 460v being used before LOL. Wow, that is a unique setup ... and I thought I had problems! Have you had a second opinion on your situation? Sometimes an idea you hadn't thought of will come from left field. Just a thought.

Most bigger shops will use 460v. When you get to welding on 2", 3", 4" plate you need a whole lot of power and a whole lot of machine. I think you can get a 100% duty cycle maxed out with that type of power on some machines.

[performance]

Major three phase voltage is highly regionalized as to which voltage is used. Some (most) of the newer installations are using 460V. A lot still use 240V Delta and a few are left that use 208V Y.

[EchoSixMike]

Well, I got started anyways. Took that piece of angle off and C-clamped my bench grinder on, for evaluation. I think I'm going to drill some holes and bolt it to the table with wingnuts so it can be quickly removed if I need the entire surface for something. I picked up a Miller XMT300 locally for $450, so that's going to be my dedicated set for the bench, I think. I have it sitting there on a piece of steel plate I just tacked in place with some 309 SS SMAW(with the 160STH on 110v), but I think I'm going to mount it on top of my plasma cutter's cage. That would make it mobile(on casters), and both units are 460v 3phase, so they're going to be the same spot anyways. Ignore the clutter of snowmobile crap and the tailboard of the Landoll, that's just work crap getting in the way, again. I'm thinking bi-level shelving for the electrodes, but undecided at this point. I'll probably that that steel plate out(it's 3/8" plate, too much) and throw a sheet of 1/8" in there all the way across. I might add casters to the table, since it's undecided as to whether I get to keep this spot or not. S/F.....Ken M