First project with my new Mig.

[Ram48]

This is my welding table project and the first time with the I-200
Used 1.5 x 1.5 x .250 angle for the frame and a combination of 6x1/2 and 8x 1/2 on the top. I butted the 8 inch flats and left 1.5 in between the 6 inch slats.
5 inch casters are from Caster city two fixed and two total lock swivel
I am going to bolt the slats from the bottom so I can remove them for room or replacement if they warp too much

[Rugar]

Nice! Is that top 1/4" or 3/8"? I'm going to build a new 4' X 6' table when I get around to it, to replace my 4' x 3" I use now. Was thinking I may make the top out of three 4' x 2' x 1/2" sections for clamping in the middle as you did.
Very nice shop you have as well!

[geezer]

leaving a gap between the slats is a good idea, gives you a chance to make some nifty hold down clamps that can slide along to different positions. Nice build.

[Ram48]

Nice! Is that top 1/4" or 3/8"? I'm going to build a new 4' X 6' table when I get around to it, to replace my 4' x 3" I use now. Was thinking I may make the top out of three 4' x 2' x 1/2" sections for clamping in the middle as you did.
Very nice shop you have as well!

Rug
The slats are 6 x 1/2 with 1 1/2 spacing and the therr slats butted together are 8 x 1/2 there is a 4 inch overlap all around the edge and I will be ronding the out side corners of the end slats

[Rugar]

Rug
The slats are 6 x 1/2 with 1 1/2 spacing and the therr slats butted together are 8 x 1/2 there is a 4 inch overlap all around the edge and I will be ronding the out side corners of the end slats

DUH! I guess I should have read your first post more carefully on the thickness. They just didn't look that thick on the photos.

[Ram48]

Here are some pictures of the end slats radiused and the blind holes drilled and topped for the clamps I am making to hold the slats to the frame.
Tomorrow I hope to complete the brackets and start on the clamp hanger (if I can figure how I want to do it) And mounting the receiver tubing. I want to mount two so I can use it for my vice and also make a cutting table that can be stored under the bench and set up when needed.

[geezer]

The cutting table ? Have you thought of making one that is hinged off the end and swings up and locks in place, then unlocks and swings down. There is a slated grid material available that would work nicely for just such a thing.

[Ram48]

The cutting table ? Have you thought of making one that is hinged off the end and swings up and locks in place, then unlocks and swings down. There is a slated grid material available that would work nicely for just such a thing.

It is called floor grating or grid at the local scrap yards. HArder to find then I thought it would be. The hinge idea is a good one but I want to have a containment chute to catch the sparks and slag Not sure I can do that with a hinged unit but will think about it. A hinged cutting area would save this old back for sure. I was also thinking of making the cutting area with 1/8 x 1 inch slats that would be removable and replaceable and set them in a square tube that would be notched to hold them I saw that someplace on the web but cant find it again.

[geezer]

Right, floor grate material, that's the stuff, spark containment for plasma only requires a shallow pan or just sliding a metal garbage can under the grate. Where there is a will, there is always a way.

[Ram48]

Right, floor grate material, that's the stuff, spark containment for plasma only requires a shallow pan or just sliding a metal garbage can under the grate. Where there is a will, there is always a way.

True Dat G
But the reason I got these toys in the first place is to play and man am I havin a blast

[Ram48]

Here are a few shots of what I came up with to clamp the slats to the table.
Pic #1 is the hardware and parts I fabricated
Pic #2 is how they go together
Pic #3 is the clamp in place holding the slat to the table.
I machined blind holed .400 deep in the .500 slats then drilled and bottom tapped then to take 3/8 x 16 threaded Rod cut to 1 3/4 inches, I used locktite 262 and tightened them into the slats The aluminum spacer is 1/4 inch thick to match the table frame and the clamp is made from scrap I cut up to 2.5 x 1inch plates. It seems to work well so as soon as I strip off the powder coat from the frame top (which I have to do if I want continuity of ground to the slats) I will mount the slats

[Rugar]

Thats some nice clean Fab. work Ram. Your going to have a nice Fab. table when its finished.

[Ram48]

Well I am starting to understand my new Mig and my welds are finally starting to improve. There is a close up of them in the pictures so please feel free to let me know what I need to improve on The welds were on 1/4 plate to 1/4 2x2 sq. tube Settings were 21 V and 185 amp with .035 wire and 75-25 mix.

Pic # 1 Is the receiver tube and vice plate I cut with my 50A plasma just welded up.

Pic # 2 Is a close up of the welds on one side of the plate. Please fell free to critique them settings are listed above.

Pic 3 # Is a shot of the clamp hanger bar I put on the other day.

Pic # 4 A close up of the receiver tube welded to the table frame and the lock bolt setup, I will be adding a length of rod the the bolt head so I dont need to get a wrench to make changes.

Pic 5 A another view of the table

Pic # 6 Vice mounted and sitting in its Place of Honor in the shop.

I still need to figure out a way to attach a cutting table with catch bin for the sparks and drops I will be making I will either hinge it or since I mounted a second receiver tube I may make a slide in arrangement. any in put on that would be great especially pictures.
Hope you enjoy
Ray

[Ram48]

here are a few shots of the completed table

[geezer]

looks good, I have the same vise only a bit smaller, just attached it over one of the corner legs using 3 bolts in the base, seems to work okay that way.
Had to laugh at the way you hang your grinders, that's exactly how I hang mine. There is a lot of satisfaction on comleteing a project like that, isn't there.

[Rugar]

That turned out really nice Ram.

[everlastsupport]

That is a well thought out table Ram. Nice work.

[Ram48]

Here are pictures of the cutting grid I'm making. I will be adding a hopper under the grid to contain the slag and sparks.

[D.C. Metal Designs]

Just my two cents worth! :-)
ever think of making your cutting grate to fit into your receiver tubes ? I see you have one on each leg.

[Ram48]

Just my two cents worth! :-)
ever think of making your cutting grate to fit into your receiver tubes ? I see you have one on each leg.

I did think of that and also about hinging it on the side where the tubes are.
I made the grid from 14g 1x1 angle I had in scrap and it flexed quite a bit on the diagional and I could not support it from one point so I tried this idea it is pretty rigid and I can make the hopper for it easily I just finished tacking the cross slats in and it really stiffened the grate so I may revisit the receiver tube idea But If I need to cross brace it I will run into problems attaching the hopper. Any ideas you may have would be great. Even if I trash this grate I got a lot of welding practice and learned a bit more about fabrication and hoe flexible steel can be .
R Mc