Building a Welding table/Work bench

YotaOnRocks

YotaOnRocks

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2007
Location
Madison
Anybody got any idea on what to build a work bench/welding table out of. I am looking to use for welding and a work bench as well as mounting my bench grinder and vice to. I have one that I got from work but it is way to big about 4.5 feet by 6 feet. That wont fit in the garage so I keep it outside to work on stuff. I will probably put the table up against the wall I have about 82 inches of wall space where I would like to put it but only want it to stick out about 24 inches. Ill prolly do 72 in. by 24 in. does that sound like it will be big enough or will I finish it and say damn I should have mad that bigger. Not sure on height yet I'll have to see what is comftorable for my height. But my qestion is what thickness and size metal would you use to construct it. I was thinking 2x3 .250 wall for legs and main frame under table and maybe some 2x2 .120 or .250 for supports between the legs. And maybe 1/4 inch for top. Do you all think this is to heavy duty or not heavy duty enough. The table I have has 3x5 .375 legs and leg supports and 8gauge for the top so It is really to heavy to cut up and use for what I want. Any tips from people out there that have built there own? Thanks for help and input guys
 
Angle will be plenty strong. For ease of construction, though, I'd consider 2x2", .120 wall square tube for the frame and legs, 1x1 for gussets/braces. I'd go no thinner than 5/8" for the top, 1/2 if you can. Remember, you'll be cleaning this with a grinder. 2'x2' is plenty big for most of what you'll ever do, believe it or not. Use outfeed tables for supports on long stuff. I'd build it no bigger than 2x4' if you're somewhat limited on space. Don't forget a fume extraction device above it. Mounting the vice to it is OK, but keep the grinder away. A) you don't want spatter getting in the grinder any more than you can help it and B) you don't need grinding dust contaminating things and dirtying up your workspace any more than you have to. Build a stand for it elsewhere. If you want to check out mine sometime, you're welcome to swing by work and try it out.
 
workbench

I have A workbench, similar to the one shown. I rarely use it for welding though. I do most of that work, on A tripod pipe vise. The one I have, has the old style vise. ( looks like A latching clamp, with a C-clamp type threaded rod. Screws down from the top) I got it used, & real cheap. If I were buying A new one, I would chose the one with A chain clamp, instead. I've used both types, & prefer the chain type. Even if you like working off of A table, the tripod is invaluable, for grinding, & sawzall/ portaband type work with pipe, square tube, angle (up to A certain size), & solid stock. Best thing is, you can fold it up, & drag it to the nearest corner for storage!
 
half of my table top is 3/4" treated plywood, (was going to cover that in some 1/8" steel/aluminum eventually, but havent yet), and the other half is expanded sheet metal with a few pieces of 1/2" pipe in a grid to support it.

The expanded sheet metal is the stuff that has diamond shaped holes in it.
I really like welding over it b/c the slag and spatter just falls through, and doesnt burn into the top and doesnt build up. But the plywood side has a vice bolted to it, and its great to just work on.
 
Mine is 3/4" plywood covered by 1/8" plate. Beat on it and no issues. Never smelled smoke, so I am guessing it hasn't got hot enough to burn through.
If I had really thought it through, I would have built one I could move out from the wall, and also made it with an adjustable height range. Something along the same lines as a press. If you want a grinder I would make it's own stand and separate from the table. Same with the vise, unless it is attached to the wall so you can crank down on it.
 
I've not worked on many, but One that I did work on had a feature I REALLY liked. It had a section that was made of Cat walk or something like that. It allowed sparks and or Grindings to go thru it and not splash back up into your face. Expanded Steel would've been too flimsy, but this was 1/4"-3/8" flat bar, turned on edge and spaced out about 1" or there about. then the rest of teh table (the biggest portion was sheet metal for a flat surface.
 
mbalbritton said:
It had a section that was made of Cat walk or something like that. It allowed sparks and or Grindings to go thru it and not splash back up into your face. Expanded Steel would've been too flimsy, but this was 1/4"-3/8" flat bar, turned on edge and spaced out about 1" or there about. then the rest of teh table (the biggest portion was sheet metal for a flat surface.
Click to expand...

I agree it was a great design. The recessed well for the chopsaw allowed stock to be supported fully.

The only draw back to Bill's cutting table was it weighed a fawkin TON and took 4 men + 8 small childrens to move it! :shaking:
 
If space is tight...casters are a must. My 4x8 table (it's 3/4" plywood and I have a 4foot piece of 11gauge on it for cutting and welding) that I do most everything on has casters on it and it's great...especially when it's time to clean up.

Actually...if I built another one...I'd use trailer tongue jacks like I did on my chassis table (made of I-beam)...you can kinda see 'em in this picture...
2435664760065744046S600x600Q85.jpg

It has 4 trailer jacks (I got them for 16 bucks a piece on sale at northern). I've jacked it up with well over 3000lbs on it and I can still move it by myself...pretty easily actually.

The casters on the workbench can get annoying when you're trying to bend something in a vice or something...thats the only reason I'd just suggest the trailer jacks so you crank it down on the floor.
 
Ill probably built it out of 1/2 plate on top then. I know that heavy duty steel grate your all talking about I used to have a trailer with that stuff for the floor. I might try to dig some of that up. Thanks for the suggestions and I was planning on doing some type of casters or something but was worried about how to keep still thanks indy will for the jack idea. and also thanks for the heads up on why not to mount grinder and vise to it. I appreciate all the input.

Thanks
Matt
 
@upnover and @Will Carter

I see from reading your post that you built your welding tables out of 3/4" treated plywood and 1/8" steel plate for the top.
Do you have any pictures of this setup? If you were to build again would you do the same type table?
Looking to build a welding/cutting/work table at a reasonable price.
thanks
 
I guess I'm opposite from most folks but I want the heaviest one I can get. My "main" table is 4*4 with 1" top. 6" pipe legs filled with sand and 6" channel for underneath. Bare table weighs 1350# plus it's got a 200# Wilton vise on it. I scoot it around all the time when pulling hard on something it the vise.
 
@tknopp has a badass table.
Maybe he has some thought...
 
After looking at steel prices and thinking a little more about the size of the table I may just go with 3/16 or 1/4 all metal table. I want to build something that has wheels on it and can adjust the level of the table.

I’m open to people that have personally built their own table.

Looks see more tables from the small time guys out there.
 
Ended up building a 2x4 table with 1/2 top and 2x3 .250 wall for the legs. Didn't put much frame work under it and it has warped terribly. Not sure if I can put heat to the bottom of the table and straighten it back out or not.
 
Jeep_parts said:
After looking at steel prices and thinking a little more about the size of the table I may just go with 3/16 or 1/4 all metal table.
Click to expand...
I think that is too thin and you will have issues down the road with warpage from heat and beating on it. 1/2" is about as thin as I would want to go.
 
My table top is 3/8" and is warped from welding it to the frame, which is all my fault but I still wouldn't go less than 1/4". Ideally 3/8"

I paid $226 for my 4x8' 3/8" sheet, it weighs 490lbs just FYI
 
4'x6'x too tall. 2x2x1/4" tube legs and angle for support. It's heavy duty forsure. I'll grab some pics later but make sure yours is around 30" tall max. That way you can still reach over the table and grab stuff depending on how deep you make it. I really wanna cut mine down about 6-8" and put another 3/8" sheet on top
 
@Jeep_parts
The table I described is double duty. Work bench/welding table. Still to this day, no issues, but I don't use it as much as some do. I also have a couple other tables too, all steel. I even use an old 55 gallon aquarium stand, for when that's what I need.
 
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