Fold-up welding table

[chevyman_de]

Last year I built my welding table. Since I don't have the space for a permanent solution the table had to be foldable. A table and my truck won't fit into my garage at the same time. When not in use the table will fold up and be strapped to a wall. When “assembled” it is a rock-solid table that keeps up with standard design tables.

The plate is 600 x 1200 x 20 mm, the frame is 50 x 50 x 5 mm. Overall height is about 950 mm. Btw, do you prefer metric or imperoal sizes on this forum?

Wheels are vulcollan 125 mm, 500 kg dynamic load, 1.000 kg static load rated; mounting plates are 8 mm.

A 3 ton hydraulic ram from a cherry picker is used to lift the plate. The hinges are scratch built; the nitrited hinge pin is 25 mm diameter.

 

[chevyman_de]

Part 2

Thank God I have some good c-clamps

 

[chevyman_de]

part 3

More pics...

 

[chevyman_de]

part 4

... and more...

 

[chevyman_de]

part 5

... and more...
The first roll-out fold-up test, still without the plate attached.

 

[chevyman_de]

part 6

Now with plate.
I had to learn that a non-tweaking table and a less than perfectly flat garage floor are not exactly a perfect match.
So I will make adjustable feet that slide into the lower tubes to lift the casters off the ground. The parts are already prepared, I just have to make pics and wait for better weather. The garage is a fridge now and no comfy place to work.

The table has a total weight of about 225 to 230 kg, give or take a few.

 

[algreenplus3]

All I can say is I love it and I want one, just wish I could make one.

Really good picture too well done very clear

 

[BMAK]

Fantastic project, gave me some good ideas!! Suprised you dont need to use the truck to shift it about!

 

[gordon stephenson]

Hi Steffen.
Really execellent first class table. there will be a few green with envy (including me) Practical,well thought out and strong enough to hold anything you can land on it. Look forward to your future projects.

Best regards Gordon.

 

[Robotstar5]

A very nice piece of engineering, did you design it as well as build it?

 

[gavuk]

Excellent work ,nice idea,personally i'd be tempted to add wind down legs to allow levelling in case i need to use a sprit level on the job ,welcome to the forum ......Gav

 

[scarecrow]

very nice work
that is one big vice you've got and have you got three-phase in your garage

 

[chevyman_de]

A very nice piece of engineering, did you design it as well as build it?

Yes, completely my baby. Inside and out.
Adjustable slide-in legs will be added in the near future. Designing is already completed, just waiting for better weather to weld them together.
The vice is and old Chinese unit, nevertheless tough and fairly precise.

No, unfortunately no 3-phase inside the garage. But in the kitchen and a beefy extension cable.

 

[madkayaker]

very good must weigh a ton! (or two) great idea

 

[Nathan]

very nice piece of work! well done!

 

[dopplershift]

Fantastic! Design, construction and finish look great! What do you do for a living?

I think you could shift a huge number of those if you decided to sell them. (With the adjustable feet).

How much did it cost you all up (if you dont mind?)

Again: just awesome.

 

[chevyman_de]

What do you do for a living?

I'm a management assistant by trade. But I've studied engineering for a few semesters as well, worked with some toolmakers and learned to work with lathes and milling machines during that time.

The finish is a simple coat of aluminum paint, nothing special. It protects against rust, is heat resistant, looks nice and is inexpensive. A perfect combination.

I think the costs summed up to a total of about 500 Euro including the adjustable feet, maybe a little bit more. Steel was all new, no scrap yards around. For my own peace of mind I don't keep exact records.

Here are some pics of the components for the adjustable feet. The tube is 40 x 40 x 4 mm and slips into the lower horizontal tubes of the table (after removing the caps). I will have to swap the press-fit caps for some kind of a magnetic version.
The wedged tube is a remaining from the table (50 x 50 x 5 mm) and will act as a stop and a reinforcement. Threaded rod is M16, 8.8 grade. The nuts are 40 mm long and machined from bar stock. Milled the outside square to fit into the tube and will weld all around.

 

[Weldingartisan]

Vorsprung durch Technik! W/A

 

[Nathan]

nice idea for the feet there. might give it a go making a welding table soon

 

[marknotgeorge]

Nice work, Steffen. Gut Aktion! (that's about as far as my German goes...)