Machine bed welding table

[Screwdriver]

I have always wanted a really big cast table for use as a welding bench and finally got my hands on one.

A big cast table off a CNC machine. Seems a shame to use for a welding bench but wtf, it fits. It is 1280 x 570 which suits my purposes, largely motorcycle specials/restoration.

I can fit a vice with T nuts, build some clamps and jigs etc but first I need to design and build a base for it. More of which later.

Meantime has anyone else done this and what are the issues regarding rust and damage from arcing?

Cheers

Screwd.

 

[skotl]

That looks lovely. I can see you getting really miffed when it does start to rust and gets some arc splarfs

 

[Screwdriver]

Obviously the plan is to remain unmiffed. The only question being how?

 

[Pete.]

Nice.

Is that your big granite plate under it or the place you got it from?

 

[Screwdriver]

It's still 200 miles away from me at the moment. So it's theirs. Maybe go collect this afternoon.


S.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

I was going to ask what p&p was going to be........ [ Only because it's a concern for everything if you live up here.]

 

[Shox Dr]

Ive a 8'x3' surface table i use for everything and anything. I only tacked to it once, after that I couldn't bring myself to do it again. Only problem i have with arcing is if I use the bed as a return. Clamp the work piece and I have no problems, if the work piece is small or difficult to earth I put a sheet of steel down and clamp to that.

I dont have any problems with it rusting unless i leave wet gear on it; 2mins with a scotchbrite pad and it's away.

 

[lchris21]

Nice computer image......notice your VMC in the corner. I've got the smaller 160 to mess about with when I get a minute!!!

 

[Kent]

I suspect regular anti spatter treatment and regular goes over with cup brush should see it ok. Vices get plastered mind on the cast parts but then I think few bother to keep on top of the situation with them.
Mig and stick welding will always leave some spatter on your bench it's a case of constant upkeep
I shouldn't tack to it ever though it's not like a replaceable top plate

 

[Screwdriver]

Thanks for the tips. Slim-boy, it's probably closer to you than it is to me. I figure the actual mileages aren't really so bad when you consider all the faffing about you have to do at either end anyway, whether it's 20 miles or 200.

I think I'll have it on retractable swivel castors and give it about 500mm of height adjustment. I don't think I would need any more than that for a beginner table. I am considering a lightweight say 4mm sheet steel removable top, with slots and holes to reference the bed, maybe in two sections (it ain't that light!). Once that's clamped down with the T nuts, it should be ok protecting the surface for general purpose work, oxy or MIG. I don't want to damage the top the minute I get my hands on it and spend the rest of its life regretting it. I think for TIG it should be fine with a very light mineral oil or blo even, so long as I buff it off.

I'm picking it up tomorrow and it will live in the van until I can remove the old table and build a new base.

S.

 

[slim_boy_fat]

[QUOTE="Screwdriver, post: 777787, member: 5081"....]it's probably closer to you than it is to me.[/QUOTE]

I doubt it, I'm up near the moon.

 

[Screwdriver]

Nice computer image......notice your VMC in the corner. I've got the smaller 160 to mess about with when I get a minute!!!

Thanks. The whole shed is modelled in Sketchup. I use it to organise stuff, design and build things, I even built the workshop using it!

There's a welding section at the top, bike ramp in the middle and general purpose bench on the right. Lathe is in the bottom corner which is the "dirty/dusty" section where the grinders and pillar drill lives. The half partition gives me some wall space and keeps the dust semi-enclosed so I can fit a big extractor. The old table is still there, dimensioned up for selling.

Compressor lives outside in it's own little bunker bottom right and there's a paddock area not shown, next to the big double doors.

It's taken a while to get it "just so" and unfortunately, it's currently rammed with stuff so nowhere near as organised as it looks but I'm getting there and very exited about having a new table!

Screwd.

 

[lchris21]

proper man cave

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Love it!! Sleeping bag on the bike table and you could live in there.

 

[waddycall]

What size is your shed?

 

[Screwdriver]

Well I did buy an oven for the shed the other day. For recycling HDPE bottles though I can't bring myself to ruin it quite yet. It was cheap enough but almost new condition.

I've been collecting bottles off my neighbours for a while...

S.

 

[Screwdriver]

What size is your shed?

Umm. About 6.5m x 4.5m. It started life with an apex roof but the council deemed it "too large".

S.

 

[waddycall]

Thanks - I'm trying to sort out my new garage. Bit jealous of your set up there!

 

[Screwdriver]

It's not that big...

Although in hindsight, it did look a bit "housey" LOL

 

[Shox Dr]

I take it that picture wasnt taken from your house