Welding Table

[spoiltbrat]

Hi im just about to make a welding table using 2400mm x 1200 mm 10 mm plate what bearers should i use and what size also looking for input to what i should fit it out with , one of my thoughts was to put it on moving legs and design it like a motorcycle lifting bench , that way i could use it for more than welding ie servicing lawnmower , quads and so on is this a good idea or will it be too heavy i could mount a hydraulic ram on it and pump to put it up and down ? all ideas welcome

 

[greyshirtguy]

The lift sounds like a nice idea - I like that...

Do note that the 2400mm x 1200 mm 10 mm top will be very heavy (200+ Kgs)
- so make sure to avoid a "top heavy" design that might be prone to toppling!

 

[Dr pepper]

Hydraulic cylinders are expensive, but if you have a look around you'll see that some commercial table lifts use bottle jacks, and the motion is increased by the mechanism, might be worth considering, you'd have to be confident with your welding though, the stresses will be susbtantial.
A 4mm plate top might be a better option.

 

[madkayaker]

you might be able to find an old lifting table and put a thicker top on it

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Get to know the Resources Manager at your local NHS hospital, old beds with the hydraulic raise/lower bases are the perfect foundation for a project like yours.

 

[SwissTony]

Get to know the Resources Manager at your local NHS hospital, old beds with the hydraulic raise/lower bases are the perfect foundation for a project like yours.

Be prepared to wait 6-8 months though.

 

[astro_al]

More useful might be to keep the table solid, whack a shelf or two underneath so you have lots of space to keep things handy and use a block & tackle / engine crane / etc etc to lift stuff onto it.

Without joints that can pivot etc you'll probably end up with something more solid, which is good. Plus I guess it wouldn't go right down to floor level anyway, so you'd still have to lift stuff onto it.

Order up a couple of lengths of box section for the frame. Anything 2" or bigger will do nicely. 10mm plate will resist bending pretty well anyway.

Al.