Welding table

[AndyStobbs]

I've got a sheet of steel checker plate, 12mm thick, 3ft square. I plan to make it into a welding table, but before I begin, I need to decide whether to cut it into strips to allow gaps for bolting things down, or do I drill a load of holes in it?

Whats people's preferances?
I've got the space so cutting it into strips isnt an issue, I even wondered whether to cut the strips but not weld them into position, so they could be slid together or apart as required.

 

[MattF]

Bearing in mind that I know diddly about welding, bench wise, I'd be tempted to incorporate all of your ideas into one, if it was I. Say three strips 1' wide on a 5' bench so that you can have 1' gaps between them, then have C channel front and back top edges, or similar, so that you can slide the pieces around and then clamp them in place using T nuts or the like in the channel. Then drill a load of holes in each piece so that you can use pegs or the like too.

If that didn't cover every scenario....

 

[brokenbiker]

unles you can drill holes at precise and accurate intervals like a strong hand table it may not be worth it. I have drilled into my bench to mount things si they wont move and then welded over them and ground them flat afterwards.

the moveable strips sounds good. Can use the gap between them for cutting without hitting the table.

i would run channel around the edges and then bend the edges of the plate down to slot in.

 

[sardine]

I would not reccomend using the checker side up, it is not anywhere near flat, and is just a pain to work on, everything rocks about, and you can't clamp anything flat.

I,m working on a peice outside on 2 trestles on a project right now, its crap , as soon as its clear I'm turning it over asap.

 

[AndyStobbs]

Deffo using the rough side downwards, truth is the top isn't exactly ground flat, its got its fair share of pitting, but didn't cost me anything. I reckon I could drill the holes in a neat order, basic marking out and centre dotting should see that bit right. I was thinking strips more like 6" wide. Will post up some pics once I make a start on it (seems to be my stock phrase on here)

 

[MattF]

...once I make a start on it (seems to be my stock phrase on here)

I think it's the stock phrase of most.

 

[bigegg]

consider this.
at the moment, you have a 3ft square table.
drill holes, you have a 3ft square table
cut it into 12" strips, with 3in gaps between - you now have a 3ft 6in table.
cut into 9" strips, with 3in gaps, you have a 3ft 9in table.
cut into 6" strips, with 4in gaps, you now have a 4ft 8in wide table...

 

[Shox Dr]

consider this.
at the moment, you have a 3ft square table.
drill holes, you have a 3ft square table
cut it into 12" strips, with 3in gaps between - you now have a 3ft 6in table.
cut into 9" strips, with 3in gaps, you have a 3ft 9in table.
cut into 6" strips, with 4in gaps, you now have a 4ft 8in wide table...

And if you make a total **** of it... it' will be easier to load into the boot for the scrapys

If you have access to a mill or pillar drill, where you can use a fence and peg to fix the distance between holes, I'd just cut it into strips, otherwise you may end up with a table full of holes and none of them in a straight line. (and the reason why I've never drilled my 8x3 table)

 

[Welderpaul]

If you cut chequer plate into thin strips they won't stay flat. The strips will twist to hell as the stress in the plate is relieved.

Why bother drilling loads of holes in the bench? If you need to clamp something down either use long reach clamps off the edge, or do what we do...just tack it down to the bench. They can soon be ground off.

 

[mfletch]

I made a swing arm that moves and can be screwed down to hold down the work

here is a simple image

 

[Welderpaul]

I find things like clamp arms etc a right faff. I've been in quite a few fab shops and i've never seen anyone use such things. Each to their own though.

I've looked at buying a big T slot table, 6m x 4m sort of size. I can imagine it would be a right pain, loosing stuff in the slots, slots landing badly under a job just where you need to put the square, put a plate on etc.

 

[AndyStobbs]

All duly noted, particularly glad I asked now as a twisted up piece of plate is counter productive.

 

[Welderpaul]

If you want flat strips, why not just buy a length of flat bar and cut it up into whatever lengths you need? Got to be much easier than trying to hack up durbar.
I doubt it would cost much more than discs to cut up the plate

 

[rockweasel]

If you want flat strips, why not just buy a length of flat bar and cut it up into whatever lengths you need? Got to be much easier than trying to hack up durbar.
I doubt it would cost much more than discs to cut up the plate

I thought I'd revive this old thread rather than start a new one.
On my To Do list this year is a welding table. For stick welding, smallish stuff (1metre or so long).
I've looked at off the shelf small portable tables such as the Nomad.
6mm pre cut plates are an option but expensive for my taste.
Steel plate is cheap but then I have the added expense or hassle of drilling/cutting it.

The flat bar solution seems ideal to me. As long as the framework that the flat bar sits on it flat, all should be good? I was considering drilling and tapping holes in the bar & framework rather than welding the bar on to allow a flexible (as in adaptable) top.
50mm x 10mm flat bar was the material I plucked out the air as a suitable candidate.

Any potential pitfalls I'm not seeing? Thanks

 

[knighty]

along the same topic... I need to make a new bench

what's the best grade/type of steel to use for a worktop ?

thinking about maybe having 2 separate benches, one for normal stuff and then another nice smooth/flat one... but just seams like I'm asking for rust ?

 

[Richard.]

If I was gonna go either of those ways Id go with the holes and make a day of it. They don't need to be that accurate they are only points you'll use for fixing from.
Personally though Id just flip the plate over flat side up and make a bench.
As Paul said there are lots of ways of fixing stuff down and often its with a tack or two.

 

[Richard.]

And I've just noticed the thread date. Dohhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!

I'm sure Andys long built his bench.

 

[roofman]

And I've just noticed the thread date. Dohhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!

I'm sure Andys long built his bench.

me too after reading the whole thread

 

[bigegg]

The flat bar solution seems ideal to me. As long as the framework that the flat bar sits on it flat, all should be good?

Even if the framework isn't perfect, each bar can be shimmed individually to make it "perfect"

 

[arthur]

I got given a lump of CP, had some old Ducati shipping crates, made a great bench for a little taking up outside

Small slugs along each brace keeps it nice and flat, checks face down, edges were folded as the plate was for a scissor lift that never made production.