Weld table

I have been using a home built wood table with a 2mm steel sheet on top as a welding table. This was built long before I had a welder and really needed to be replaced by something better.

I used Nigels table drawing as a base although my table is 1200x600mm. It is about 80cm high. Also didn't need the table to hold my welder, gas and tig filler rod (Have a separate weld cart, and I made a wall mount with tubes for the filler rods).

The table top is laser cut 10mm steel sheet ordered from my local steel shop. Frame is 50x50x3mm square tube. There are wheels on one side and adjustable legs on the other (10mm bolts). The frame was TIG welded because I need the practice (and I have no MIG welder). There is a ground strap on one of the legs where the welders clamp can be attached. I will probably add tapped holes in one corner for a wise.

This was my second TIG project. My first was a stainless exhaust for my 71 Fiat 124 Sport Coupe.

/Carl

Nice project, don't recall seeing a strap used like that, usually just a piece of the table is used, but that looks like a good idea.

You may wish to drill some 16mm holes in it at convenient locations, so you can use welding clamps and fittings, as required. maybe some 5/8"UNC too, as IIRC, those are the industry standards?

I was thinking about getting 16mm holes cut when I had the sheet laser cut. Or maybe 15 and then ream the holes to 16mm. Couldn't find much info about the 16mm system so I decided not to for now.

It wasn't all that fun drilling 8mm holes with a hand drill for the bolts so 16mm holes for fasteners will have to be put on the wish list ;)

As for the ground strap... my clamp barely fit on the 50mm square tube. Was thinking about welding a plate on one leg for the clamp to but the table was already painted by then.

/Carl

If and when you do decide to drill the table - I'd suggest checking out that clamps and other accessories are available as some may be very useful for later projects - see if your local equipment hire center has a magnetic base drill. As the name suggests, these have a switchable magnetic base (AKA magnetic broach drill) that clamps to the workpiece and most have a drill capacity of 30 mm, or more. While they will cost a bit to hire, they make the job SO much quicker and easier - plan ahead and you may find it's possible to do all the holes in a half day hire.

This is type of drill I mean - https://www.hirepool.co.nz/drill-magnetic-broach/drills-and-accessories

Wow, really nice work Carl, I bet that 10mm top is really nice to work on.