Welding Table

Many of my projects have been completed on a piece of plywood, with an old 3" vise attached to it. A heavy welding table will make future projects easier to accomplish.

I did the Plans on AutoCAD 2002. Here is the Isometric View. You can download the AutoCAD plans here.

In 1999, I was given a 300-pound slab of steel, for a long time I carried it around in the back of my truck for traction. I am glad to finally put it to good use; it will make up the top of my table. There will be room for a larger 6" vise. The slab of steel has three rectangular holes in it already; they will work great for clamping parts to the table for welding.

I went down to Reno Salvage to buy scrap steel. I knew this project was going to cost a lot. By buying scrap metal I saved 75% of my total cost. I paid $0.22 a pound for the material to make the legs. I bought 300 pounds of the tubing and some plate. The nice thing was I found 3" box tubing in 4’ lengths that were already capped at one end. I also got some fat 1.125" bolts for the feet. I’m using the bolts so that I can level the table. The down side was I could only find the right nuts in Stainless steel. I cut a hole big enough for the bolts to slide through on the bottom of the legs. I then set the nuts over the holes and welded them on. I had a hell of a time using Stainless steel welding rod with a gas set up trying to get these nuts welded on. I am grateful that no one is going to stick their chin to the floor to look at those welds. After tacking the cross pieces together I checked to make sure everything is square and then I welded the legs. Everything was clamped together checked again and then the cross pieces were welded. This table is going to get beat up so I didn’t spend too much time painting it, but I did want to do something different, so I gave it blue and silver flames.

I wired up two power outlets to each side of the table. A 5-foot cord runs out of one leg that goes to the wall to power the outlets.

I mounted my 70-pound Vise.

The extension to the table is removable. I can pull off the left side of the table if I need the room. It also makes it easier to transport. The extension is attached to the main table with 5/8" bolts and 1/2" thick Plate metal.

I also added a small shelve to function as a catchall.

I took the time to make some small containers to store within easy reach pencils and other commonly used items. I also made one to put my welding rod. Since I didn’t want them to be in the way and I wanted to be able to quickly move them I used Neodymium magnets to mount them anywhere on the table. One of these little magnets was able to suspend my 10-pound sledgehammer off the ground.

I completed the other side of the table, and then gave it a matching paint job.

One more project completed.

Completed April 6, 2003.