Table

[MMW]

I used a 35" high table for 20+ years. It was never to high but wished it was lower on occasion. Now I have a 30" high table. Easier to block it up than to shorten it.

[Vernon]

Table

My table is 35" to top of plate I'm 6'4" tall but my dad is 5'10" tall same table for him Just a starting point.

[fjk]

Also would it be a good idea to go 4X10 or a different size?

In general, bigger is always better -- up to a point.
Without knowing what you're likely to be welding, it's
hard to say.

What is a good height. Probably depends on how tall you are I guess.

And what kind of welding you are doing (eg, for TIG, a lot of guys
like to sit while they weld)

And how much overhead space you've got along with
And how big the pieces are that you are going to be welding
(gotta have enough room between the top of the table and the
bottom of whatever is hanging from the ceiling for the weldments
including space to maneuver it around, get it up there, and so on)

And how old you are (if the knees and back are "not what they used to
be" you may desire the table to be a bit higher than otherwise...)

And of course, how tall you are...

One rule of thumb is to look at the height of your kitchen counters
and use that as the starting point for figuring out how high to make
a work table. From that, you adjust up/down to take into account
other factors. Another starting point rule of thumb is to stand up,
arms hanging down, and bend your wrist until your palm is parallel
to the floor. Start with that distance as the height of the table (again,
adjusting from that for other factors).

The advice I usually give in the end is to look around at woodworking
stuff -- they spend a lot of time figuring out "the best" bench heights...
They've written books on it (I have yet to see a book "great welding
benches")... I know, they do wood and we do metal - but from
a human factors point of view, the work is the same.

Frank

[Flyingpig]

Thats convenient to have a window right beside your table to throw a hammer thru when something doesnt work right.

[Arcaholic]

On a 4X8 welding table, is a 1/2" thick top overkill??

Also, most of the upper sized Mig welders are rated at 1/2".
Anything beyond that thickness, is it advisable to "Stick" weld or do you go with multiple passes (Steel)??

Thanks

John
You didn't mention what type of fabrication you hope to accomplish on your table. I think the choice of thickness and the supporting structure really depends completely upon how heavily you intend to load it. Also, if you intend to do layouts on this surface, leveling is critical. If you are just doing light work, say fabrications that you can easily move around manually, a half inch top should work just fine.

[aametalmaster]

Here is a steel bench 4x8 by 1/2 I had a 3/4 before both built the same :note Do not weld the top down to much 4 to 6 welds 1 1/2" long @ 3/16" welding the table to much will warp easy so try not to weld the top to much.
Vernon

Lookeee at all those Vise Grips ...Bob

[Vernon]

4'x8' By 1/2" Steel Bench

Here is a steel bench 4x8 by 1/2 I had a 3/4 before both built the same :note Do not weld the top down to much 4 to 6 welds 1 1/2" long @ 3/16" welding the table to much will warp easy so try not to weld the top to much.
Vernon

[JOHN1]

Very Fortunate

I do have a fork lift




John1/JWELD

[fun4now]

1" X 3 1/2' X 5'

i got a premade table that was being dicarded as a buisnes went under found it thrown out back of the warehouse. verry lucky find but i love the table at 1" you can even hammer on it if you need to and like HAWK said weld a jig on it and cut it off when your done. if you can get 1" you wont regret it.
happy welding
P.S.6 people 1 case of beer to put it in the shop. and i broke a come along putting it in the truck LOL!

[Paul Seaman]

My workbench is 5" thick wood and 3'x7' and weighs about 600 lbs, move it all the time with a rollaway jack, move cars the same way.
I am building a new welding table out of a heavy duty landscapers wagon just have to get the reast of the projects finished first, it is down the list a bit but I'll get to it.

Peace,

[Alex]

Steve,
Eight guys and only 1 case of beer? That's only 3 apiece!! I don't know anybody in my group that's gonna lift that kind of weight for only 3 beers. Better make it 8 BIG guys and at least 4 cases of beer. Better yet, just buy a keg of Shiner Bock. You'll have more help than you know what to do with.

Weld on,
Alex

[Steved]

8 guys and a case of beer should do it. (The good Canadian stuff!)

[Alex]

All,
Ya'll must all have forklifts available to you. I can't imagine trying to move a piece of 4'x8'x1" steel plate.

Weld on,
Alex

[HAWK]

Steved,

Check your local suppliers rather than a machine shop. A 4x10 or 4x8 sheet will be cheaper direct from a steel supplier. Also it will be cheaper to purchase the whole sheet rather than having a piece cut to dimension. Any way you go it will be expensive!

[Steved]

I would really like to make a new table the one that I have is quite warped. (It was a hand-me-down)

Is there any good place to get cheap 1" plate steel?

Something tells me that this would cost a fortune and that is one of the things holding me back.


Thanks!

Steve