Today I started building a shooting bench on my trusty Northern Tool Klutch table. The bench will be about 4 feet square, and I'm using 2" square tubing. Trying to get a project this big together on a small table made me think about my hopes of upgrading to a bigger table. On the one hand seeing that I could do it gave me confidence to build my own table, since it would be of similar size. On the other, the aggravation of working around my small table made me want to get started on a bigger one.
If I buy a table, I'll probably go for a 1/4" top, because anything thicker will go $2100 or more. If I build a table, I can go heavier, so I'm thinking about 3/8". Here's the thing: I would have to put something like 300 16mm holes in it.
Has anyone here ever built a table with that much drilling work in it? I figure the holes alone will take at least 10 hours. Also, I'm not sure how to drill them. It's not like I can put a 3' by 4' slab on the drill press. Is a magnetic drill the only way? Buying a new drill would cost so much, I might as well buy a factory-made table.
Or, looking at it another way, if I spent for the drill, I would get a table AND a drill for about the price of a factory table.
Of course, then I would have a magnetic drill I didn't need.
General welding questions that dont fit in TIG, MIG, Stick, or Certification etc.
- Chips O'Toole
-
Heavy Hitter
-
Posts:
-
Joined:Thu Dec 01, 2016 12:30 pm
-
Location:FL
- Chips O'Toole
-
Heavy Hitter
-
Posts:
-
Joined:Thu Dec 01, 2016 12:30 pm
-
Location:FL
Maybe that's the way to go. I don't know how fast an annular cutter goes through steel. I wonder how many days I would need it for.
I'm also not sure how to get the table flat. I guess if I lived in the Rust Belt, where industry is everywhere, I could walk next door and have it ground. I have no idea whether there is anyone within 100 miles who could do that, nor do I know what it would cost.
I was thinking maybe I could make a top from 8" strips of 3/8" plate. If I did that, I could surface and drill it on my mill.
I'm also not sure how to get the table flat. I guess if I lived in the Rust Belt, where industry is everywhere, I could walk next door and have it ground. I have no idea whether there is anyone within 100 miles who could do that, nor do I know what it would cost.
I was thinking maybe I could make a top from 8" strips of 3/8" plate. If I did that, I could surface and drill it on my mill.
I was socially distant before it was cool.
- Chips O'Toole
-
Heavy Hitter
-
Posts:
-
Joined:Thu Dec 01, 2016 12:30 pm
-
Location:FL
I just found out a company called Langmuir is selling modular, fully assembled tables to compete with Weldtables.com. This complicates things. Langmuir's Arcflat table are a lot cheaper than Fab Blocks, you don't have to assemble them, and they have 3/8" tops.
Not as cheap as shopmade, though.
Not as cheap as shopmade, though.
I was socially distant before it was cool.
Yea I saw those and they look nice.Chips O'Toole wrote:I just found out a company called Langmuir is selling modular, fully assembled tables to compete with Weldtables.com. This complicates things. Langmuir's Arcflat table are a lot cheaper than Fab Blocks, you don't have to assemble them, and they have 3/8" tops.
Not as cheap as shopmade, though.
Your slab idea can also be done as well. It all just depends how much flatness and accuracy you want.
- Chips O'Toole
-
Heavy Hitter
-
Posts:
-
Joined:Thu Dec 01, 2016 12:30 pm
-
Location:FL
Langmuir's tables are cast iron. I wonder if that's a good idea. Hard to fix if damaged.
I know the Fireball Tool guy sells cast iron and talks it up. Says BB's don't stick.
I know the Fireball Tool guy sells cast iron and talks it up. Says BB's don't stick.
I was socially distant before it was cool.
Keep in mind if you have a milling machine, which I'm assuming from your post above you do have, if you drill a couple holes to get started and then use those to attach with clamps into the t-slots, using standoffs of course so you don't drill into your Mill table, you could simply Bolt the thing down and you can drill a width twice the throat of your mill on the Y. Actually a little bit more than double. And X is unlimited. Simply locate off some existing holes and Away you go. Do one section at a time then shift the sheet to a new location.
That's a pretty good idea. I can see myself doing that with some slabs. I got a mini-mill so I wouldn't be able to do a large table.BugHunter wrote:Keep in mind if you have a milling machine, which I'm assuming from your post above you do have, if you drill a couple holes to get started and then use those to attach with clamps into the t-slots, using standoffs of course so you don't drill into your Mill table, you could simply Bolt the thing down and you can drill a width twice the throat of your mill on the Y. Actually a little bit more than double. And X is unlimited. Simply locate off some existing holes and Away you go. Do one section at a time then shift the sheet to a new location.
I bought a 48x72x0.75 slab Blanchard ground for $600. With a Mag Drill, an annular cutter, put 5/8" holes on 2" spacing. Total cost of top and cutters, <$700. Sure, it took 2.5 days to drill 800+ holes. But now I have a dead flat, solid fab and welding table.Chips O'Toole wrote: If I buy a table, I'll probably go for a 1/4" top, because anything thicker will go $2100 or more. If I build a table, I can go heavier, so I'm thinking about 3/8". Here's the thing: I would have to put something like 300 16mm holes in it.
Most guys who don't have a commercial shop would have difficulty handling a slab that size. By my WAG calculations, that's about a 740# slab... Before the holes are drilled of course.cj737 wrote:I bought a 48x72x0.75 slab Blanchard ground for $600. With a Mag Drill, an annular cutter, put 5/8" holes on 2" spacing. Total cost of top and cutters, <$700. Sure, it took 2.5 days to drill 800+ holes. But now I have a dead flat, solid fab and welding table.
My table top is 4' x 4' x 2-1/2" thick. I don't know what it weighs, but I've bumped into it before and it didn't move.
The way I always rented equipment like that - is pickup on Friday afternoon for a one day rental & since the rental company isn't open Saturday afternoon, return on Monday morning. Anything with a hour meter on it (tractor, skid steer, etc.) as long as you don't put more than 8 hours on it your good. A drill - how would they know you used it on Sunday or Monday morning before noon?Chips O'Toole wrote:Maybe that's the way to go. I don't know how fast an annular cutter goes through steel. I wonder how many days I would need it for.
I don't have a commercial shop either. Picked the slab up on a pallet in the bed of the truck. Brought it to the shop, slid it out onto a ready-to-go base. Manhandled it into position. Tack welded, drilled, welded out, done.BugHunter wrote: Most guys who don't have a commercial shop would have difficulty handling a slab that size. By my WAG calculations, that's about a 740# slab... Before the holes are drilled of course.
If the Egyptians could build pyramids with sandstone, flax rope and wood, imagine what modern, willing folks can do.
I've got 4 ruptured disks in my back and already had surgery on it once, so "manhandling" big chunks of steel are long in the rearview mirror for me.
ps. The Egyptians also had unlimited replacement hands, feet, arms and legs.
ps. The Egyptians also had unlimited replacement hands, feet, arms and legs.
Apparently you miss the point: you don't have to manhandle if you are smart and use leverage and some ingenuity.BugHunter wrote:I've got 4 ruptured disks in my back and already had surgery on it once, so "manhandling" big chunks of steel are long in the rearview mirror for me.
ps. The Egyptians also had unlimited replacement hands, feet, arms and legs.
- Chips O'Toole
-
Heavy Hitter
-
Posts:
-
Joined:Thu Dec 01, 2016 12:30 pm
-
Location:FL
Today I had to get really creative to position the shooting bench on my small table. Arcflat tables are looking very good.
Where would a person go to get a ground slab for a shopmade table? I have no interest in 750-pound tables, but I could see buying 3' by 4' by 1/2" if the price was okay.
Where would a person go to get a ground slab for a shopmade table? I have no interest in 750-pound tables, but I could see buying 3' by 4' by 1/2" if the price was okay.
I was socially distant before it was cool.
2.5"??? That thing probably has its own gravity. Drop a grinding wheel itll go into orbit around itBugHunter wrote:Most guys who don't have a commercial shop would have difficulty handling a slab that size. By my WAG calculations, that's about a 740# slab... Before the holes are drilled of course.cj737 wrote:I bought a 48x72x0.75 slab Blanchard ground for $600. With a Mag Drill, an annular cutter, put 5/8" holes on 2" spacing. Total cost of top and cutters, <$700. Sure, it took 2.5 days to drill 800+ holes. But now I have a dead flat, solid fab and welding table.
My table top is 4' x 4' x 2-1/2" thick. I don't know what it weighs, but I've bumped into it before and it didn't move. [emoji38]
Sent from my SM-G970W using Tapatalk
- LtBadd
-
Weldmonger
-
Posts:
-
Joined:Sun Apr 12, 2015 4:00 pm
-
Location:Clearwater FL
-
Contact:
I have a nice 36 in aluminum CT scanner table on top of it as a rotisserie. Then on top of that I have a sheet of quarter inch plate steel which I can rotate with an integral ground for the welder such that the bearings never carry current. It's a nice setup. For what I do which is welding the corners of aluminum frames, it's ideal. Probably not so much for the work some of the guys do when they Fab things up and require the holes and the squaring fixturing capability of a regular Welding Table. It works for me. The actual table top is a repurposed die set. I don't know what press it went in but it was a press a hell of a lot bigger than I have at my shop.JayWal wrote:2.5"??? That thing probably has its own gravity. Drop a grinding wheel itll go into orbit around it
BillEDee has been to the shop a few times and welded on that table and I'm sure he could attest to its fondness for its current location. It isn't one you heave on and slide around. LOL
- Chips O'Toole
-
Heavy Hitter
-
Posts:
-
Joined:Thu Dec 01, 2016 12:30 pm
-
Location:FL
Today, for the first time, I had to take a project off the table and stand and sit inside it to weld.
I have really enjoyed my Klutch table, but it would be great to have something that will hold bigger projects.
I have really enjoyed my Klutch table, but it would be great to have something that will hold bigger projects.
- 12 12 20 shooting bench welding finished small.jpg (239.46 KiB) Viewed 3638 times
I was socially distant before it was cool.
I have pieces of steel and aluminum stock sitting around that I will clamp to the table for times when I need a larger surface. It doesn't cost a whole lot to have a few pieces of angle or Square stock sitting around for that sort of thing.
Return to “Welding Forum General Shop Talk”
Jump to
- Introductions & How to Use the Forum
- ↳ Welcome!
- ↳ Member Introductions
- ↳ How to Use the Forum
- ↳ Moderator Applications
- Welding Discussion
- ↳ Metal Cutting
- ↳ Tig Welding - Tig Welding Aluminum - Tig Welding Techniques - Aluminum Tig Welding
- ↳ Mig and Flux Core - gas metal arc welding & flux cored arc welding
- ↳ Stick Welding/Arc Welding - Shielded Metal Arc Welding
- ↳ Welding Forum General Shop Talk
- ↳ Welding Certification - Stick/Arc Welding, Tig Welding, Mig Welding Certification tests - Welding Tests of all kinds
- ↳ Welding Projects - Welding project Ideas - Welding project plans
- ↳ Product Reviews
- ↳ Fuel Gas Heating
- Welding Tips & Tricks
- ↳ Video Discussion
- ↳ Wish List
- Announcements & Feedback
- ↳ Forum News
- ↳ Suggestions, Feedback and Support
- Welding Marketplace
- ↳ Welding Jobs - Industrial Welding Jobs - Pipe Welding Jobs - Tig Welding Jobs
- ↳ Classifieds - Buy, Sell, Trade Used Welding Equipment
- Welding Resources
- ↳ Tradeshows, Seminars and Events
- ↳ The Welding Library
- ↳ Education Opportunities