I am getting into welding and rounding up things I need. My rig will be set up in my 500sf woorkshop, which has a double garage door. Black Friday this year was targeting for a Mig welder that I've had my eye on since last year so I saved some good money on the welder and personal supplies. I have a welding cart coming in soon but have been looking at welding tables.

I have a 40 yr old Black and Decker Workmate table, that folds up for easy storage, has metal legs, and a wooden top. So I'm wondering if I could just put a metal table top over the wooden top and use it as a welding table, as opposed to buying a welding table. Right now I don't need anything larger than the old Workmate, which is about 36x36".

I know I can build a table, but being a beginner that's not on my 'table' yet.
Open for ideas on options and hope to get some input from welders.

thanks

 

I wouldn`t use anything that had wood in it, or for that matter, anything that was even remotely combustible. You`d probably have to put metal at least 1/8" thick to have any degree of safety. By the time you spent the money on that, you would be nearly able to afford a welding table that was safe and sturdy enough to support a decent vise and the weight of items you would weld. Like it or not, you`ll have to spend some cash for a decent welding table. Here`s one that`s decent, has some nice features and is not too expensive: https://www.weldersupply.com/P/653/S...NomadWeldingTa

 

If you have the mig welder, 4 pieces of pipe for legs. some angle iron for cross braces, and a 36" x 36" piece of 1/4" plate would be a good cheap start for a welding table. It would be something easy to weld up and plenty good for a table to last a while.

 

 

 

, `Would definitely be cheaper.......

 

I would definitely make that my first welding project. I would think that down in Texas there should be a few places with some steel plating that one could pick up for a decent price. Add some pipe for the legs and there ya go.

 

I built mine from 3/4 plate steel and angle iron and square tube. Also put it on steel casters to roll from one side of shop to the other.

 

Yep, build yourself one from scrap metal, metal recyclers usually have all kinds of things, sometimes even old metal tables that can easily be refurbished and put to use. I've made more useful things with scrap metal than new metal.