What is everyone using for a table/workbench for TIGing? At the last shop I worked at we had a pretty nice aluminium table the owner of that shop built. I was given an old school desk with a steel top I was planning to use, I just wanted to get some ideas and was also thinking about getting a big aluminium sheet to bolt down to the top of it instead of working right on the steel.

 

It depends what you will be doing. I've seen small desks, maybe 4x4' which is great for fabbing small stuff. But for exhausts, that doesn't always work.

My main table is home made. Just a nice solid frame, with a 4x8' 3/8"-thick mild steel top. I often have full engine/tranny assemblies sitting on the top of it for weeks at a time, and never had a problem.



I'd like to make a little table that I could roll around, to maybe TIG weld while sitting down, but in different locations in the shop.

I'd also like to make a little rack to hold my various filler rods.

 

I really need to build myself a nice table. maybe i'll ask the gf for a nice 1/2" steel sheet for christmas haha :D

 

I would have loved to use 1/2" sheet, but just the 3/8" was upwards of $300!

 

Is there any advantage to working on aluminium vs steel? I assume the aluminium is softer so it maybe wouldn't scratch parts.

I have a couple of workbenches for other stuff, this is a sit down table strictly for TIG welding stuff. I've almost always done stuff like this sitting down at a table.

 

Do not use aluminum unless you like getting zapped

 

I've almost exclusively used aluminium and it wasn't that bad really, get shocked during the HF once in a while but it's not that bad.

 

Well yeah, your table is huge. Mine will be about half the size.

 

Try these two links from a while ago:

Request for welding table photos:
https://honda-tech.com/forums/showth...=welding+table

Displaying a finished table:
https://honda-tech.com/forums/showth...=welding+table

For the poor weekend car guy, I have a wooden work bench that has a corner covered with a steel plate. I got the steel for free and I don't do (or know how) enough welding to justify spending any more money.

-Schuyler

 

Thanks man, you didn't stop by this weekend!


this is the table I was working on previously:

 

I have a 4x4x3/8 plate. Was going to use 2x2 tubing for the frame. Just haven't gotten around to building the table. Right now I have it sitting on a couple of 55 gallon drums. That bastard was heavy and expensive, cuz I bought it last year. So I got screwed by higher steel prices. Hell now you could probably get the same size plate in 1/2" and it would be the same cost.

 

old office desks with a 1/8" piece of steel screwed to the top work perfect for me! Comfortable to sit at and tig weld, plus you have a drawer for your tungstens, ceramic cups, ect. Aluminum isn't a bad idea either, won't scratch your parts and it's more conductive, but more expensive also. I run accross old metal office desks for free all the time, the price is right, they are sturdy and they work good.

 

 

i like that design... its like an I table, eh? what material is your table?

 

Guys check your local scrap yards. I stopped by a scrap yard in hopes of finding a top for my welding table I am in desperate need of, they had just what I needed. It's 3/4 thick, I had them cut it to about 3 feet by 4-5 feet long, perfect size for a top. Anyway I got it for $50!








I decided to use some 2.5" round I had lying around. I will be bracing between legs with 2" round.