Weld table, what tools are your favorite?

[Jrasband]

die grinder, needle scaler, grinders. I am really wanting a welding table

 

[ArlyA]

Mig pliers? Rather Inexpensive and indispensable once I finally bought them.

I've got two. Didn't take a pic of them.

 

[WranglerX]

I really like your idea. I'm gonna make one for myself. I keep using different methods, hanging my TIG torch or MIG gun off of whatever is convenient. I hate it when the trigger on the MIG gun gets pressed and there is wire all over the floor. Your idea is great. Thanks for the pictures. BTW, I have been TIG welding for over 30 years, MIG welding for over 20 years. You'd think I'd get a clue.
Eric

It only took me something like 10 years or so to figure out I needed gun holder....

 

[Bearsixty7]

My new favorite tool is this simple MIG gun holder.... Got so tired when laying MIG gun down and reeling off a bunch of wire I finally had to make one.... Since there is no hardware/welding supply store locally that has one, yes I made it... Found magnet for $7.99 at local hardware and then a little flat stock and a bit of 3/4 inch "gas" pipe... Yes welds are just "tack's" for now but soon I might finish welding it if I find I like this creation...

View attachment 846550 View attachment 846551

Another nice thing about the welding table with all the holes, I just use any open hole nearby to hold the MIG gun.

 

[Bearsixty7]

This I think is where I got my welding table. I thought they used to do a complete kit with legs and casters, Now you have to order them separately.

ProTop - 24"x36" - Welding Table - WeldTables.com

Transform your welding experience with the Certiflat - 24"x36" ProTop Welding Table. Engineered with tab and slot stiffening ribs, heat control design, and CNC laser cutting technology, this welding table ensures a flat and accurate surface. With +/- .003" precision and compatibility with...

weldtables.com

 

[ArlyA]

I used 1/2 plate from my table. I'd have used 5/8 if I could have readily found some. It came with holes in it and found them quite handy.

 

[Rockbadchild]

Other then the obvious,

Magnetic welding square

adjustable C clamp

C Clamp vise grip

 

[chim]

Table was made from "scraps" at work. What's already mentioned for tools plus assorted Magswitch holders. Added HD casters and a couple brakes. Have a pair of DeWalt 20V grinders and an old corded B&D that comes out occasionally, all 4-1/2". They wear cutoff, flap and grinding wheels. Usually have one of the 1/4" impacts with a wire brush. The heavy old vise is something I wouldn't want to do without. Picked up a Diablo Cermet 7-1/4" circular saw blade. Have only made a few cuts so far, but I like it. Added a 200A Everlast inverter stick welder a while back, so now I can go MIG, fluxcore or stick.

 

[jwmorris]

I was trying to figure out what tool was the handy one but I really need all of them at some point or they wouldn't be there.

This time of year, the heater overhead is nice to have.

I set it up so it will swing around to heat me at the lathe and mill too. Also have a set of wrenches that follow the heat, in arms reach.

What's at the table? Everything that can be.

I use the notcher quite a bit as it makes projects so much faster, one cut and 5 notches makes a frame.

They need a solid bench but solid benches are not very easy to move when you want them somewhere else. So, I made retractable casters that fold up for a solid landing on the adjustable feet and insert a 3/4" rod on each end and latch down to roll it around.

 

[jjeff]

Right angle and pipe clamps?

 

[kenmbz]

Lots of magnets and clamps. And mini-split so I can work whenever.
Love having a lots of magnet clamps, need more though

 

[chim]

Lots of magnets and clamps. And mini-split so I can work whenever.
Love having a lots of magnet clamps, need more though

Yup. One of the pics from my DIY cabfab.

 

[etpm]

I have two vises for welding.One is a big heavy vise that is pretty much fixed in one place and the other is a small, well made, drill press vise. This vise does not have ears for bolting down but instead has flat sides. This means the vise can be in 3 positions for weldingstuff. It is a really handy vise that I bought used and has no sort of name on it. But it gets used a lot.
Eric

 

[jwmorris]

It's too cold in the little shop but after a couple of hours it feels pretty nice near the 4 x 10 cast iron table, with the help of a 150k btu forced air heater blowing under it...

 

[jjeff]

Posted on hf tools thread I believe but this tabletop tube bender has paid for itself and then some in 15 yrs ive owned it for a diy fabricator imo. Built guards, racks for snowmobiles, footrest reinforcements with tunnel extenders handles on various things. Works good with both steel and aluminum has various dies for different diameters, radiuses, and flat stock novice aluminum Spoolgun learning curve not so much. I lagged that old work station into the wall studs bolted bender onto plate of table to make it sturdy when bending. Was very affordable compared to a real floor mounted pedestal type bender and dies with a good eye and some creativity makes nice useful things.

 

[ray66v]

Simple gun holder. Don't over think it.

 

[Renze]

I find a rotary positioner to be pretty handy for making nice welds around things

View attachment 846263

At my apprentice company they welded cow fencing for the neighboring firm (nowadays its outsourced to Poland) and they used such positioner to weld self feeding fence main posts. Just a high reduction industrial reduction with motor, a lathe three-jaw and a potentiometer to control the speed.

At an air suspension and aftermarket tag axle manufacturer i worked, they welded axles by switching the MIG gun by a relay, together with the horizontal axle rotator. The MIG gun was clamped to a stand, and all they did was hit the button and bend the MIG gun a bit for the next bead. And those beads looked gorgeous ! Perfection every time, because all they had to do is position the gun perfect

 

[LightningCamaroGuy]

What welding table tools do I want? Anything that will allow me to catch a breeze, while keeping it away from my gas.

Maybe I need to invest more in arc welding. I prefer stick to flux, but I've seen a dedicated flux setup that wasn't trying to be some combo, flux/mig rig. I'm pretty sure that this was a flux/mig welder, but this one was always set up with flux wire, and it was easy to make a really good, and pretty weld with. It was an old Miller. But generally I find stick welding easier than getting a nice looking weld with flux. I'm a tool maker though, and welding isn't my best contribution to the trade.

 

[jwmorris]

What welding table tools do I want? Anything that will allow me to catch a breeze, while keeping it away from my gas.

Squirrel cage fan, under the bench. Blows on you, not your work.

That said, now that it's cold as heck, why do I only need to use a rosebud when its in the triple digits?

 

[ArlyA]

What welding table tools do I want? Anything that will allow me to catch a breeze, while keeping it away from my gas.

Maybe I need to invest more in arc welding. I prefer stick to flux, but I've seen a dedicated flux setup that wasn't trying to be some combo, flux/mig rig. I'm pretty sure that this was a flux/mig welder, but this one was always set up with flux wire, and it was easy to make a really good, and pretty weld with. It was an old Miller. But generally I find stick welding easier than getting a nice looking weld with flux. I'm a tool maker though, and welding isn't my best contribution to the trade.

MIG puts out the least smoke.