welding table top what thickness needed /

[Tejas]

Mine is a 1/2” top. Very happy with it. If I was concerned, and I am not, I would probably weld some C channel underneath it. Bought it as scrap from a local metal salvage place in San Antonio.

 

[pmsmechanic]

I was fortunate enough in my younger years (mid 20's) to find a 3x5 foot piece of 5/8ths flat for a welding table. It was at the back of a scrap yard and I could flip it end for end to walk it too where I could slide it into the back of my pickup. Now I'm in my late 50's and I can't even lift the thing but it has been a awesome welding table for many years.

 

[KFhunter]

I'm fixing to make a welding table here soon

found some used plate for sale, smallest piece is 40" x 244" x 3/4" $650 or 60" x 244" x 3/4 $1000


Thinkin on making 3 tables and selling off two of them lol

 

[bigtiller]

I'm fixing to make a welding table here soon

found some used plate for sale, smallest piece is 40" x 244" x 3/4" $650 or 60" x 244" x 3/4 $1000


Thinkin on making 3 tables and selling off two of them lol

It would be fun to have a 5' x 20' table though. A guy wouldn't have to clear it off for a project, just move to another spot.

 

[KFhunter]

It would be fun to have a 5' x 20' table though. A guy wouldn't have to clear it off for a project, just move to another spot.

if a guy had the shop space for such a beast. could always put wheels and a hitch on it - drag it around with the tractor lol

 

[DieselMonkey]

Just finished up my welding table build about 2 months ago, I used 1/2 plate for the top, 1/4 wall rectangular tubing for the frame, 12GA for the bottom shelf and 3X3X3/8 angle for the pipe channel. Weighs in at 1106 lbs with the wheels

 

[Groo]

If you want to hold your piece at a comfortable height, all that matters is that it is the right height and can handle the weight of your project.

If you just want some you can tack your work to to ground, 1/4" will do it.

If you want hold your piece perfectly square, level and straight as you put it together, you probably really one a specialized cast table, ground perfectly flat and, with adjustable feet and precisely placed and sized anchor holes.

I worked on a pile of firewood all the way up to the fancy cast and ground table. I've got an old medical exam table lined up for my next welding table. I'll probably top it with 1/4"

 

[Tor Arne]

I made my welding table of what I found at home, it resulted in plate was 4x3 feet and 3 inches thick. Not very concerned that it will bend

 

[downsizingnow48]

For years and years, if I was lucky, I had a piece of plate on a couple sawhorses. Anyway I never had the need for a big heavy table. Just today I bought this little table, it is adjustable for height, tilt, has edge guides and clamp slots, weighs about 50 lbs. Just right for me, I need something easy to move between our two homes. Anything too heavy I can always go back to the plate/sawhorse plan or just weld it where it sits.

 

[Oliver1655]

My welding table is built with 1/4" x 4" angle iron for the frame with the flange pointed outward with a 4x8' sheet of 3/8" flat on top. This allows me to clamp along the edges. It is on casters. Heavy but will roll.

I also have a simple 2' square frame made with 3/16 x 2" angle iron without a top. This is handy for cradling odd shaped objects & is easy to clamp to. I find myself using this a lot! It has a brace about 2" off the ground so I can turn it upside down if I have something which can roll & the 2" high legs sticking up will prevent it from rolling off.

I have another frame made from 1/4" x 3" angle iron which cradles a piece of rail road rail & a large hunk of steel (2" by 5" tall capped with a 1" x 5" wide flat that I use for anvils.

I will also lay out larger projects on trailers to have them at standing height.

It all depends on what you will be doing as what works best.

 

[guyonahog]

Mine is made from a piece of 1/2" 3x5 plate. Welded some legs on it and it works like a champ. Im no exper,t but depending on how much and what you are welding, it appears from the answers here that you can use almost anything

 

[dragoneggs]

It would be fun to have a 5' x 20' table though. A guy wouldn't have to clear it off for a project, just move to another spot.

Yeah my thinking too but I will fill it with crap somehow.

 

[Jesse masterson]

Well I went lighter than everyone ! Mine is a 4 by 8 sheet of 1/8 inch! Using washers for the vice I've bent heavy steel but the edges are reinforced with 2 inch angle! Plenty solid for me!

 

[dragoneggs]

1/2in thick plate for me with generous overhang but my table is only 4ft long.

 

[kubotakid USA]

Speeking from experience, it's not how thick your top is as much as ,..how level it is..from left to right and ect.. Over hang is a huge consideration.. Meaning,.u need to be able to clamp the metal down using a common c clamp without bs frame issues. The best table I have ever used was framed out of 2x6 oak. And caped with 1/8 plate steel.
I don't care what you intend to do with any work table...it should have a slab of thick steel about 10x20" x1"thick that you can maneuver around the work top...something you can hammer on,..drill on,..paint on,..pound your head on,..What ever,...personally,..I don't pound on my benches...I pound on the piece of Slab steel that's 1" thick.. So don't consern yourself with how thick your table needs to be ,..If your
Gona Beat The **** Outa It..be smart and use a 1" plate of steel that you can abuse and move around
And I also need to add,..that you can do wonders when you need to straighten a piece of steel, if you have this moveable flat piece of anvil plate. And the fact that you can pick it up and set it aside,..leaving your welding table completely flat is priceless.. A flat level 1/4 " table is thick enough if you use a 1" thick moveable slab like I have described. To each his own....kubotakid USA