Welding table advice?

[TheBeast_88K5]

<---- First time workbench owner, here!


I'm getting a homemade welding table from an In-law.
It's really well built.

The design is pretty basic.

It's two levels (Top/storage), on rollers, has a spot to hold your gun, clamps, and grinders, etc.
Even has a really nice vise attached to it!

Any suggestions of what to add on, or even cut out?
I vaguely remember someone cutting a section out of their bench top, for some reason.

Anyways, any suggestions on what to add to the bench would be great.
Even suggestions for things you like to have around the bench would help.


Approx. measurements are ~2.5' x 6'....
It's a sturdy work surface, that's for sure.

EDIT: Pic's tomoro....

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

OKay.... This is the weird cutout I was thinking of:

What is this for?:dunno:

 

[big pappa b]

Plasma cutter error ;-)

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

Plasma cutter error ;-)

 

[Smokinthehippies]

only thing i can thing of is if your using the table to cut something you can have it supported on both sides of the cut so you dont have to use one hand to hold/let the free piece drop to the floor.
atleast, thats what i'd use it for...

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

I guess that makes sense...

I came across that pic in google images, and thought it looked interesting.
The link for the site was broken, tho.
So, I lack the explanation.

Maybe the cut out is for extra welding space!

It occurs to me that you could weld more easily,
or at least without having to move yer peice around as much.

For instance, Welding corner joints for a box would be easier.
The two sides would be easy to get the gun on, comfortably...

The slots are still a complete mystery to me.
I guess you could use them for clamps...

I think I'll make a cutout in my bench, but the slots are a no go.

 

[NorCal_Chris]

I wouldn't cut it. It looks like something sat there in those slots and was bolted down, and musta wend sown in that groove. 5 big tables at my dad's shop and none have cuts. Seems like it would just get in the way

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

I wouldn't cut it. It looks like something sat there in those slots and was bolted down, and musta wend sown in that groove. 5 big tables at my dad's shop and none have cuts. Seems like it would just get in the way

Not even the cut-out?
I guess you'd know better than I...





-------------------------------------------------------------
EDIT:

Nevermind, I get what you mean.
Like it fit in the slots, and needed the square cut-out for clearance.

Took me a second, there...
------------------------------------------------------------

 

[Smokinthehippies]

i was gonna say either that.
or maybe a jig that they used for part fitment?
who the crap knows...probably only the guy that cut the holes out.

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

i was gonna say either that.
or maybe a jig that they used for part fitment?
who the crap knows...probably only the guy that cut the holes out.

Eh... I'll just leave it as is.

I wanna add a slider-drawer, under the top...

Kinda like this:

 

[NorCal_Chris]

A drawer would be nice.

My dads table at work has a big drawer he made full of different size shims. 20 or so of each size. 1/32 1/16 1/8... etc. super handy.

Also has a spot that holds a bracket that has 3 poles. One for sanding discs, one for grinding wheels, and one for cuttoff wheels.

2 power blocks with 4 sockets for pluggin crap in. And i think that is it.

 

[rdn2blazer]

bETTER THEN A CUT OUT IS A BUNCH OF 1/2-13 DRILLED & TAPPED HOLES FOR BOLTING DOWN THINGS AND USING TOE CLAMPS FOR fixturing and clamping stuff down for welding. Rent a mag drill and get a goos cobalt drill & 1/2-13 tap, layout and drill & power tap a bunch of holes. Check out my thread.


http://coloradok5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=266422&highlight=drilling+table

 

[cybrfire]

Take the vise off the table and reattach via a reciever tube setup underneath, so you don't lose the bench top space for something you may not need all the time. Now you can use the reciever tube for attaching other items.

You can get some round tube like a engine stand has on the top and make up some basic turners that you can clamp items to and roll them over. Makes things very handy. Don't forget, if you put it right on a flat edge, its hard to get to the back side but if you come off a corner it gives you some angle to get to the back side.

 

[TheBeast_88K5]

Thanks for the suggestions, everyone!
I love this community!

If you have any more idea's, or things you've figured out that make life easier;
Please, feel free to let me know...

 

[rdn2blazer]

Make a circle cutting fixture tool to mount in the center of the table for a plasma cutter. You know you want one of those too for later on.