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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
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    6,446

    Default Show us your weld table jigs,fixtures, clamps and hold downs

    In the General Metal forum Petip posted a little ripper weld table made from a lathe faceplate. The slots in it facilitate some ideal opportunities for all sorts of weld tooling goodies

    It prompted me to think about the different jigs, fixtures, clamps, hold downs and other clever doo hickeys we either have and use on the tables or would like to buy or make.


    Lets have exchanges of ideas ,opinions and especially pics of what you have or what you would like to have on your welding table.


    Here's a few I have or would like .


    tig C Cl Hold down.jpgtig jig vise grips.jpgF23T5TF1SRERF7G2EC.MEDIUM.jpgHelping Hands.jpg



    lets see your ideas


    Grahame

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Adelaide
    Age
    68
    Posts
    1,373

    Default

    Best "jig" I've ever bought is the 2m x 1m Stronghand table and assorted tooling, much better than crawling around on the concrete floor. It's easy to make your own fittings for the table using 16mm round for the pins. It also gets use as a set-up table for kart chassis when checking and measuring for accident damage.

    One of the handiest things I've made to assist in setting up is the 3rd-hand idea borrowed from Jody's tips and tricks videos. Just a couple of large ball bearing balls, a bit of scrap and some silicon bronze at the contact points.

    Other gadgets are a couple of knackered drill press vices used to hold odd shape parts on the table and an assortment of scrap aluminium chunks to use as chill blocks when welding stainless. Judiciously used to back welds they can also remove the need to back-purge in some circumstances.

    When setting up work on the floor the Record 90 degree clamps are invaluable. They were a reasonable cost when I started buying them 40 years ago but are not cheap now. If you can pick some up second hand they are very robust and well worth acquiring.

    I also have a 4' diameter lathe face plate from the now defunct Perry Engineering works in Adelaide. At 1" thick it makes a brilliant welding table. As far as I can recall it cost me a dozen long-necks 30 odd years ago. Transporting it in the boot of my EH Holden was an interesting exercise to say the least.


    20151230_120604_resized.jpgIMG_2988-1.jpg20150726_141142_resized.jpg20151227_123820_resized_1.jpg

  3. #3
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    7,182

    Default

    I keep meaning to make a few jigs similar to the ones shown by Graeme above but still haven't hit on a design that gives me the greatest flexibility.

    My welding table is small (600 x 900mm) as I mainly do small things and it fits under my fume hood/extractor which is one of the best things I did in my shed.

    The table has a quickly removable 6"" offset vice and no fixed top,

    If required I can remove the vice completely, and/or, lay and clamp various sheets and flat bars on top in positions that suit what I'm doing.

    My selections of top are
    - full size (900 x 600 mm) sheets of 6 mm steel or Al.
    - half size (425 x 600 mm) 6 mm steel and Al, allows me to leave a 100 mm gap in the middle
    - various sizes of 6, 8 and 10 mm x 100 and 150 mm steel bars.

    This was not a deliberate upfront strategy but one that has evolved over time and I realise this system is not for everyone but it works for me.

    Mostly I have the 2 half size sheets and the vice on the table.

    There are times when I would like a bigger table but its not that often - besides I have no more room to put one.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    1,656

    Default

    If i showed you my welding table you would all be doubled up laughing

  5. #5
    BobL is offline Member: Blue and white apron brigade
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
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    7,182

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by China View Post
    If i showed you my welding table you would all be doubled up laughing
    Go on give us a laugh.

    Sounds like my WW bench for 20 years, a plywood door on two cardboard boxes for a while.
    I eventually did up grade to two sagging home made trestles I found during council pick up week.
    In 2006 I found the WW forums and that inspired make something I could at least put a piece of 4 x 2" on without it moving.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    South Australia
    Posts
    1,656

    Default

    I will doing some welding on the week end all going to plan I will take some pics, but remember you asked for it

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    moonbi nsw Aus
    Age
    69
    Posts
    364

    Default

    I think this thread is a good idea. I really enjoy visiting other blokes sheds to see how they do what they do and what they use to do it. Many a time I have seen things that are sooooo simple but never would they have come out of my brain. I think we all need different types of stimuli to keep us going
    Just do it!

    Kind regards Rod

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
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    6,446

    Default

    Some more pics for you blokes.
    These are things I have fabbed up

    No. 1 An angle section square made to align sections for tacking.-Drop in Sq cut sections and clamp up & tack.
    No. 2 A pair of vee blocks-for tacking rod and keeping alignment. Also handy in the horizontal b saw
    No. 3 A positioner from a tow ball that takes extensions and attachments.
    No. 4 The extension and adjuster that attach to the positioner via a 12mm connector nut.
    No. 5 The face of the sliding clamp seen in pic 4 - rotatable.

    Angle section Square.jpgVee blocks from angle section.jpgWeld postioner from towball.JPGadjuster different view.jpgSliding clamp on rating frame.jpg

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
    Location
    moonbi nsw Aus
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    69
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    Default

    Grahame....those few jigs look to be extremely handy. Especially the towball set up, can you show us a little more of how it moves and locks into position? Do we have your permission to duplicate some for our own projects? (Industrial espionage at its best )
    Just do it!

    Kind regards Rod

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
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    Mackay North Qld
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    Default

    Anybody who wishes to use anything I post is more than welcome to do so. Anyway, I pinched the basic idea myself as it was originally a design for positioning wood carvers blocks during carving.Its just been tweaked for my purposes.

    You will need a lathe to make the tool.The basic idea is that the towball fits in a pipe sized somewhere near towball OD. The tow ball is trapped between two shaped ( radiused ) washers (for want of a better word) The 2 washers are turned on one of their sides to suit the radius of the ball.

    TIP
    try to keep the washers spread near to the neck diameter spacing of the towball, but spread enough to allow the neck to swivel down to horizontal.

    The top washer (slotted to pass the swing travel of the towball neck as is the pipe ) is fixed by tacking and the bottom washer floats free under the towball. The floating washer is compressed against the towball with a 10mm threaded rod passing through a tapped hole in a base plate step turned to fit into the pipe and tack welded. The threaded rod ( just cheap allthread ) has a Tee handle welded on. Shape the end of the rod as a half ball shape-it reduces friction and makes for easy turning of the handle.

    A bracket is welded to the pipe and the appropriate bench clamp or fitting made up to suit.

    The towball has its neck original diameter reduced a bit, in the lathe. I welded on a 10 mm joiner nut to take attachments. I did originally not make the slot in the pipe deep enough and consequently the travel was only about 80 degrees instead of the intended 90 degrees. It only was fixed when I painted it. Thats why I tack jobs as its far easier to go back for adjustments.

    Sorry about the photos as they don't show the internals,but I trust the explanation above is clear.

    Theres no drawings but I believe there a chap on homemade tools that can design such things for us

    WP_20160429_15_28_00_Smart.jpgWP_20160429_15_27_37_Smart.jpgWP_20160429_15_26_55_Smart.jpgWP_20160429_15_26_04_Smart.jpg

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Oz
    Age
    73
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    459

    Default

    My welding bench is quite small, topped with 700mm x 800mm 1/4" thick stainless top, tacked to a 50mm RHS framework underneath it's reasonably flat. I did want a larger one of course but the cost of a decent size steel plate was more than I was willing to spend so I added to it with a 4' long wooden extension with a formboard top, the top being level with the stainless top. I spotted the stainless plate in a scrap metal yard in Maryborough quite a few years ago, he only wanted $20 for it so I grabbed it before he changed his mind.

    Formboard is quite flat and works quite well for setting up, problem is the surface does get burnt and marks quite easily. The wood section slides in to supports welded to the steel bench and is locked in place by a couple of pins. This bench does double duty for woodwork, metalwork and whatever else I need it for. If I ever come across a cheap, larger piece of steel I'll replace it, but for now this'll do.

    I also added a smaller section on the lathe side for use when when turning, this section is supported on tubes that slide into the RHS under the stainless plate and isn't level so is removed when needed.

    I had put aside some bits and pieces to construct some of the gizmos pictured in this thread, but it's now beyond me, hopefully things will improve and one day I can finish them off.
    Attached Images Attached Images

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2009
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    moonbi nsw Aus
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    364

    Default

    Well you know whats going to have to happen now.....got to cut some steel and machine steel then weld steel......more fun
    Just do it!

    Kind regards Rod

  13. #13
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
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    71
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by sacc51 View Post
    I had put aside some bits and pieces to construct some of the gizmos pictured in this thread, but it's now beyond me, hopefully things will improve and one day I can finish them off.
    I love looking at others work areas, some I think are for show, coz they're waaay to clean, obviously not very busy as they can cleanup as they go.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Sep 2011
    Location
    Ballarat
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    65
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    3,103

    Default

    Hi Grahame
    I just have to say I love the tow ball swivel mount.
    One of the simplest and handiest things I have seen in a long time
    Many thanks.

    Phil

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Feb 2015
    Location
    Oz
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    459

    Default Clean as.

    Quote Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore View Post
    I love looking at others work areas, some I think are for show, coz they're waaay to clean, obviously not very busy as they can cleanup as they go.
    Kryn
    That would be my shed, super clean most of the time. Can't use a broom anymoe so bought a variable speed, cordless blower, these things are great, no dust and it gets in to all the places a broom can't, should have bought one years ago. Great for cleaning the lathe too. Told the wife it was for her to use in the garden - she's happy!

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