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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Blue Mtns
    Posts
    115

    Default Making a welding table from a surface plate

    I have a 1000x500 surface plate that I am thinking of drilling with 16mm holes @50mm or 100mm centers to be multi use. I’ve never used it as a high accuracy surface plate and would have just as much use if not more as a welding jig table. Looked at the certiweld tables and though they seem a great concept have a few short comings in practical use. The most being you need to bolt all your jigs and clamps in where as with the cast tables the clamps hold them selves in the deeper 16mm holes !

    Interested to to hear from anybody done similar?

    Plan would be clamp it to the mill and go for it. Most likely pilot drill a 6-8mm holes first maybe even freehand then use a slot drill on the mill mapped out with dro . Re clocking up as I have to move the head to cover the whole area .

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Mackay North Qld
    Posts
    6,446

    Default

    Hi achjimmy,

    I betcha this post will generate some comments.

    As surface tables are an item commonly sought in these forums I can see the thought of doing what you propose making a few eyebrows rise

    Here is an idea I'll throw out there.

    Perhaps an alternate solution might be that someone seeking a surface table- assuming yours is in good condition- might propose to make you a super dooper custom table welding in a swap for your surface table.

    Of course I realise it is your table to do with what you want to, but some of our contributors may think of you as the equivalent of a metal working Phillistine

    Just a thought though.
    Be nice to each other, fellas

    Grahame

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Sep 2009
    Location
    Newcastle
    Posts
    341

    Default

    Is the surface plate damaged or in poor condition? If it's in terrible condition and you don't want to recondition it, then it's a reasonable consideration. If it's in good condition, I wouldn't do it.

    I'd like a plate that big. Would be happy to buy it off you.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2018
    Location
    Lismore Northern NSW
    Age
    50
    Posts
    81

    Default

    I'm thinking of making a welding/fabrication table too with the grid of holes but with a bought piece of thick steel sheet. I want to combine mine with a rotary table and have the whole table round and rotatable. The other option for making the holes is getting them laser cut but I don't yet know what it would cost. Would be good to stick with one of the standard hole sizes so can buy the various clamps and jigs (0.625" for Buildpro, 28mm or 16mm for Siegmund).

    Good luck with it!

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2011
    Location
    Murray Bridge S Aust.
    Age
    71
    Posts
    5,942

    Default

    As pippin stated "Is the surface plate damaged or in poor condition? If it's in terrible condition and you don't want to recondition it, then it's a reasonable consideration. If it's in good condition, I wouldn't do it."
    Just had a look on Ebay, a 12" square plate, is $499 from India!!! Going on the size you've given, your plate, if in reasonable condition would be worth about $2000 !!!! I personally wouldn't do it either!!!
    I picked up a nice piece of plate that was surface ground
    30mm steel plate that measures 810x860, with 20mm ribbing for $125.
    To buy a piece of plate to do a welding bench, would probably cost around $250-$300.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Location
    Perth, Western Australia
    Age
    67
    Posts
    362

    Default

    If I was going to do another welding table and I had a large enough mill I would do it all in the mill with a broach cutter.
    Next would be laser cut the whole top plate, or if the cost is to much at least a mag base drill with a broach cutter.

    As I had time and no money I built a few things to help but it was still about 50 hours. 6mm, 10mm, 14mm holes then tapped to 5/8". Table is 1500mm x 950mm x 25mm x 126 holes. (never again, I hope).

    //metalworkforums.com/f160/t202339-welding-table


    How thick is the surface plate?

    Tony

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    NSW
    Posts
    586

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by KBs PensNmore View Post

    I picked up a nice piece of plate that was surface ground
    30mm steel plate that measures 810x860, with 20mm ribbing for $125.
    Last time I priced up a 1200x2400 sheet of 20mm plate, it was about $800.
    The mother of all welding tables would set you back under a grand when you throw some heavy wall RHS at it and a few electrodes...

    I'm firmly in the negative camp here...

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Blue Mtns
    Posts
    115

    Default

    Thanks everyone. The plate is good condition iirc but not perfect. Hasn’t been used much for years. I really like the CertiFlat tables but they just need to be thicker like the strong hand so the clamps hold of there own accord. Maybe if I do it I’ll laminate the top with alloy or piece of fibro and drill through both so when I weld it’s protected but can still used as a table . I am not likely to be doing any Uber accurate tool room stuff any more just hobby/odd jobs and I am sure it’ll still work for me even if bored full of holes

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Dec 2007
    Location
    Sydney
    Posts
    395

    Default Home built welding table.

    I converted this 1500 x 600 bench that was left in my shed.
    8mm thick top drilled at 50mm centres to suit the hold downs etc from H & F.
    I bolted down the Arboga and swung the head sideways moving the bench.
    Got one end and a couple of long rows and gave up and borrowed a broach from where I used to work.
    I also got the young guy who runs the water jet cutter to do me a jig on a piece of 1500 long scrap.
    Still getting it together but the old drawers are a start, just need to ad a rail for the grinders and maybe a low level tilt able vice.
    Re adapting surface plates why not chase up an old printers stone.
    Scored this a few decades ago, it’s about 4’ x 5’ from an old printing shop at Wagga.
    Weighs a bit but the locals helped me load it onto the ute for all the old type stored under it.
    It has a 15mm top and ribbing under.
    Not perfectly flat about 1mm in the centre but good enough for a Patternfakir.
    H.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Jimcracks for the rich and/or wealthy. (aka GKB '88)

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Lindenow
    Age
    50
    Posts
    869

    Default

    Just my 2c worth, But I would be building a welding table and either selling the surface plate or keeping it for occasional use.
    If you build and sell the surface plate there would be a healthy profit to buy more tools....

    Matt...
    Warning Disclaimer

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