Building a new welding and fixture table for my tiny garage, and even with judicious space maximisation it can really only be about 900x600. That said I dont want to spend huge amounts on it and so doing things so that it can be as flexible as possible.


I considered just picking up a Certiflat welding table in the earlier H&F sale this year, but after looking at them they seem a little flimsy for some of the other uses i was thinking of for this table.


A local steel store was basically giving away some lengths of 150x10 flat bar, and i picked up some 65x65x6mm RHS to go with my 50x50x3 that I have been using for the machine stands. Planning on using the 65x65 as a receiver for mounting tools on, in the same fashion as a trailer hitch, only vertical. Main tools will be a 6" offset vice, bench grinder, ring roller, lever shear and a handful of other tools that need a convenient receptacle.


Came up with this design for the table in a rather boring afternoon conference call yesterday:



Havent locked down the height yet, but probably something around 850mm overall.


The framework under the flat bar top uses 50x50x5 angle iron to support the flat bar and tie the legs together. The flat bar will be secured to the angle iron using M10 countersunk socket screws, and designed so that they are replaceable if needed. Im undecided about putting a pair of smaller braces across or under the middle, but may end up doing that to just reinforce against sagging.


Feet are standard hockey puck feet with M16 thread for securing, and I will probably also put an M16 jam bolt on each upright to add lateral pressure to the receivers. Bottom is centrally braced so i can fit the TIG pedal under easily.


Fixtures will be drilled on 3" (75mm) centres, which I think is a good balance between having enough points of contact for fabrication and strength in the plates.


Any suggestions?


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