How to Build a Welding Table With a 12-Inch Steel Plate

Welding is the process of thermally joining two pieces of metal. It is used for a variety of applications that fabricate products using metal. Rather than doing all of your welding on the floor of your shop, most workshops have a welding table. The following project is for a welding table that uses a 12-inch steel plate for the top. It's a suitable project for novice welders because it teaches many of the welding skills that will be used on future projects. Still, you might want to have an experienced hand around to help out if need be.

4 steel plates for top (12" X 6’ X 3/8”)
Metal sheet for shelf (41” x 65” x 1/8”)
3 20-foot lengths of square tubing (2 x 2 x 1/8”)
16-gauge sheet metal (4’ x 6’)
Flat bar stock (1” x ¼” x 7 ½”)
Mesh (11½” x 11½”)
Flat bar stock for plasma grate (1” x ¼” x 10’)
2 angle iron for plasma grate support (¾” x ¾” x 12”)
4 angle iron for securing plasma chute (¾” x ¾” x 12 ½”)
3 inches pipe (2" diameter)
¼” round bar stock for torch holders, tool holders, etc.
4 steel plate for mounting wheels (4” x 4 ½” x ¼”)
2 stationary wheels (1000-pound rating)
2 swivel wheels with locks (1000-pound rating)
16 bolts for wheels ( 3/8’ x 1/2")
Vise
Plasma cutter
Welding equipment
Wire cutter
Drill
4” grinder
Metal cutting saw
Tape measure
Square
Clamps
Marker
Welding helmet
Welding gloves

Instructions

- 1
  Cut the following pieces from the 20-foot lengths of 2" x 2" square tubing, as detailed below:
  
  Tube 1: 3 pieces at 65 inches; 1 piece at 37 inches
  Tube 2: 4 pieces at 37 inches; 1 piece at 65 inches; 2 pieces at 12 inches
  Tube 3: 1 piece at 37 inches; 4 pieces at 27 inches; 1 piece at 47 inches
  
  Debur each piece.
- 2
  Assemble the bottom of the frame. Lay out two 37-inch tubing pieces and two 65-inch pieces in a rectangle, with the 37-inch pieces between the 65-inch pieces. Tack weld the pieces.
- 3
  Assemble the top of the frame. Repeat the bottom frame layout for the top frame, inserting another 37-inch tubing approximately 12 inches up from one end. Brace this piece with two pieces of 12-inch tubing, spaced 12 inches apart. Connect the other end of the frame with the 37-inch tubing that spans the rectangle with the 47-inch length of tubing, centered in the opening. Tack weld all pieces.
- 4
  Complete the frame. Tack weld the 27-inch lengths of tubing to each corner of the bottom frame. Set the top frame on the legs and tack weld into place. Check for squareness of all components. Finish weld all junctions and grind the welds to ensure they are flat.
- 5
  Attach the wheels. Drill the wheel plates and weld each to the bottom of the frame. Attach the wheels.
- 6
  Install the shelf. Cut the shelving so that it is approximately 1/4-inch short around the inside of the frame, including notches for the corners. Weld into place using 3-inch welds.
- 7
  Create the work tabletop. Weld the four pieces of 12-inch steel plate together. Place the pieces on top of the work table and cut to the exact size of the top of your table frame. From underneath the top, while it sits on the frame, mark the location of the center, 12-inch by 12-inch opening at one end of the top of the frame. Remove the tabletop and cut out this hole, which will be the chute opening. Next, weld the tabletop to the frame.
- 8
  Cut the pieces for the plasma chute. From the 16-gauge sheet cut the following:
  
  3 pieces 12 1/2" x 26 3/4" for the sides and back
  1 piece 12 1/2" x 12 1/2" for the bottom
  1 piece 12 1/2" x 19 1/4" for the front
  1 piece 12" x 12 1/4" for the chute drawer bottom
  2 pieces 7" x 12 1/4" for the drawer sides
  1 piece 7" x 12" for the drawer back
  1 piece 8 1/4" x 12 1/2" for the drawer front
- 9
  Build and attach the chute. Cut a 3-inch hole in the back of the chute and attach the pipe length. Assemble the drawer pieces and weld them into place. Assemble the remainder of the chute so that the drawer will rest in the bottom, and weld. Align the chute with the chute opening, under the tabletop, and weld the bottom of the chute into place on the shelf.
- 10
  Construct the chute grate. Cut six pieces of angle iron to length to span the chute opening. Evenly space and weld into place.

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