May have been mentioned already but steel plate even new is not “flat” by any means.
Especially regular A36 HRS.
You would probably want to spec pickled/oiled and temper pass.
Buying a pre made table will be a little more than DIY but honestly they are a really good value for what you get. Below is one company that sends me catalogs all the time. Figure another grand for a starter clamping set
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a suggestion. go to makertable.com
you can buy the dxf files for 50 bucks for the size table you want. then take that to a laser guy and you can use 1/4" because of the bracing. i would get P&O
I want to replace the 5' X 4' plate on my welding table. I would like at least 1/2".
Any ideas?
Metals depot wants $1,705 for a 4 X 8' sheet (A36)
My local source quoted me $780 a year ago.
Any source that sells clean used drops?
It needs to be flat.
Thanks for ideas.
by me, well an hour away, there's a guy on craigslist. He sells those big plates they use on road ways to cover construction holes.
The price is amazingly good .. but you need to bring a trailer to haul it, they will load it...
I haven't seen it in a few months.
but you may want to check craiglist.. look for roadway plates.
you may want to check craiglist.. look for roadway plates.
I would think they would be warped.
I'm replacing the current plate with a new one due to warpage.
Whoever built this thing welded it to the base. Not a good idea. Maybe a tack here and a small tack there.
PaPa,
Online metals was $1,745 plus shipping.
I may do like Aaron suggested, 1/2' X 6" strips.
I've thought of adding a wood base with a sheet metal top.
I see guys on Youtube with these beautiful thick steel tables and just dream.
Certi-Flat has some nice tables. I may take a second look their way.
I just checked them out >$2,000
How does this compare to what you've seen, Jeff? I've had my eye on it for a while, but I'm just not ready to pull the trigger. My trigger finger is tired and needs rest!
The link would help!
ArcFlat is a modular cast iron weld fixture table featuring 5 perpendicular machined flat surfaces and 336 fixture holes. Ship to your door. No assembly required.
The variety of fabricated tables seem like a much better solution than the old method. Assuming the top is thick enough to sustain whatever pounding or heating a particular use requires, the fabricated lattice structure is an efficient use of material. Now that material is expensive and laser cutting less so, it makes particular sense (to me). I do think the top-surface thickness probably matters a lot (like 3/8” minimum?).
I like the links and ideas shared above, thanks.
I would think they would be warped.
I'm replacing the current plate with a new one due to warpage.
Whoever built this thing welded it to the base. Not a good idea. Maybe a tack here and a small tack there.
I hear what you are saying about over welding.
I agree used road plate would not be flat.
Have you tried heat straightening it? How thick is the current top (sorry if you said above)?