Recommendations for a welding/assembly/alignment table.
 

Hi All,

I'm working on getting my shop set up a bit and I feel that a great way to get going is to get a welding table or something similar that I can use to lay everything out. I'm also looking at trying to keep it budget friendly as well. I have come across this https://weldtables.com/collections/p...swivel-casters and thought it might work out well for being somewhat of an entry level table.

Are there others out there that are similar? Or maybe some different entirely that I'm missing (I'm sure there are a ton)?

Thanks in advance.

Brandon

steel or granite?

Not sure to be honest. I've seen both. I'm not that knowledgeable yet to know what would be best. At first guess, I would say steel.

Slick. If I had a tig machine that table would be in my shop!

An alignment table is at the heart of the way I build frames. It also serves as a base for the design/spotting fixture I have laser cut and etched to my specifications. Since it is a tool in constant use it isn’t something I would want to compromise on. The choice of table material would partly depend on how permanent the location is of your shop. A 3’ X 4’ granite or cast iron table (the best choice) can weigh a ton (figuratively and almost literally) making it difficult to ship or move again.

There are several amateur options. One is to build a substructure/base out of whatever and pour a special epoxy top that hardens flat. Another is to use a scrap of granite counter top. One of the alignment tables in my shop is cast aluminum by the Wolverine Bronze Company. It’s advantage is it comparatively light weight (under 200 lbs) so it can be reasonably mobil if necessary. The disadvantage is its $1500 price.

I prefer a bigger table than the one in your link. While it is possible to align a front triangle on a 2’ X 3’ table, a bigger one is more desirable so the rear triangle can be checked on the table as well.

a big machine shop can surface machine a fairly thick steel plate, flat . and bore a few clamp holes for holding down the BB shell
then you can have an alignment table to get frames straight to a close tolerance..


The granite countertop sheets are fairly flat . they have been ground and polished, put not to a precision machinist's standards..
and of course magnetic base tools wont stick.






...

Thank you all. It would seem that steel might be my best option at this point.
[MENTION=554]doug[/MENTION] - That table from WB is pretty legit, but you're right about it's price disadvantage for me at this point. The company in my link, also has a 3'x4' table which I'd probably lean towards if I went that way.
[MENTION=197614]fietsbob[/MENTION] - How think of a steel plate would you recommend that I look for if I go that way?

Weld it to the base, so it wont flex and my guess.. 3/4 inch .. Doug Is a builder *, I just worked in a Shipyard, which had that kind of equipment..
my Father was the Machinist there ..
*I just built one DIY frame , lugged , borrowed space and equipment.. no money to pursue it further.. but I still have that bike..
Bike shop mechanic for some years..
the made to purpose alignment tables are cast steel so have stiffening ribs on the back..

delivery by freight, truck , with their own fork lift.. Strawberry Cycles in Portland had a Distributor deal
with one of the Italian companies making bike building specialist factory equipment




.....

I built a simple welding table for about $200 that works pretty decent. I've built 1 frame and a fork so far, and in the process of my 2nd frame.

Thanks all! I ended up ordering this today: https://weldtables.com/collections/p...swivel-castors. They gave me a bit of a discount as well and thought it would be perfect starting out. Looking forward to getting it all dialed in and start using it.