Several years ago, I bought a welding table from Harbor Freight. I am finally getting back to using it, and have some questions. My table has three long slots on the top. I have seen others that have a series of (I think) 5/8" holes in them. I have seen a series of holding fixtures that fit the holes, but there seem to be little if anything made for the slots. Are these intended to be used with ordinary tools, such as "C"-clamps and those odd-shaped vice-grips, or is there a line of special tools I just haven't found yet? I think I bought the wrong table type, but it's a little late now.
StrongHand Tools does some clamps and fixtures for slotted tables. Also depends on the type of slotted table. There are the ones that everyone ripped off from StrongHand like the one Anthony posted or there are ones that are made up from steel bars that have spaces between them. If it's the one like the StrongHand one I use the spring loaded C Clamps with magnetic bases similar to the ones in Anthony's pic. Like these: https://www.stronghandtools.com/products/magspring?_pos=3&_sid=6b6cdd7e1&_ss=r
I have 2 of those tables from harbor freight, and like Anthony, I use c-clamps and c-clamp Vise-grips, and odd sections of whatever steel s**** fits the setup. Seems like I can never get to my original welding table… Here it’s relatively empty, and I have since removed the tube bender. This is the usual state of the bench. And yes you can have enough clamps, but I haven’t gotten there yet…
I have both HF tables, on the slotted I've used C-clamps and what I've done is keep a couple of s****s, like 2"x1/4" strap about 3 or 4 inches long. I put the C-clamp thru the slot, put the strap piece across the slot on the bottom of the table and clamp against the strap on the bottom and my piece across the top... I do love my other table though, would love to buy another one and mount them together. The second table is one of my most favorite tools in the shop and very handy at times... ...
It sounds like there are specialized tools for the "hole" tables, but not for the "slotted" tables. Just as I thought. I can improvise with the best of 'em, so I'll get by. I'm looking forward to getting the Stronghand clamp and see how it fits in.
dont have a slotted welding table. I wonder if the T-slot nuts from a milling machine would fit those slots, that is how I hold down fixtures on the mill.
there was a time when I would buy every $10.00 pair of C-clamp Vice grips I would see at the swap meet. has anyone ever referred to C-clamp vice grips as "cowboys"? when I first got into being an elevator constructor a guy flipped out because he asked for "cowboys" and I had no idea what he was talking about. I told him I have 15 pairs of C-clamp vice grips at home, but no cowboys.
I've been involved in the welding industry for nearly 40 years, I've never heard C-clamp vice grips called "cowboys", that may be a regional thing, or just at the welding shop he was at.
I worked with fabricators/***emblers that were real jokers, they knew I took my work as a machinist pretty seriously, when they questioned a part for dimension they would come into the machine shop and say bring your "clamp" (micrometer) and measure something.
Did you ask them how big of a "clamp" you needed? When I worked in factory maintenance/ heavy machine repair, you had to be a practical joker, even to the point of being a smart ***, to survive. Both production workers and upper management were always pretty mad when the machines went down. Most thought it was our fault when they ran the machines at 2x the designed speed of operation when the machine failed, and couldn't be operational in 5 minutes.
Used to work at a place where my stupidvisor was screaming idiot. If there was a problem, he would just pitch a fit and say, "We don't have time for that, we'll fix it later!" When something major finally went wrong, he'd have a meltdown and blame us for it. "Why didn't you tell me there was a problem?" Our response was always the same: "You said we'd fix it later. Later's here." He was in such a rush to get things done that we never had time to do it right, but we always had time to do it over. I could tell a lot of stories about him... On a brighter note, another place I worked at had some old equipment that was being s****ped; one was mounted on a 2' x 4' table of 5/8" or so precision ground steel plate, complete with wheels to roll it around. I drilled/tapped a pattern of 1/2"-13 holes for Bridgeport clamps, and used it for clamping and jigging pieces for TIG welding.
I have a table like Tubman’s, but usually use C clamps and big reach Visegrips on it. I also have a homemade welding table made from the cast iron top and base of an old table saw. I drilled and tapped a series of holes for clamping to the top.
Something you might consider is a clamping set for use with a milling machine or drill press. It will work with slots or holes. It consists of some studs and bar stock type clamps. The "Clamp" is placed on the part you want to hold and the stud runs thru a slot in the clamp. The stud sticks on down thru the slot or hole and a "T" nut is placed under the table to "accept" the stud. Then a hardened nut screws down on the top of the stud to push the clamp tight against the part. At the opposite end of the clamp a triangle shaped block with serations allows you to select a height similar to the the height of the clamped part. Its really simple. If you get one, you might want to get a piece of "bar stock" and make some larger square blocks (2"x 2"x 1/2" thk) . Drill and tap them to accept whatever stud size you choose to purchase. Thats because your slots may be too large for the T nuts to hold. The kits come with different size studs 3/8....7/16....1/2....5/8 diameter. I think the 7/16 or 1/2 will work best for a welding table. Here are some pictures to make it easier to see. Prices vary GREATLY on these kits depending on where you buy them. The one pictured is from ZORO and is $99 shipped. Some other companies want $500 or more. Amazon probably has some inexpensive ones. Then there are angle plates. You can find reasonably cheap ones or expensive ones. Used ones on facebook sometimes. They let you hold something above the table. There are tilt tables that let you orient an odd part on any angle you want. There are small ones and a little larger ones and price varies but cheap ones are available. And you might like some "V" blocks for round things. These are meant for machine work, but they also work very well with a welding table. Edit: One thing to consider is if you plan to buy things like the tilt table, you have to have studs that will fit the width of the slot on the weld table, but you can also use a proper size nut/bolt/washer if needed.
Then there are angle plates. You can find reasonably cheap ones or expensive ones. Used ones on facebook sometimes. They let you hold something above the table. View attachment 6570996 I scored a pair of these (along with some other good stuff) out of the s**** bin at another place I worked at years ago. They got tossed by our so-called Director of Manufacturing, who went overboard with 5S and lean manufacturing because in her mind, if she didn't know what it was, we didn't need it. Mine have a pattern of 3/8-16" holes and 3/8" through holes. Combined with a set of 1-2-3 blocks, I use mine all the time. Things didn't go so well for her when it was discovered that the custom fixturing and tooling we needed for a job had been discarded...
These seem like "overkill" for a simple welding table. Also, I think the slots are 7/8", which is a little wide for these. It's something to keep in mind though.
And in a pinch, if there’s nothing else, I grab one of the imitation Visegrips from a cheap Harbor Freight set I bought for just this purpose: cut and weld something to the tool that gets where I need it. That way I don’t waste any of my real Visegrips…
Dave I bought a cheapo extended reach vise grip because the "real thing" was more than I wanted to pay at the time, I cuss it everytime I use it, did I throw it away? NOOOOOOOOO.
Trying to use the cheapos like the real thing, I felt the same way. But for making something that I don’t want to destroy the good stuff, they are just fine. For instance, a while ago I needed to clamp 2 sections of tubing together end to end, and even with a splice inside the tubing, I was having trouble keeping them straight. Two cheapo c-clamp grips, two sections of angle iron, and bingo, I had a little thing that held the tubes in line while welding. It’s still somewhere in the garage or shed. I think…
Your choice, but I think you would find it much more versatile than only some form of C clamp. I have a LOT of C clamps and use them often........but I also find that many times I can't get a good grip on a round surface or an edge or an angle......so I like having both options. The 1/2" T nuts will have a 1/2-13 stud, so the body of the T nut will probably work with the 7/8, but if it doesn't , then all you have to do is turn the T Nut upside down and use a large washer. Again, your choice but if you ever try these I think you would like them.
If I had a milling machine, it would be a "no-brainer". But at this point in my life, I'd have to p***. (I have been reduced to "puttering".)
The Jalopy Journal
