Welding tables store UK with WeldingSuppliesDirect: Aluminium Welding Tables Advantages: Lightweight: Aluminium tables are lightweight and easy to move, making them suitable for portable welding setups. Corrosion Resistance: They are naturally corrosion-resistant, making them suitable for outdoor or marine welding. Quick Cooling: Aluminium dissipates heat rapidly, which can be advantageous for some welding applications. Considerations: Less Heat Resistance: While aluminium is heat-resistant, it may not handle extremely high temperatures as well as steel or cast iron. Stability: Some aluminium tables may be less stable than their heavier counterparts. Stainless Steel Welding Tables Advantages: Corrosion Resistance: Stainless steel tables are highly resistant to corrosion and staining, making them ideal for corrosive welding applications. Hygienic: They are easy to clean and maintain, making them suitable for food-grade welding projects. Heat Resistance: They offer good heat resistance for most welding processes.
Cast iron offers excellent surface flatness and stability after machining, which is crucial for precision welding. Its density and the sheet mass employed minimizes table warpage or distortion under heat, maintaining a flat work surface. Cast iron welding tables are naturally self-dampening and provide excellent stability due to their high mass and density. They’re less susceptible to vibrations and distortions during welding. Cast iron is also known for its strength and durability, particularly in compression. Cast iron has better natural corrosion resistance than carbon steel, but it’s still prone to rusting if not properly maintained, especially in damp environments.
Heat Resistance – Welding tables are designed to withstand high temperatures. They won’t warp or degrade under the intense heat generated during welding, ensuring your work surface remains flat and level. Protection – They protect your work environment by containing sparks, slag, and hot metal, preventing them from damaging your floor, equipment, or other materials in your workspace. Workpiece Alignment – Welding tables can often accommodate various welding fixtures and clamps, allowing you to securely hold and align your workpiece, ensuring precise welds. In the video below we show you how a good clamp setup can ensure you get very accurate results on your welding jobs. Different Types of Welding Tables – Before we dive deeper into choosing the right welding table, it’s essential to understand that not all welding tables are created equal. There are various types available, each tailored to specific needs and preferences. Discover extra info at top modular welding tables.
If you purchase a welding table with round holes, as long as they claim to support either 16 or 28mm tooling you should be able to purchase the tools from different manufacturers and mix and match with the table you buy. ANY other size is non-standard. Some companies do offer different sized tooling. For example Fireball Tools utilizes 3/4? tooling, but since they are the only manufacturer using this size it will limit the range of compatible accessories to a single tooling manufacturer. Slotted welding table designs often include 16mm tooling holes, but since they have gaps between the slots it’s also possible to use different tooling such as T-slot clamps. Those clamps are generally made for woodworking tables, so are hard to find. But, some common types include: Hold-down clamps: Press materials firmly against the table. Toggle clamps: Quick-action clamps for speed and repeatability. Vertical and horizontal clamps: For precise holding of workpieces at angles. Quick-thread T-slot bolts. Studs with nuts for multi-point fixturing.
It is important to have the right workspace for welding whether you are in your shop or on the go. Choosing a welding table depends on your personal preferences, needs, and budget, but here are some of the top things to keep in mind. Flexibility and Mobility: Portable welding tables are designed for on-the-go welders. Whether you’re a professional welder or a DIY enthusiast, having a portable table allows you to work efficiently in different locations. You can easily transport and set up these tables anywhere, making them ideal for on-site tasks or workshops with limited space. Stability and Safety: Welding tables provide a stable work surface, reducing the risk of accidents caused by uneven surfaces. A sturdy table ensures that your workpiece stays secure during welding, preventing slips or wobbles.
Most commonly imported tables from countries such as India and China, especially in relation to cast iron, use super cheap materials which are often just blends of whatever scrap they threw into the mix. With other blends of material they often lack quality control capabilities, or simply lie, meaning you can’t rely on it when it matters. And since welding tables need to be durable and hold their flatness forever, it’s far from guaranteed with some import tables. There is also risk of an unknown blend of material breaking and causing injury. Surface Type – Welding tables are generally produced with a few variations. Traditionally, welders built their own tables using flat plates, however currently welding tables now employ some type of holes for built-in fixturing using tools specifically made for the purpose. (More on that later.) Fixture tables can reduce setup times by utilizing rapid jigs, allowing welders to quickly and easily secure workpieces.