Cheap DIY welding table from scrap steel (under $200) | Auto Expert John Cadogan

[@melgross]

John, you have to be really lucky to find steel channel and angle like that as scrap. Normally, it will cost close to $1,000. Metal prices these days are really high. I’m in the USA and metal pricing here is crazy. The problem with making a table out of it and getting it flat is that the sides are not truly 90 degrees. The insides are angles so nuts and bolts don’t sit flat. And the question of what flat means seems to vary according to the individual. I would say that table, according to what I saw with the straightedge, is flattish, but not really flat. And measuring it the length of the channel might find it slightly curved. How much is acceptable?

[@islasdad5775]

Mate your a bloody legend! I've being umming and ahhhing about zapping a bench together! Now I'll be bolting a "Modular" bench together. Again you're a bloody legend. Thank you for time and knowledge John! 😁

[@wingslanding]

Thanks again for emphasizing safety. It is what real welders do.

[@keithammleter3824]

You would be doing well to obtain channel that good as scrap. As new steel it is about $600 worth (250x90x8/15 in Australia). That table is a lot more than the claimed $200.

[@danielflinn3571]

Thanks

[@mark77193]

I would try a structural steel fabricator, they would more than likely have pieces like that left over from jobs. I have seen that size channel in portal frames etc in new houses many times.

[@petermcgreevy6386]

was that Scrap steel price.....😁

[@BradGryphonn]

In the 80s, I worked for a while during the last stages of the construction of the Curragh coal mine washplant, near Blackwater in Queensland. I was a TA for a team of boilermakers from the company that produced all the structural steel (H-beams, etc). We were the team that rectified anything from missing gussets to mislocated bolt holes. I was often tasked to hump a mag drill up to the top of the plant, along with tens of metres of 15 amp extension cable Mag drills were bloody heavy back then. This one looks a little easier to handle.

[@terryheimerl8674]

John, I think you are on a winner with this workshop style series. Thanks for the can warning, never thought of that before but as soon as you said it the lights went on. Always like your no bullshit style. thanks, Terry

[@noelconnor8539]

Oh my god if only i had your brains and your workshop with it , My own MAN SHED =PEACE TRANQUILITY ,WHAT A DREAM😂😂😂❤

[@amandagardner565]

excellent video John, i think i asked you ages ago to talk about my pet peeve, people calling cutting fluid cutting OIL. i've lost count of the number of times i've told people online and friends that water with some surfactant (detergent) is way better than WD40 or light oil. but hey what would a girl know right?

[@bigmatty50]

I am liking these videos John. Please keep them coming.

[@richardttu]

I would certainly be interested in more "Fat Cave" videos. Especially more about your welding table improvements

[@atmm89]

this would have to be your best video, mate, no shit talk, watched every moment, thank you, please make more of them, well done mate

[@gavinb9627]

Please keep them coming if time permits.

[@charlescamen5225]

Great video topic. Very encouraging. As an upgrade consider placing12mm+ packers between the channels at the bolt points. This will form slots running the lengthof the table, for sliding clamps and a reference for a fence or guide. Need to enhance the design with suitable legs. Adjustable of course. Yes, what poison do you recommend?

[@RyanAUS]

Hey John, see that zinc plated cap head screw in the body of the drill gearbox, try loosening that to slide the drill up and down the dovetail. This should allow greater height when using a Jacobs chuck. At least it does on the more industrial machines. Thanks for the vid 👍🏻

[@EnthusiastAustralia]

100% more of these type videos. Great help, thanks John.

[@jabulaniharvey]

So many cool bits of kit especially the assembled table!

[@AutoExpertJC]

Thanks mate.

[@michaelanderson3771]

Thank You John for this invaluable idea of how to make a truly flexible and versatile welding bench that is so cost effective. Even if you have to buy a length of the 250 x 90 x 15 mm steel. I was thinking of one of the cheap and cheerful pressed metal welding table but now have second thoughts of doing this style. A true winner in my mind. Regards Michael

[@camcutcnc]

Awesome table Dude!! I have a plethora of tools and this video showed me that I need 4 more tools, cool stuff ! I am a fabricator, welder, machinist and a master Auto Mechanic / Aircraft Mechanic. I love your videos on the Fireball 1000 tesla excrement. Gasoline forever !!

[@paulputnam2305]

Such a “Doctor of Science”

[@brettski74]

Nice work. Would love to see how you're going to level that valley. I mostly work with that cellulose-lignin composite stuff but dabble in metal work every now and then. I like these videos to get some tips and tricks from someone who has more knowledge and experience than me.

[@boogerhead0]

Three grooved laps using aluminum oxide grit in oil, worked for a minimum of 36 hours, in a hand-moved, same-weighted, figure-8 pattern, taking care at the edges..

[@simonhay-heddle3848]

What a brilliant way of making a heavy duty table!. I never thought of using channel section like that when I was after a welding table. I ended up buying a laser cut kit instead, Very nice but a bit costly. Looking forward to seeing how you fix that dip.

[@Stelios.Posantzis]

This is a brilliant idea for making a welding table - or any sturdy but modular working surface for that matter. I had never thought of that idea.

[@drmindbender8616]

Top Video carry on John your preaching to the converted please start a decent DIY series 👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@glenncpw]

I would never have thought of doing that. I use and old sewing machine table with a barbecue plate attached with a small vice on it . I did fit it with an adjustable fore arm rest for the tig part of the operation.. Utterly Brilliant...

[@glennbrown1961]

Dude, he who has the most tools when he croaks wins....you will win. That is a well stocked shed! Do you have a spare mill? 😅 cheers and G'day from Tassy

[@davidfield4432]

Very enjoyable watch. Thanks John. 👍

[@merv190]

Can we see a workshop tour please. I’d really like to see your layout and the equipment you use.

[@rharris7635]

Great information, and inspiration, from the Kingdom of OSHA! Thanks.

[@shutthegate8232]

Yes please, to the dearrrdly vid, & the mods & variations. All therapeutic. Crazy I know.

[@dinosshed]

Definitely interesting and well delivered as always. I've done a load of this kind of thing over the years but never tire from another point of view.

[@mikelastname]

Nice job. I built my welding table from a single 2400x1200x12 plate, and that was certainly a chore to move around - the channel looks way easier to handle manually, and in hindsight, it may have been a smarter move than what I did.

[@jackskalski3699]

I agree, then again your plate can become a fixture table at some point and the 12mm thickness is a very good choice. These channels don't have that (I think). Some DIY people choose to break up such a plate into strips and mount them individually. This way you get the modularity mentioned in the video and the thickness at the same time. You pay for that with the extra time you have to put in to level everything up. For that the fire tool channel has a video 5 years old that shows a method of leveling with metal music strings and a multimeter and some big ball bearing balls as spacers.

[@ateamfan42]

@18:17 Interestingly, bats are not, in fact, blind. They have pretty fine vision on top of their well-known echolocation abilities. So by the bat's perspective, humans are "blind", since we limited to only light vision for detecting our way about.

[@josa9902]

try using geometric tolerancing when measuring hole spacing

[@frantiseksram9741]

His is pretty awesome, thanks John.

[@ianmac2963]

As usual - EXCELLENT - thank you

[@hardrockuniversity7283]

Very interesting indeed. Thank you very much.

[@bobbob8229]

By the way; The primary function of cutting fluid is to keep the chip from welding to the cutting edge. KEEP this in mind,and it explains a LOT 😊

[@kenwright5372]

JC That slidey thing with the scale and tightening knob is called a back gauge or in my trade a backing gauge the same thing you did with 123 blocks but lighter and you can put the gauge in you pocket . LOL

[@rosshamilton7848]

Vicegrip King.thx. you own many. I have 1. I'll have to invest.

[@Happyh0b0]

Wow, and wow, thanks again.

[@leepiekarski7356]

fantastic learnt a lot , need more info on other interesting topics thanks

[@retro8477]

This was a great Vid John thanks for uploading. Got some awesome tips from it and look forward to seeing a update vid once you add the extra goodies to it.

[@jbtonline]

NIce one, John, keep up the good work...😎

[@carlmoll3345]

Great Vid John. I am still learning! Thank you

[@richardwalsh5570]

Great work John, I have a table similar at home.

[@bradlybryant4897]

Id get some sheet steel and put it on top of that base, probs arou d 1.5mm thick, and hd it down with so.e countersunk bolts. That way the top is more sacraficial when welding or cutting and can be replaced easily. Will also get rid of that valley and any join marks too.

[@jackskalski3699]

Yeah but that 1.5mm might be too flimsy based on how wide that valley is.

[@brucewilliscroft2539]

Great video. Great idea

[@madmike3573]

Thanks for doing what you do.

[@dennisleadbetter7721]

The hot rolled sections are not always totally square. When are you going to drill the 16 mm holes at 50 crs both ways for the fixturing, they make setting things up really easy especially for doing multi units. The fluid feed on the annular cutters, using the mounted bottle is via the inside of the cutter, and the pin acts as the cut off valve. While the three points of contact do provide a perfect plane, it is not much help when trying to hold together say the frame of a gate or similar and have it flat.

[@jw4620]

Great stuff!

[@thetowndrunk988]

I was gonna slam the dislike, while yelling d***head at the top of my lungs (since you’ve said, numerous times, you don’t get enough hate and dislikes- I wanna help with your aspirations), but your videos are just way too good, dude.

[@chikowhitey]

great video John... thanks mate

[@craigdavid7792]

Nice table.

[@malcomyoung7637]

Can't beat a "good quality hole"

[@sp1nrx]

I prefer a tighter fit than 1mm clearance.

[@paulwatson6013]

See you are using the Excision coolant. Got sent a sample of their foam stuff in a can. Of course not as cheap as mix yourself stuff. However great if you are drilling on the vertical, as it doesnt run away (slump) as easily. If you are more of a DIY warrior, I picked up some cheaper cutters in Melb that from my experience is fine for those sizes one doesnt use as often.

[@gasguzzler69]

Would that the Thor brass hammer? Reamber triflex the cutting compound ?Sometimes we would use mothers milk, a white fluid in a spray bottle. Never used a magnetic drill, sounds handy. I have rebuilt a few motors , nothing like a good strait edge. Glasses sound good , yeah I when blind a few years ago.

[@johnsmith-dm2tq]

i have done a few projects over the years but always used whatever materials i could find lying around. recently i tried to go online and order some steel and quickly realized i have no idea what anything was. i want a piece of tube steel, square, 9x9 inches x 4ft long so i can build a safe in the trunk of my truck for my rifel. what i got was millimeters, ok i'll deal with conversion. but i then got tube or pipe? and pipe came in square i think, there were no pictures. hot or cold rolled? i really dont know. perhaps a video on materials could help more than just me? or maybe I'm just slow?

[@keithmiller5042]

Great- thanks for another useful vid. But those corners won't move out the way when you eventually walk into one...

[@durangodave]

i am building an outside welding station in a corner. Gravel floor and the plan is to use ceramic fiber board for both walls, ceiling is corrigated metal. Is that enough fire protection and can a welder and table be left outside covered up?

[@jebw]

How did you find large section angle iron that was square? All the angle iron I've used has been less than 90 deg. It's a pain when trying to mitre the corners as the face is not flat or the sides slope in.

[@paulfitzgerald1466]

Great video, thanks

[@AutoExpertJC]

Thanks for watching.

[@dksaevs]

so when you go to the store for "poison" to fix your welding table, does the poison come in a six pack with or without alcohol???

[@AutoExpertJC]

Yes, yes and yes.

[@durangodave]

what model of sawhorse?

[@benokemp]

Hi john, just wondering why you offset the ub’s & not had them all flush on the short ends? Love your vids, my dad got me onto your channel. Cheers

[@whatsupshittafabraans1926]

Just for some kind of an idea, where did the scrap metal come from ?, a random chancer from gumtree perhaps ?

[@AutoExpertJC]

Local scrap metal yard.

[@swfswf50]

I have made a few welding benches from 90 X 150 X 10 UA 6000 Long. Nice sturdy bench. I prefer to weld them together though to get a flat top as the rolling tolerances are not that great in rolled members.

[@jackskalski3699]

For that welding do you flip them upside on some thick sheet plate so that gravity levels them for you and than weld the side walls together?

[@swfswf50]

​@@jackskalski3699 They are 6m Long. I leave a 20mm gap between them to clamp things to the bench anywhere along it. I clamp across the top to hold them aligned, during fabrication & weld the toe of the angle to a subframe. The angle on the wall side is leg up to provide a backstop. the angle on the outer has the leg facing out to provide a clamping edge. It's a bit hard to explain. I use this angle as I bought 92 lengths some years ago for $180 a tonne

[@chrismanley5656]

The three point make a plane is a fucking game changer. We all knew it, but I never applied it anything other than table legs.

[@waldemarii]

It seems that the head on mag drill is on dovetails and the locking screw is on left side. So the height of the head is adjustable.

[@willemvantsant5105]

Need to find someone with a large Planer, would look mint with planed surface finish and flat.

[@jonno8942]

I recall you giving a spin on some retractable casters, what brand were they and who was the supplier?

[@jondavidmcnabb]

Please tell me John Cadogan is a Chicago Bulls Fan!!!!! He has excellent taste in tools so this would make sense.

[@dylanwebb9584]

Mag drill! Ooooooooh! I want.

[@MasterofNoneTV]

John this is great, now do you have any ideas on how to make a table mount which would swing the table top vertical, to tuck this bad boy away. Some of us a fat cave room challenged

[@soundman6645]

Waching you vid, I find I have nearly everything you mention on hand except the Mag drill and the space.

[@mickmcgillicuddy5437]

Hi John, get down to your fastener supplier and ask them for a copy of the new Hobson Eng cat & dog. You'll love it.

[@AutoExpertJC]

Then I would just want one of everything.

[@qbi4614]

10:20 mmm the center is a fair bit off. Luck its an 18mm hole

[@schrenk-d]

If I may ask actually, where is the best places to get such scrap metal pieces?

[@AutoExpertJC]

Local scrap metal yard in my case

[@willtricks9432]

Have you seen the warehouse in Tashkent storing EVs and EV batteries. It exploded, possible lightening strike. Major damage.

[@pauly4579]

The reason they give you the bottle and hose is so you cool the annular cutter from the inside Cooling it from the outside isn’t as efficient And also for safety use a brush to remove the swarf from the cutter dont use your hands you can so easily cut them I’ve seen it happen many times

[@DavePearce-vm4xy]

Hay boss haven't had a rumour files for a while, missing it

[@BradGryphonn]

7:52 Scientific proof that for your first measurement, you must hold your tongue in the right spot.

[@flyingconsultant]

Isn’t youtube algorithm great! I am going through the same exercise at the moment and deciding what welding table I’m going to make.

[@ducthman4737]

👍😎

[@dougstubbs9637]

Why are you up this late on a school night young man ?

[@TheSouthern75]

School holidays in Sydney

[@donaldstewart444]

We need the upcoming roving ceo of genex to give us the dope on the usual dope we’ve heard everywhere else for the past 36 hours.

[@rossmarzano]

I bought this exact mag drill, didn't come with cutters. I checked the ad when I received it, the ad was different (sans cutters). Buyer beware. *Edit I checked the link in description and the ad has the cutters included.* Regardless, it's a top machine.

[@AutoExpertJC]

Works really well for me, and the included cutters are a huge value bonus.

[@Flog36]

Mate, the bloody EV explosion in Belfast, can’t wait to here what you think…

[@michaelsimpson9779]

If you hunt around, you can buy scrap for $1/Kg maybe a bit cheaper if you're buying larger quantities. Nice one.

[@samboelliott1]

You slipped one in while I was asleep. I'm fine with that, says Tiffany.

[@ghs7714]

Nice gay t-shirt John!!! You should be zzz in your belarus bunker

[@swedishbob_7315]

I am after a Pressure Washer... surely the Fatcave needs 1... Kranzle or AR Blue(BAR) 3 Large NUTs ... Elon Geezus, OrangeMan and Green Bowen 🤣

[@schrenk-d]

Not to mention that recycling some scrap is better for the environment. Be careful with magic table levelling poison. That shit can be nasty. I won't spoil by dropping what I think it will be... For when the vid comes out.

[@DDB168]

There might be run on scrap steel after today! Deadly poison 🤔 Does that explain the 4 or 5 ex-wives ? 🤭🤭 Yes of course we want another video about that. I like your DIY type videos, I'm happy to see more.

[@alanakafang6143]

Here's a headline you will not be shocked by John ... BATTERY BLAST Huge explosion ‘fuelled by EV batteries’ rips through airport killing boy, 15, & injuring 163 in blast felt for 20 miles

[@madmike3573]

By the way I have those horses

[@Kawasaki1-m4l]

Nice workshop John a bit cluttered, I know how that feels I got 3 at home 1 metal welding 2 wood 3 mechanical Only minor I dont have your skill. I'm a welder.

[@seastate1277]

My welding table is made of wood so I can keep my chlorinated brake cleaner in front of me with less risk.

[@AutoExpertJC]

Well thought out. Approved!

[@dougbrokeit7406]

Maybe just through a flat plate 10mm not that pricey and bobs your uncle flat ??

[@paulnewman9275]

BATTERY BLAST Huge explosion ‘fuelled by EV batteries’ rips through airport killing boy, 15, & injuring 163 in blast felt for 20 miles

[@andrewallen9993]

How to use 8000 bucks worth of tools to make a 200 buck welding table 😂

[@AutoExpertJC]

Harsh.

[@andrewallen9993]

@@AutoExpertJC True😂

[@andrewallen9993]

@@AutoExpertJC But as I have everything but the drill and drill bits I'm probably going to copy your design eventually😈

[@AutoExpertJC]

There's a bit of stuffing around getting it flat enough (shimming it up).

[@andrewallen9993]

@@AutoExpertJC Understood but it's still a good design. The traditional definition of an engineer is still someone who can make a working device for ten dollars that any idiot could make for twelve :)