When selecting the right steel for a welding table, there are a few key factors to consider: thickness, flatness, weldability, and cost. The steel needs to be thick and flat enough to withstand the weight of heavy welding projects and tools. It also needs to accept welds smoothly and be affordable within your budget. With so many steel options available, deciding on the right one can be tricky.
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Quick Answers
Here are quick answers to some common questions about choosing steel for a welding table:
What is the most popular and affordable steel for welding tables?
A36 mild steel is the most common, affordable steel for welding tables. It provides a good balance of strength, weldability, and cost.
What thickness steel should be used?
3/16″ to 1/4″ is the recommended thickness for most home/hobbyist welding table tops. 1/4″ is ideal for minimizing warp and handling heavy loads.
What steel has the best weldability?
Low carbon steels like A36, 1018, and 4130 chromoly steel have excellent weldability and make great welding table tops.
Is stainless steel good for welding tables?
Stainless steel can work, but is harder to weld and far more expensive. Mild steel is typically a better choice.
Key Factors in Choosing Welding Table Steel
Choosing the right steel comes down to a few key factors:
Thickness
The thickness of the steel impacts the weight capacity, stability, and resistance to warping. Most DIY welding tables use steel plate between 3/16″ and 1/2″ thick. Here are some guidelines:
- 3/16″ – Good for light duty work up to 500 lbs capacity. Prone to warping.
- 1/4″ – The most common thickness. Provides good stability for medium loads up to 800 lbs.
- 3/8″ – Excellent stability and minimizes warp. Can handle up to 1500 lbs.
- 1/2″ – Overkill for most non-industrial uses but provides maximum warp resistance.
1/4″ thick steel is the sweet spot for many home or small shop welding tables. It provides ample strength while keeping the weight and cost reasonable.
Flatness
The steel needs to be nice and flat for a smooth welding surface. Plate steel from the factory or warehouse is often not flat enough. Look for “precision-ground” or mention of flatness tolerances when sourcing steel.
Some options for getting flat steel plate:
- Buy new precision-ground plate. This gives the best results but at a higher cost.
- Use a metal fabrication shop to plane or surface grind raw plate stock.
- Build a table allowing for some warp, then weld or clamp the steel flat.
Weldability
The composition of the steel determines how easily it can be welded. For welding table tops, low carbon steel provides the best weldability. Some good options include:
- A36 – Inexpensive mild steel with great weldability.
- 1018 – Low carbon steel that’s easy to weld and machine.
- 4130 – Alloy steel with excellent strength and weldability.
Medium and high carbon steels are more prone to cracking when welded. Avoid these for table tops.
Cost
Steel plate costs $2-6 per pound on average. With a typical 4′ x 8′ sheet weighing 150-500 lbs, the steel for the table top alone can cost $300-1500+. Keep your budget in mind when selecting thickness and steel types.
A36 mild steel provides the best value for welding tables. It strikes a good balance of weldability, flatness, and affordability.
Recommended Steels for Welding Tables
Based on the key factors above, here are some top recommendations for steel to use when building a welding table:
1. A36 Mild Steel
A36 is affordable mild carbon steel with great weldability and formability. It has 36ksi minimum yield strength. You can commonly find A36 plate steel in thicknesses suitable for welding tables:
- 3/16”
- 1/4”
- 3/8”
A36 has excellent machinability if you need to drill holes or shape the steel. It has moderate warp resistance when welding due to the low carbon content. Overall it provides the best bang for the buck for DIY welding tables.
2. 1018 Mild Steel
1018 is another mild low carbon steel well suited for welding applications. It offers good weldability and etching properties. 1018 has slightly better machining qualities than A36.
As a mild steel, 1018 provides good affordability, weldability and can be found in thicknesses up to 1/2″ for welding tables. The main drawback is that availability is not as common as A36.
3. 4130 Chromoly Steel
4130 chromoly steel is a versatile low alloy steel providing great strength, toughness, machinability and weldability. The chromium and molybdenum in 4130 give excellent abrasion resistance.
4130 has 60ksi minimum yield strength, allowing thinner gauges to be used. It has very good resistance to warping when welded. The price is moderately higher than mild steel.
4. Hardox 400 Abrasion Resistant Steel
Hardox 400 alloy steel provides extreme abrasion and wear resistance while still being weldable. It maintains a hardness around 400 HBW. The hardness does make it more difficult to machine and work with.
Hardox is overkill for most welding table uses but provides unmatched durability where sliding, grinding or abrasion is expected. It comes at a premium cost over mild steel.
5. Ar450 Abrasion Resistant Steel
AR450 is an abrasion resistant plate steel used in high wear applications like excavator buckets and dump truck beds. It has a hardness of around 450 HBW but remains machinable and weldable.
AR450 provides better abrasion resistance than mild steel while avoiding the difficulty of working with an ultra-hard steel. It costs more than mild steel but is cheaper than the Hardox family.
Steel Grades to Avoid
There are some steel types that should generally be avoided for welding table use:
High Carbon Steels
Steels with over 0.3% carbon content are prone to cracking when welded and have poor formability. This includes medium and high carbon steels like 1040, 1050, 1095 etc. Stick with low carbon and mild steels.
Tool Steels
Tool steels like O1, A2 and D2 have high hardness and poor weldability. Their primary use is making tools. Attempting to weld these would likely result in failure.
Cast Iron
Cast iron is brittle and unsuitable for welding. It suffers cracking when welded improperly.
Galvanized Steel
Galvanized steel has a zinc coating to prevent rusting. The zinc vaporizes when welded, releasing very toxic fumes, so galvanized steel should never be welded.
Matching Filler Metal to Base Metal
Using the proper filler metal (welding wire/rod) to match the base metal being welded is important to achieving strong, lasting welds. Here are compatible filler metals for common welding table steels:
| Base Metal | Filler Metal |
|---|---|
| A36 | AWS A5.1 E6010/E6011/E7018 |
| 1018 | AWS A5.1 E6010/E6011/E7018 |
| 4130 | AWS A5.5 E4130XX |
| Hardox 400 | AWS A5.5 E9018-B3R |
Stick to these matching filler metals when welding table steel for optimal weld strength and properties. The wire composition is designed to complement the base metal.
Design Considerations
Aside from material choice, proper design of the welding table is also key. Here are some best practices:
Adequate Size & Weight
Size the table top to provide enough work area for your projects while also keeping the weight manageable. Typical DIY tables are 4′ x 8′ or 4′ x 4′. Allow at least 24″ clearance around the work area.
Use sufficiently thick steel to give good stability. A 50lb minimum table weight is recommended for stability.
Edge & Corner Radius
Adding generous corner and edge radius helps reduce sharp corners that can lead to cracking. 1-2″ radius is recommended for corners and edges.
Pre-planned Cutouts
Consider any torch or accessory cutouts needed and plan those in advance before welding the full top.
Warping Prevention
Use symmetrical welds, skip welding, and temporary tack welds to minimize warping and shrinkage as the table top is welded.
Leg & Base Design
The table legs and base frame should provide ample support for the intended table loads. Typical designs use square tubing or angle iron legs with cross bracing for stability.
Height & Ergonomics
Standard welding table height is 35-36″. Consider adding features like lower shelves, wheels, or casters for ergonomics and mobility.
Fabrication & Assembly
Once you have obtained your steel plate, fabrication and assembly of the table includes key steps like:
Design Layout
Mark your layout lines for where you need to cut or drill holes. Leave room for radius edges.
Cutting & Shaping
Abrasive saws, plasma cutters, or oxy-fuel torches can be used to cut the table top to size and shape.
Edge Preparation
Grind or smooth any sharp edges and corners to create a radius.
Drilling Holes
Drill holes for torches, clamps, or accessories as needed before welding.
Tack Welding
Tack components together with temporary welds to check fit and prevent warping.
Permanent Welding
Use multiple skip welds rather than long continuous beads to minimize distortion and warping.
Leg Assembly
Weld on the legs and base frame. Use jigs or fixtures to ensure everything remains square.
Grinding & Smoothing
Grind welds smooth. Blend and finish the final welding table surface.
Proper fabrication helps ensure a flat, smooth, durable welding table. Take your time fitting and tacking everything square before permanent welding.
Conclusion
Choosing the right steel is critical to building a welding table that will perform well and last. A36 mild steel provides the best combination of weldability, formability, machinability, and affordability for hobbyist welding table projects. 1018 mild steel, 4130 chromoly steel, and abrasion resistant steels like AR400 or Hardox are also suitable choices.
Aim for 1/4″ thickness for a home welding table, and ensure the steel has good flatness. Match your filler metal properly for the base metal being welded. Lastly, incorporate sound design practices and fabrication techniques to end up with a stable, warp-free welding table that will serve you well for years to come.