Anybody intersted in half of a sheet of 1/2" steel?

Post by **jac6695** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 8:57 am

I want to build a welding table, and would like to put a 1/2" top on it for strength and stability. I originally wanted a 4'x8', but have realized I just don't have the room for it, so I am going to 4'x4'. I have got one price on a sheet of 1/2", and looks like around $300 for 4'x8', and around $200 for 4'x4'. So, if someone else would like to split the 4'x8' in half, it would be cheaper. I am sure we would have to pay a little to have them shear it in half, though. Let me know.

Post by **Arya Ebrahimi** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 10:34 pm

James, that is tempting. Where did you get that quote from? Any ideas on how to handle pickup/delivery? My rough calcs show that each 4'x4' piece would be around 330 lbs. I dunno about you, but that's pretty heavy for me, although I suppose with a couple guys you could move it around ok.

Any idea what they would want to step it up to 3/4"? and do you know what the accuracy is in terms of flatness?(I'm not looking for perfect, but close enough so that if I want to build something "flat" all I would have to do is clamp/tack it to the table.

Thanks

Ary

Post by **jac6695** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 10:57 pm

Ary,

My only quote is from Ace Steel in Roanoke. I want to try Steel Services also and see of they can beat the price, and open to getting quotes from other places. You are right on with the weight. He quoted me 336 lbs. for the 4x4x1/2. Don't know about the 3/4, but I can find out. For comparison, I had him quote me 4x4x3/8 (~$154) and 4x8x3/8 (222.86), so 4x4x3/4 might be close to $400.00 I would guess. Not sure I want to go that thick and spend so much, but might consider it. I like the idea of 3/4 for the reasons for going with 1/2" in the first place and then some. That would make it so easy to tap holes in the top for vises, anvils, notchers, etc.

My plan is to build the frame for the table first (I plan to make it out of 2x2x 3/16 or 1/8 wall box). The pick up the top with my trailer (and have them load it onto some 4x4 wood blocks). From there, I have a couple of options. I can use my 2 post car lift in my shop to raise it off the trailer, and then down to the table. Or I can borrow our aluminum gantry from work and rig the steel from it using a chain fall and welding hooks onto the top and grinding them off later, or just using straps. If you or anyone else wanted to do this, I will most likely get the gantry to make it more portable.

I probably won't be ready to do this for at least a few weeks if that matters. Just putting the feeler out now to start planning.

Post by **jac6695** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 10:59 pm

Oh yeah, not sure about how flat it would be. I would hope it would be flat enough to make into a table. I guess I could check with the supplier first.

Post by **Arya Ebrahimi** » Sun Jan 13, 2008 11:49 pm

I'll check with ryerson as well, as that's where I've been getting my steel from lately and the prices have been very reasonable.

I want to do this, as I've been wanting to build such a table for quite some time, but I have to see how my finances settle out in the next few weeks. Also, would you be able to hold onto this for me for a little while(could probably pick it up middle of Feb at the latest)? My trailer is at my shop in WV with flat tires (

)which I need to fix before I'd be able to come pick it up.

Ary

Post by **jac6695** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 12:23 am

Arya Ebrahimi wrote:I'll check with ryerson as well, as that's where I've been getting my steel from lately and the prices have been very reasonable.

I want to do this, as I've been wanting to build such a table for quite some time, but I have to see how my finances settle out in the next few weeks. Also, would you be able to hold onto this for me for a little while(could probably pick it up middle of Feb at the latest)? My trailer is at my shop in WV with flat tires ( )which I need to fix before I'd be able to come pick it up.

Ary

That is fine with me. I will just plan on waiting until you are ready, that way moving the steel will be simpler. I will check with Steel Services and try and find other sources as well.

Post by **hssss** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 2:19 am

FWIW I would suggest 3/4" for a welding table. Mine was built about 15 years ago and survived several years in a fab shop and the rest of the time in my shop. It has had 3 engines, 2 460s and a 302 as well as a bunch of other stuff on it at one time and is still relativly straight, a bit of downword bow on the outside edges. A warning it is HEAVY, the last time it was moved from Princeton to Glen Lyn I had a tow truck move it, IIRC the bare sheet 4x8x3/4 was about 1800 lb.
________
Tc305

Post by **Arya Ebrahimi** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:17 am

Ryerson quoted the following

1/2" $293 (~$315 if we want it cut in half, which would be done via track torch) He has no problem delivering(included in the price), but we would have to have a way to offload it.

3/4" ~$600 So I guess we'd go with 1/2"

Post by **jac6695** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 6:12 pm

I was going to suggest 5/8", but I imagine it will be out of a reasonable price range. I will try to check around some more this week. How good of a cut will a track torch be? I guess we can just clean up the edge with a grinder.

Post by **Arya Ebrahimi** » Mon Jan 14, 2008 11:04 pm

I didn't even think to ask about 5/8", I can check tomorrow, I'm on a first name basis with the guy

From what I understand it will be a straight cut, we will just have to contend with the kerf and I have no idea how big it would be.

Post by **Arya Ebrahimi** » Wed Jan 16, 2008 8:09 pm

James, I wanted to mention to you that 4' is not a limitation. They stock plate in 96"x 240" sheets, so they can cut us whatever size you want. So if you wanted to end up with a 4x5 or 4x6 that could be possible.

Ary

Post by **jac6695** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 11:13 am

Ary,

I checked with Steel Services for prices on 1/2" and 5/8" (definitely out of my budget):

4'x8'x1/2"- $330.29
4'x8'x5/8"- $548.70

I checked back with Ace Steel for the 1/2" and price is the same ($303.37), and checked to see how much to shear in half (add $10), so looks like the same as Reyerson, without delivery (although I didn't ask about delivery).

I think I would rather pick it up anyway so that we can plan better for unloading. If the sheets are delivered on a truck, I think it would be very difficult to unload without access to a forklift. As for a larger table, I wouldn't mind maybe splitting a 4'x10' to make a 4'x5' table top, but I don't think I have the room or budget for anything larger. I guess I can check back with them when we are ready to order, and perhaps with ordering the steel I need for the frame of the table, they will give us a better price.

Post by **Arya Ebrahimi** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 11:16 am

Sounds good to me. Just let me know when you're getting ready to do something.

Ary

PS, what's your number? I have a lunch meeting today, and then I'm headed to Home Depot to buy materials for that cage I need to build. Was hoping maybe I could swing by and pickup those tools I wanted to borrow. You can just call me if that's easier. My number is in the members section

Post by **jac6695** » Sat Jan 19, 2008 11:20 am

As an FYI to anyone looking for steel locally, Ace Steel in Roanoke has a rack of scrap steel (leftovers from cuts for customers) that they charge quite a bit less for. I picked up 2- 1.5"x1/8"x96" angle, 3-2"x1/8"x~60" angle for only $25.00 a couple of weeks ago. They charge by the pound or something like that.