Why not make the legs temporarily telescoping, so's you can experiment over
a month or two?
When you've settled on a height, jest weld the **** out of the telescoping
member, for rigidity.
Or just redo the legs, if you must.
Or, keep it telescoping, and just make really good locks, mebbe set screws
for rattle, and thru-pins for strength.
But I think you'll like higher better than lower.
The "elbow suggestion" seems to me to be a really good, uh, benchmark.
----------------------------
Mr. P.V.'d
formerly Droll Troll
"carl mciver" wrote in message
hlink.net...
"Gunner" wrote in message
...
| On Tue, 26 Apr 2005 02:45:10 GMT, "carl mciver"
| wrote:
|
| Awhile back I discussed building a set of reconfigurable tools made
from
| 2 and 2 1/2" square tubing. I got two semi truck brake drums for
nuthin'
| today and started on building up a set of bases that are the brake
drums
| with the two inch tubing for a stanchion. At the top I'll have
different
| tops that pin up on top, such as bases for my vice, grinder, and so
forth.
| By putting a plate over the top I now have a welding table, and a
bigger
one
| for putting on top of two. Make a tee for the top and I can put even
more
| stuff, like having a base sticking out from under the table for a
grinder
or
| vice. Gotta get more 2 1/2 inch tubing though, the place seems to have
that
| in short supply.
| At any rate, before I start cutting up my square tubing, I wanted
to
| know what folks thought was better, a welding table that you work at
| standing up or one that you sit down at. I plan on making/using a
stool
if
| I don't feel like standing. Also, what is the preferred height? I'm
about
| six feet tall. I could whip up an stanchion extension on a shorter
stand
| and add the extension when I want to stand, but extra pieces adds more
slop,
| which I despise.
|
| Tig, mig or stick? And what sort of welding will you be doing? It
| makes a difference. I sit at my tig table. My 4x8 MIG/Stick table is
| elevated to standing comfort height. About mid thigh level for me.
| I can bend over and around my work comfortably and still use a stool
| if need be.
|
| Mid thigh height to crotch level (will be different for everyone)
| works the best for me..but Ive had two back surgeries and am not the
| most limber fella anymore.
|
| Gunner

I'll be doing stick and OA.

Being kinda tall has always been tough when it comes to work surfaces
for me because while I'm so used to the standard made for shorter people,
it's not too often I get to figure out what would work best for me. When
I
learned to weld, the fellow who taught me had a tall table and we both
leaned over on the table, using our elbows for stability, but for right
now
my elbow isn't such a wonderful idea as my back doesn't like extended
times
being bent over and my shoulder for the next several months will not
tolerate any weight, and I plan on getting a lot of welding practice while
it heals.
I'd really like to have some degree of adjustability without making
things sloppy, but I'm using square tubing and the fit isn't perfect. The
amount of slip fit determines a lot, so if anyone has a good figure to
work
with, I'd appreciate knowing it.