interesting welding table I bought today ...

[wquiles]

This is a heavy duty portable Aluminum welding table I bought today from a retired metalworker/welder/blacksmith:




Comes with the clamping pieces/jaws:



I found a picture of how the jaws fit/work with the table:


I have looked but I have not been able to find anything on it yet - looks like the company that makes them might no longer exist - this is the only post I have been able to find:
https://www.woodworkingtalk.com/threads/gator-twin-table.212933/

I have not checked how flat it is, but I can tell you it feels heavy and solid and well built - like a tank!

Anyone has seen this before?

 

[Rick H]

I like it. Especially the clamps. The advantages of lightweight aluminum over steel outweighs the inability to use magnets. Nice find.

 

[Ian]

Clamps are far better than magnets anyway. That is a brilliantly engineered table, excellent acquisition.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Magnets can still be used on the steel being welded!! I have never used a magnet to hold a item to a bench anyhow!
Looks nice for the home welder take down to stoe is awesome! Nice find!!

 

[Petrol & Powder]

That is quite the rig. I like how they handled the detachable legs. They appear to screw into the top, have a little outward angle and have adjustable feet. That was well designed.

 

[wquiles]

They appear to screw into the top, have a little outward angle and have adjustable feet.

Yes, that is exactly how it works. Assembled for the first time:





The steel clamps are made from 1/2" steel stock!





I cleaned it with acetone, and I then took a file for aluminum and removed the few high spots and 1-2 small dings:



It is not "flat" by my standards - the outer pieces are slightly above the inner C-channel pieces, but it is very good - better than my current welding table:



I noticed how to install the clamps and why the owner had them off - you have to remove the cross bolt/carrier and bolt everything together - there is no easy way to use/remove. If you install them, they pretty much stay on/in place - you can only move them left to right in the carrier. Solid, yes, but not practical as to how I will likely use it myself.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

That's a NICE table.

 

[JonB]

I noticed how to install the clamps and why the owner had them off - you have to remove the cross bolt/carrier and bolt everything together - there is no easy way to use/remove. If you install them, they pretty much stay on/in place - you can only move them left to right in the carrier. Solid, yes, but not practical as to how I will likely use it myself.

I love this portable table...and would love to have one. I really like the storability for my random welding habits, which happens only once or twice a year.

I imagine this table was sold as more of a "jig" to setup for a project where you are welding a large quantity of identical parts.

 

[JonB]

Fall River Foundry to consolidate, build addition to local plant

The Fall River Foundry will add on to its current facility on Main Street and move its machine shop from South Milwaukee into the new addition by the end of

www.wiscnews.com

It appears that FRM moved their WI division to MA in 2016, then sold the "Gator" line to Kraft Tool in 2018. I scanned through Kraft Tool's website, it appears they are only offering tools for finishing Concrete.

Kraft Tool Co- Gator Tools™

www.krafttool.com

 

[fiver]

dang that'd be an awesome portable work bench.
I have an old craftsman fold up type work bench that I laughed at when they had commercials for [the knock off] on TV.
now?
I'm glad I have it.. LOL

 

[Missionary]

AHHH You said that magic word "Tank" ! Why have I ever wrote up the story about when me and the crew were rolling down a heavily covered tree lane in our M60A1 Patton and from ........
So how much would you estimate that fine aluminium table weighs ??
It looks fine !! Ready to be a casting table or even visit a "dog town" in South Dakota.

 

[wquiles]

Checking with my bathroom scale, as shown here without the steel jaws:


I tried it twice: 56.8 pounds and 57.0 pounds (I guess that 0.2 pounds is about as good as my scale works).

 

[Petrol & Powder]

You knew EXACTLY how much it weighed.......until you weighed it again

A man with one watch knows what time it is. A man with two watches is never quite sure.

 

[wquiles]

LOL. It felt 60-70 pounds-ish to me, so now I "know"

 

[Missionary]

I guess that would end up a crew served table out in the yote towns..... But for a shop Thats Great !

 

[fiver]

well now you know why it has wheels..... LOL

 

[Petrol & Powder]

It was exactly 56.8 lbs. ......and then he weighed again and confused things with that 57 pound reading.


When you get an answer - STOP.