Reciever on welding table for quick change jigs

[Brad]

Looking for some input on adding a reciever to a couple welding tables for different jigs. Do I need to spend the money on the expensive seamless tube or just use normal square tube?

[ironmonger]

I use standard steel tubing for mine. I used a hole that was in the side of the square tubes I have and welded a 1/2-13 heavy nut over the hole to accept a set screw... I picked up a dozen or so as scrap and used the hole in the side because it was there... They also hold table legs for portable tables.

You can alternatively drill or burn a hole on the corner, and then weld a 1/2-13 heavy nut to the outside of the tube. A set screw through this nut will anchor a square tube or a round pipe or tube or a piece of angle iron for that matter. This would have been my path if my lazy side hadn't prevailed.

If your fixtures are heavy or unwieldy you could used a 5/8 or larger set screw for additional holding power, or design the fixture for multiple mount sockets.

paul

[rollin45]

I'd use regular tube, with the provision that you look before you pay. Some tube has a lot of metal in the inside of the tube where the joining weld was made. I've seen it stick into the tube as much as 3/16s, to a quarter of an inch. This makes for tough sliding ...

rollin'

[Boostinjdm]

most 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" x 3/16" wall tube will fit a 2" x 2" through it if you don't want to by actual receiver tubes. 2 1/2" x 2 1/2" x 1/4" wall is asking for trouble.

[PTSideshow]

I'm a big believer of goez-in-ta's receiver tooling have it on the sheet metal bench for benders, small shears and small pipe vises. Stuff that you don't use all the time. Some smith's put a network of them in the floor of their shop's and hook them to an exhaust system. They also have them so they can use the tooling with an upright tube. That's were the name goez-in-ta, comes from. They make up slip fit covers for them.
I use the Harbor Freight receiver tubes, they have them on sale and up to 18" long I cut them in half. around here the square 2"x2" tubing is sold as at a premium whether you ask for receiver tube or not!
When it is on sale you can't beat it with the 20% off coupons.

One mounted on the bench, two plates 4 bolts, and a nut welded to the tube for a 1/2" bolt if you need it tight

A Beverly knock off follow the tempering instructions in the review section of the HF site and the blade will cut great

A small 4 in one shear,bender,punch

They also work well on the truck, if you work by yourself. I have a regular vise to mount to this one, as I found out that in needs to be about 5 more inches out from the hood of the truck. New one is half put together.
I also plan to mount a 1 ton arbor press, and a 12" inch straight shear, a couple of benders. It is a great space saver!

[Brad]

Thanks for all the great ideas! I am thinking this is going to be a great system.
Brad