How to Choose the Height of Your Welding Table?

 You may have heard of welding tables before and how useful it is to have one. A welding table is a waist height platform that works in a similar way to a workbench. You will use it when you are fabricating metal by welding. A welding table is very useful because it provides the welder with a stable place to work and can also help in levelling and measuring. Generally speaking, welding tables range in size from 20" x 40" to 6.5" x 13". Regardless of size, all welding tables are made of steel and can withstand the rigours and high temperatures associated with welding.

 

How to choose the height of your welding table?

We make a lot of welding tables and have learned a thing or two about ergonomics. It is worth noting that just 1-2 inches of height adjustment can make a huge difference when it comes to fatigue. We saw two distinct and significant effects.

 

When the table is too high, users complain of pain in the upper arms, neck and shoulders. Frankly, working on your head is difficult and a table that is too high produces results in that range.

 

When the table is too low, users will complain of low back pressure. The pressure on the lower back muscles can be very high, even when leaning slightly forward to reach down. You not only have to support your entire upper body, but also all the protective equipment you may be wearing, as well as items such as torches, clamps, fixtures and materials.

 

Rotary Welding Table

In fact, the correct choice of welding table height can mean the difference between feeling tired in an hour and being able to work all day.

 

Optimal "average" height

This is tricky! Because the first thing we need to be clear about is that we assume that the work to be done is close to the surface! More on this later ......

 

We have found that the best general heights for people of different sizes are

 

5'3″ - 5'7″ = 36″ surface height

5'7″ - 5'11" = 38″ surface height (our standard.)

6′ - 6'2″ = 39″ - 40″ surface height

6'2″ and above = 41″

 

For those 6'2″ and over, you face unique challenges. You may want to consider whether shorter people will often need to use your table. If not, go ahead and increase the height commensurate with your own! If so, you will have to make compromises.

 

Finally, you don't have to guess at height! Get an old table, block it up and try these heights to see which one suits you best!

 

Exceptions to the height rule

As we mentioned before, one thing that must be taken into account is the average height of the project you will be working on. If you regularly build things that require your attention no more than 12-18 inches from the surface, stick to the above criteria. But if you're going to be working on something very tall, you'll need to start subtracting from your surface height!