Although welding technology has advanced significantly over the past 70 years, the most effective welding work surfaces have remained largely unchanged—and for good reason.
Cast-iron welding tables have been a cornerstone of metal fabrication since before World War II. They are widely used for bending, straightening, layout work, and securely holding workpieces during welding. Their proven versatility allows them to support nearly every type of task found in a modern weld shop.
Made from cast iron, these platen tables maintain excellent flatness, resist distortion, and prevent weld spatter from adhering to the surface. Their exceptional durability enables them to withstand the demanding conditions of industrial welding environments over long periods of use.
Below are some of the key reasons why welders continue to rely on platen tables.
Platen tables are inherently straightforward and intuitive to use. Most welders encounter little to no learning curve, as these tables are commonly found in fabrication shops and their operation becomes clear after minimal observation or hands-on use.
Tooling and angle blocks can be easily positioned and securely fixed to the table surface. Modular mini platen components—such as cubes, towers, and tombstones—are designed for quick installation into the table's standard hole pattern, typically measuring approximately 1.75 inches in diameter. These components provide exceptional flexibility, allowing welders to square walls, stabilize tall workpieces, and adapt the setup to a wide range of fabrication and welding applications.
Platen tables offer exceptional versatility and can be configured as individual units or combined into multi-table beds to accommodate larger fabrication projects.
Spacing can be left between platens to create walkways, enabling welders to perform continuous welds on long or oversized workpieces. Platens may also be mounted vertically onto a horizontal platen, forming a precise 90-degree squaring wall or a large L-shaped fixture for complex assemblies.
For added flexibility, platens are available with optional scissor-lift bases. These allow the working height of the table to be adjusted easily, improving ergonomics and accommodating weldments of different sizes and weights as well as the preferences of individual welders.
Because cast iron is harder than steel, cast-iron platens are more durable than steel tables. They can withstand heavy impact, including repeated blows from a sledgehammer. Even when a heavy weldment is dropped onto the platen, the table is able to tolerate the abuse.
The large mass of the platens allows them to absorb the high temperatures generated during welding while remaining flat. Unlike steel tables, which may warp or buckle under the heat of the welding arc or during preheating, cast-iron platens maintain their shape.
Vertical supports are especially useful when working with tall weldments, providing stable support during fabrication.
The thickness of platen tables also allows them to be machined multiple times and returned to service.
In addition, poured cast-iron platens cannot be easily cut with oxyacetylene torches, and most portable plasma machines are not powerful enough to cut them. As a result, the platens tend to resist damage and hold up well in the harsh environment of a weld shop.
Clamps and tooling can be positioned anywhere on the table by using the square holes, depending on the requirements of the application. Both traditional tooling and newer 3-D tooling systems are available. With these tools, clamping can be performed above the surface of the platen as needed.
Fabricators often choose platen tables for welding large and long weldments because the workpieces can be fixtured easily and held with greater stability. Subcomponents can be welded flat on the platen first, then bolted to the table for final welding of the overall structure.
Large 4-in. square members can be secured to the table using gooseneck hold-down tools. Standard C-clamps, factory-supplied magnets, support shelves, and trees also can be used when required.
In addition, customer-supplied tooling and templates can be easily bolted to the platen table using the cast-in sockets located at the bottom of the 1.75-in. square holes.
Downdraft air ventilation systems are available as an option for platen tables. Smoke and fumes are drawn downward through the square holes and routed to an air cleaner or exhaust fan.
Unlike some steel tables, cast-iron platen tables allow oxyacetylene and plasma cutting to be performed when flame-clear pyramids are used to elevate the plate above the platen surface. Smoke generated by cutting or welding can be effectively removed using the downdraft system.
As a shop expands, additional platens can be added to create extra workstations as needed. Tooling, clamps, and angle blocks can also be added and easily moved from one table to another. The stands are designed so that platens can be mounted flush next to each other as the shop grows.
Because gas metal arc welding, shielded metal arc welding, gas tungsten arc welding, and flux-cored arc welding may all be performed on these tables, they are built for long-term use in the weld shop. They are able to withstand the demanding nature of fabrication work while remaining flexible enough to handle a wide range of challenging welding applications.
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