Plasma Water Table Journey #1

In a previous post I wrote about the PrimeWeld Cut60 Plasma Cutter and how much I was impressed with it. Well, so much so that I’m building an awesome plasma water table. This will take care of about 70% of the gas and fumes, and almost 100% of the dross and whatever else that’s shooting out of the torch!

I’ve decided not to make it too shallow due to the splashing. I figure about 4″ from the workpiece to the water is a decent compromise. I may have over compensated on this build. Me being a newbie and never working with metal, I didn’t realize the weight factor. I have a plan though. I will build it upside down on my welding table and then slide and flip it over on it’s casters. If that doesn’t work, I will just rent a engine hoist or something.

Hey, I never said I was perfect. But I’m determined to figure this out. I’ve already made a mistake or two. But I’m going to work around that. This is just the first of many updates regarding the plasma table.

Today, I got more done than I thought I was going to do. I managed to cut the ends and the sides of the top frame. The miters are almost perfect! I still need to bevel out the edges and clean all that rust before I weld.

But it’s officially started and I’m pumped! The Evolution S380-CPS is a beast and made the cuts with ease. I truly couldn’t have done this without it. On the first day I released a YouTube Short, check it out!

I’ve gone through so many concept designs because for obvious reasons I’ve never done this before, I’m learning as I go, and the more research I do, the more changes I make. This is indeed uncharted territory and it is both terrifying and exhilarating at the same time. There is a part of me that wish I bought one of those cheap premade in a box plasma tables, but where is the fun in that?

Plasma Table Materials:

• 1/4″ x 3″ Angle Iron (For the top frame)
• 1/4″ x 4 x 4 Steel Tubing (Cut in half to make the 4 legs)
• 1/4″ Steel Plate (For castors)
• 1/4″ Flat Steel Bar (For slats)
• Vevor 24″ x 36″ Maple Boiler Resovoir (For water tank)

I told you I over compensated. I figured 1/4″ was going to be sturdy. And boy was I right! Well, if anything, I can also use it for a welding table too. We’ll see. Ya, I had a hard time finding an affordable stainless steel water reservoir. I even bought a dryer pan, but who wants a square plasma table? I was actually going to give up and build a down draft style table. But I didn’t give up and found the VEVOR Maple Syrup Evaporator Pan 36x24x6 Inch Stainless Steel. Pretty cool find if you ask me. Unfortunately, Amazon doesn’t carry this, but Walmart does.

So here is the final design I’m shooting for.

Of course this is all theory. I need to put it to practice. I do consider this a challenge for me. Especially when I have hardly had any experience in welding. Mistakes will be made. I have to live with it. But we learn from our mistakes, and I do want to grow and learn. Well, until next time, wish me luck!