Jason Talks Fixture Tables, Flap Discs, and Fireball Tool on Arc Junkies
Jason from Fireball recently joined Jason Becker on the Arc Junkies podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about fabrication, tool design, testing, and what Fireball Tool has been working on lately. The episode covered a lot, but two conversations really stood out: the ongoing discussion around Siegmund/Quantum fixture tables, and Fireball’s deep dive into grinding flap disc performance.
The Siegmund / Quantum / Fireball Fixture Table Discussion
A big part of the podcast focused on the recent conversation around Siegmund tables, Quantum Machinery, and Fireball Tool’s table testing. Jason explained that this all started from a simple question: if a company claims to make the “world’s strongest” fixture table, what does that actually mean?
Jason talked about his early experience buying and testing fixture tables before Fireball ever had its own table line. Years ago, he purchased multiple tables, including Siegmund 16 mm and 28 mm tables, and was surprised by how much flex he noticed. That raised a question that has stuck with him ever since: if a table moves that much under real shop conditions, how should customers evaluate claims about strength, rigidity, and performance?
The larger point Jason made was not just about one brand. It was about transparency. Fixture tables are expensive, long-term purchases, and most customers do not get to test several tables side by side before buying one. Jason’s argument is that customers deserve real numbers, not just marketing claims. Things like flex, sidewall deflection, three-leg sag, rigidity under load, flatness, and actual performance should be tested and published so buyers can compare tables in a practical way.
He also addressed Quantum’s public challenge for a third-party test. Jason said Fireball is willing to participate, but he wants the basic details first: what tests are being performed, who is conducting them, what the scoring system is, where the tables are being sent, and what the rules are. His position was simple: Fireball is ready to test, but not blindly.
Another interesting part of the conversation was the 3D-printed scale models. Jason explained that Fireball has printable models of both Fireball and Siegmund-style tables so people can see the structure, ribbing, and design differences for themselves. His point was that table strength is not just about material or where it is made. Design matters. Ribbing matters. The way the underside is built matters. Two tables can look similar from the top at a trade show, but behave very differently when you start pushing, pulling, clamping, and welding on them.
The big takeaway: Fireball wants more open, measurable, real-world table testing. Not just flatness numbers. Not just hardness numbers. Not just where a table is made. Actual performance numbers that help fabricators decide what tool is right for their shop.
The Grinding Flap Disc Performance Guide
The other major highlight was Fireball’s grinding flap disc testing. The episode mentions that Fireball tested 65 different flap discs while building the Grinding Disc Performance Guide. The whole point of the guide is to help people stop guessing and start choosing abrasives based on what they are actually trying to do.
Jason talked about how misleading abrasive opinions can be. One person might say a disc is terrible because it glazed over too fast, while another person might love the same disc. But the difference may not be the disc. It may be pressure, grinder speed, material, technique, or the job being done.
One of the biggest lessons from the discussion was that there is no single “best” flap disc for every job. A disc that removes a ton of material may be expensive. A cheaper disc may be slower, but a better value. Some discs like lighter pressure. Others need more pressure to keep cutting. If you use the wrong pressure, you may glaze the disc or wear it out too quickly.
Jason brought up the Cubitron-style premium discs as an example of a high-performing abrasive that can remove a lot of material, but may not always win when price is factored in. For certain jobs, they are worth using. But if you are grinding dirty material, dressing fillets, teaching students, or burning through discs in a hobby shop, it might not make sense to use an expensive disc for every task.
That led to one of the more practical recommendations from the episode: Steel Savage flap discs. Jason said these are inexpensive discs that performed surprisingly well in Fireball’s testing. They may not be the absolute fastest, but they offer strong material removal for the price. His example was simple: if you are a school, a home hobbyist, or someone who hates saving half-used expensive flap discs in a bucket forever, a cheaper good-performing disc may be the better tool for the job.
The takeaway here is very Fireball: test the tool, look at the data, and match the tool to the work. Sometimes the expensive disc is the right answer. Sometimes the cheap disc is the smart answer. The point of the Performance Guide is to help people make that choice with more information.
Other Topics Covered in the Episode
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Jason & Jason talked about Fireball’s ProKit table, which is designed as a lower-cost fixture table option where the customer does some of the assembly/welding.
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Jason explained how the ProKit table can be calibrated with adjustment screws, making it a budget-friendly option for schools, hobbyists, and smaller shops.
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They discussed Fireball’s drill press table concept, where a ProKit-style table is used as a mobile, useful work surface around a drill press.
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Jason talked about manufacturing realities, including the tension between wanting to make everything in the USA and still offering customers tools at a price they can afford.
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They covered Fireball’s larger vise projects, including heavy-duty industrial vise concepts for blacksmiths, diesel mechanics, millwrights, hydraulic repair, and serious fabrication shops.
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The episode also touched on the Wilton vise comparison and the now-famous Fireball vise that was drilled full of holes to handicap it for testing.
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There was discussion about Fabtech, new product ideas, and the kind of tools Fireball wants to keep building for fabricators.
Final Thought
This episode really shows how Jason thinks about tools: prove it, test it, measure it, and be honest about the tradeoffs. Whether the topic is fixture tables or flap discs, the message was the same. Fabricators deserve real information, not just claims.
So here’s the question for the forum: what tests would you want to see on fixture tables or flap discs? Flex? Sidewall deflection? Flatness under load? Price-per-inch of weld ground? Disc glazing? Test to failure?
Let’s hear it.