mounting stick welder inside welding table... grounding question

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First post for this newbie welder...Just picked up a 1970s-vintage Lincoln Idealarc stick welder for a decent price.  Never welded stick at all, but was once pretty good at oxy years ago.  I've been making room for it in the shop and wiring a 230 volt receptacle for it.  Did some continuity checks to make sure that the chassis was correctly bonded to the grounding pin of the plug.  Everything looks good, so now I'm mentally designing a steel welding table for it.What I can't figure out is this...  I'd like to mount the welder inside the table. If I do that, the chassis ground of the welder will bring the steel table to ground as well.  That would generally sound like a good idea, but what happens when the work electrode is also connected to that same steel table?  Let's say I'm welding AC here.  Either I'd get a ground fault, as current rushes from either electrode to the grounded table, which would be bad.  Or the grounding would peg the lower limit of the AC sine wave to ground, which is not so bad, but wouldn't that give me the oh-so-fun option of striking arcs on anything similarly grounded in my shop?   One false move in a crowded shop could do some damage.So, is this done?  Is it a problem?  No big deal?  Just keep the work area tidy?  Thanks for helping me think my way through this...
Reply:Set it on a rubber mat? I see where your thoughts are but you need to remember/understand that the Primary input of the Welders transformer is isolated from the Secondary output side. Theoretically they will never seek the same path together, as they are separate circuits. Its clear as Mud the way I am explain it, Sorry its early!
Reply:Not trying to rain on the parade....but you will probably have a lot of grinding dust (i.e. slag and metal) dropping into the welder; it is a dirty job....Build a nice cart for the welder with space for rods and knick-kacks.
Reply:I second the cartLocated In SE OklahomaLincoln Mig 135Hobart Ironman 230 Mig5x10 CNC Table with DTHC & FTHypertherm PM65 on the tableMiller Bobcatwww.caneyagequipment.com
Reply:Back in the 70's when that dinowelder was made, there wasn't a way to ask a crap load of people their opinion and it's still here and running right? Put it the heck under the table and be done with it! It's going to out live all of us!
Reply:Under the table only 1 ft of ground needed ,less mess. I put a air compressor under too.
Reply:Originally Posted by sjslug...but wouldn't that give me the oh-so-fun option of striking arcs on anything similarly grounded in my shop?   One false move in a crowded shop could do some damage...
Reply:My welding cart is my welding table. My 110volt outlets for my grinders and drills and whatever are spliced off the 240volts supply to my mig welder and my stick/tig welder,  both units have been working fine under the table for 20 years for the mig and 5yrs for the stick.  Go for it.Measure with a micrometre, mark with chalk,  cut with a torch.Never force anything...just get a bigger hammer.RoyOld Airco buzz box approx 1974Lincoln mig pack 15Lincoln 175 square wave1954 9" south bend lathe
Reply:I was going to comment on possibility of dust and bebris but seen as it was an electrical question. I left the subject alone. Hobby welder in the garage, I wouldn't worry about dust!
Reply:Originally Posted by drujininSet it on a rubber mat? I see where your thoughts are but you need to remember/understand that the Primary input of the Welders transformer is isolated from the Secondary output side. Theoretically they will never seek the same path together, as they are separate circuits. Its clear as Mud the way I am explain it, Sorry its early!