Guys I need help with a table...

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I need to build a new welding table for my shop on my farm. In the past I simpy used the floor since it is level but my knee is shot from an injury and I cant bend down that much anymore.  I plan on using 2 7/8" upset tubing for the legs and was wanting to make a table that is dimensionally stable (i.e., it wont tump over if a majority of the weight on it is on one of the long sides). I am 6'1", and in the past have made tables that were 36" tall.  This seems to be a decent height but can be convinced otherwise.Questions:-What are you all using for height on your tables?-Is there a magic formula for length and width that would produce a stable table relative to height?-What is the minimum thickness for the top?Thanks for your help.Linepipe
Reply:what is the size of the shop you are going to be putting it in? How much room is avalible? Mine;36" high, 3' wide, 5' long...thats all the room i could spare. 1/2' thick, the bigger the better if you are planning on putting some heavy stuff on it or banking  on it. Lots of support.Check out this thread;http://weldingweb.com/vbb/showthread.php?t=217661
Reply:Height is based on personal preference and what you plan to do with the table. My old boss was 6'7 so all the worktables at the shop tended to be on the tall side. I like a shorter table when I'm working on a large table, say 4x8. The lower height makes it easier to reach things in the center of the table. As far as stable ratio, usually if the base is equal or wider than it is tall the table tends to be fairly stable. The taller and narrower it gets, the more tippy it becomes. You can off set this with weight placed lower on the table, like a lower shelf that's loaded with stock for ballast.Top thickness depends a lot on what you plan to use it for. If you do heavy work, then a heavy top is a big help. Lighter work wouldn't need such a heavy top. The big table at the shop is 1 1/2" thick, 3' wide and 12' long. we used to use it to straighten buckets and so on. My small table is 3/8" and is more than enough for smaller projects. 1/4" is about the thinnest I'd go if it's self supporting, but I've seen any number of thinner steel tops that have say a plywood base for support. They are more for work surfaces than welding and heating however..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:Stand up straight and bend your arm at a 90* angle. Start planning from there what's comfortable for you.Last edited by SWells; 01-23-2013 at 10:54 PM.If you don't want to stand behind our Troops, feel free to stand in front of them.
Reply:All of the above. I would see what steel you can find for a top and go from there. You might end up with two tables, one for the quick small part repair and a larger for real projects.
Reply:A1998z3,  shop is 40x25, but I realistically have 32x15 available.