Attaching electrical outlet to welding table

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I wanted to attach a power strip to the bottom of my welding table for my angle grinders and so forth, but I don't know (or possibly build some plugs using metal conduit), but I don't know if that will be a problem as I weld and place the earth clamp to table.  Will this be a problem?  Any specific considerations or concerns I need to be worried about?The Lord has declared, "This is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man"  Moses 1:39Link: My name is John, and I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.-- ColdCreekWorks.com --
Reply:Power strip is fine.The "danger" comes from the grinding dust building up inside the Power Strip and causing a short but in any event the CB on the Power Strip should trip.Blow it out on a regular basis.Ed Conleyhttp://www.screamingbroccoli.com/MM252MM211 (Sold)Passport Plus & Spool gunLincoln SP135 Plus- (Gone to a good home)Klutch 120v Plasma cutterSO 2020 benderBeer in the fridge
Reply:Originally Posted by Broccoli1Power strip is fine.The "danger" comes from the grinding dust building up inside the Power Strip and causing a short but in any event the CB on the Power Strip should trip.Blow it out on a regular basis.
Reply:Broccoli has the idea, a power strip works great, they are inexpensive and provide a level of protection.  If it goes bad, a new one doesn't cost that much.
Reply:Originally Posted by jdh239I wanted to attach a power strip to the bottom of my welding table for my angle grinders and so forth, but I don't know (or possibly build some plugs using metal conduit), but I don't know if that will be a problem as I weld and place the earth clamp to table.  Will this be a problem?  Any specific considerations or concerns I need to be worried about?
Reply:Originally Posted by Sparky#1Is it a metal grounding strip or plastic ?
Reply:Originally Posted by jdh239I was planning on metal
Reply:Sparky -- any plug strip with a metal case WILL be connected to the ground wireOne potential problem is that if you hit something that is grounded via an electrical cord with the hot stinger you will burn up the ground wires in the plug strip and the wiring in the wall  you need to figure out how to insulate the plug strip from the table. I am ASSuMEing that the ground lead is NOT grounded at the welder . . . . in which case floating the plug strip off the table wont help . . .   I'm not sure what you could use to isolate the plug strip from the table with, unless you space a piece of wood off the table far enough so the wood wont char. just be sure any mounting screws don't hit anything metal attached to the table or it will be grounded.If the ground lead is grounded at the welder (which I don't  believe it is) if your ground clamp falls off your return would be through the 12 gauge wire in your electrical system . . .  and that isn't good either . . .Last edited by fredf; 05-08-2009 at 09:57 PM.
Reply:The power strip is ok but if you do much work I would suggest a handy box with industrial covers on each table leg connected with 1/2 emt or better yet ridgid conduit. If using emt, use compression connector rather than set screw connectors. Power strips will get banged up with heavy duty use.Tough as nails and damn near as smart