Welding table design question

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I've seen several examples (and for my needs really like) tables where the top is made from c-channel with what looks like a 2" gap to accomodate clamps. Some seem to have the c-channel welded directly to the frame, others seem to have a pretty elaborate scheme for bolting custom mounts to the frame.My question is: is there some advantage to the bolting scheme vs just welding directly to the frame?I'm thinking of a table somewhere between 3'x6' and 4'x8'.Thanks in advance.
Reply:I have a set of plans for channel top, but a 9/16" gap between each piece of channel. The plans call for welding the top to the frame.
Reply:Bolting would allow you to move the panels around, if you needed more or less of a gap depending on project.  It also allows you to replace panels easier if damaged.  Those are my only thoughts.
Reply:I have been thinking about doing this as well. Are you going to put the channel with the c side up?
Reply:Thanks all - good thoughts. I think I'm going with welding directly to the frame. I guess in terms of spacing, I just need to be able to accomodate my Strong Hand style clamps so I can certainly get away with less than 2" spacing. I'm going c-side down to have the maximum "flat table" (I already have a separate table for cutting).  Should be moving ahead with the build in a few weeks, hopefully I can post a build thread.
Reply:Look forward to seeing you build this and the play by play thread.Ben
Reply:I've recently rented out half of my shop to another weldor. He needed a table so we built one of the channel tables. Here's some pictures of it being built. It has two I beams that run down the length of it and the channel is welded to the I beam, about 1" of weld in the center of the I beam on each side of the channel. It came out very flat. Attached Images
Reply:Bob,What size of channel and I Beam did you folks to build the table.   Looks to be stout.Regards
Reply:Thanks Bob, very nice. Pretty much what I had in mind.
Reply:bolting puts no heat into the subframe. Welding the C-channel to the very top side of your subframe will curl it like a banana...depending on the amount of welding. I'd suggest only heavy tac welding the C-channel to the frame if you don't bolt it. No reason to really weld the piss out of it.
Reply:Originally Posted by Jimmy_popbolting puts no heat into the subframe. Welding the C-channel to the very top side of your subframe will curl it like a banana...depending on the amount of welding. I'd suggest only heavy tac welding the C-channel to the frame if you don't bolt it. No reason to really weld the piss out of it.
Reply:We got a deal on some short pieces off 6" channel and I had several pieces of 8" H beam so that is what we went with. It turned out to be 5'X10' and we welded a piece of heavy angle across one end to help with splicing pipe. The legs are some 3 1/2" schedule 80 that I had left over from a job. The flange on the H beam was 6" and we welded the center one inch of where the channel crossed it on each side. There was no warpage. There is less than a hundred dollars in this whole thing. It was finished in March and has already had thousands of dollars worth of hand rail and fence built on it.