Jig table ideas

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Hey guys can you give me some ideas on a versatile jig table, Im sick of grinding off tacks, was thinking of making the top out of thick plywood.  I make a lot of ornamental things, even some gates, I need to be able to draw a project out, then set up either pieces of small angle or something to hold the pieces together while I tack everything.  Got any good ideas? What do you guys use? Thanks for any help
Reply:How big of investment in time and money are you wanting.  I've seen some guys who get a thick sheet of steel and go to town with a mag drill and a tap to make a table they can bolt and un bolt clamps and other attachments to.  Tons of time and money into a project like that though, not to mention they keep every hole plugged when not in use to keep spatter from messing up the threads.  If you want to go the wood route that would be an option, again I don't know the results you're after but wood will warp with temperature and moisture.  So if you don't need real precise level and squareness you could go that route, cut some pieces of wood to hold things and pre-drill them and run some screws in so when you know where you want them grab your screw gun and screw them down.
Reply:whats wrong with a steel table?Have we all gone mad?
Reply:some guys use thick plywood table, depends on how much welding and what kind of welding you do... i still think nothing beats a steel table. its easy to ground, you can beat the crap outta stuff on it. just grind of spatter every once and a while.M Fed
Reply:I have a steel table, I use small angle tabs and tack them to the table to hold things together, I'm just looking for other ways, instead of grinding off tacks all the time to move things around
Reply:take a piece of sheet metal and tac your pieces to it if you plan to make alot of the same things in quantaties  then you can just place your jig on your table when u need to then hang it up when finished if you would like me to go in to more detail you can call me at 307 660 7920 or email me at [email protected] Pro Core 125Lincolin sp 100Miller Big 40Lincoln Idealarc SP250miller matic 212http://www.facebook.com/hdwelding?sk=wallwww.hdweldingbeds.com
Reply:How much are you tryin to spend? Do you know what an acorn table is?They have holes in them that you put these "dogs" into that allow you to clamp to the table. Just an ideaYup
Reply:I worked at a place that had two 4x8' tables like that a few years ago- knew them as 'platens' best welding tables i've ever usedI've been looking (for a while now) for a second hand T-slot plate/table to use- easier to find second hand (at least in the UK), plenty of cheap clamping options. Spatter isn't really an issue for me pretty much as everything i do is TIG or oxy-fuel
Reply:Never heard of an acorn table, what do the "dogs" look like? So maybe if I see something at an auction, I'll actually know what it is What do you guys use to lay out gates, the floor? Sometimes you think you got something figured out, then you see the way someone else does it, and it makes a lot more sense
Reply:courtesy of googling 'welding platens'...http://www1.mscdirect.com/CGI/N2SRHI?PMSECT=2007599go play