Welding Table Help

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Hi all .. I have plans for a welding table ... which I badly needalong with a way to test my newly found TIG skills ... ( or lack thereof )I bought angle for the table top frame .. and have 1/4" steel pieces for the legs...  but the problem .. ( limited resources ) is the table top ... Where to get a 2' X 4' piece of 3/32" - 3/16" piece of sheet steelfor the top.  I can get some 14 - 16 gauge steel , and reinforce itbut was told it will , due to heat, start to "ripple" ? OH .. and should it be stainless? or can I just paint it? or was there anissue with it helping with the grounding? or grounding it just for the RF interference  prevention?I'm in upstate NY ... ideas about the top thickness and sources?Can anyone help?Randy
Reply:On this forum there are a lot of table or benches for welding.  In one of the forums they talk about painting.  You can use the search button and type "bench" or "welding table".  There are a lot of good ideas.  The problem with using 3/16" steel for the top is that it might get very heavy.  I did not painted mine because I put the ground on the table.  I grind any metal that sticks to the table.  I prefer 1/8 mild steel (I think Merchant Stock is the correct name, not sure) and put it on top of a 3/4" plywood.  I cut the ply wood to fit under the angle iron on the perimeter of the steel panel.  I can take the steel of, the plywood of and remove the bolts from the legs.  I have moved from 8 different houses, so i'm always ready.  No problems with the law, its just work requirements.  We had in the old shop two 2'x6' tables the we placed together if we needed 4'x6' and so on with other sizes.  I cannot weld on the floor for too long, bad knees and back.  Good luck.Cheers,Thormold
Reply:I'm getting ready to weld up a small welding table myself. I found all of my frame metal (1 1'4" square tube) at a metal recycling place ~30 minutes away. I was looking for a 2' x 2' piece of plate steel and having no luck at any of the local metal recycling places. On my way out of the last recycler I checked with I passed a small trailer manufacturer so I stopped in, explained what I wanted, and the owner took me back in their work area to see what they had. I ended up buying a 3/16" plate that measures 24" x 16" (a little smaller than originally planned, but it will do) for $20. He even got one of his guys to cut off a triangular chunk that was leftover on one end from a previous cut.I haven't lived in upstate NY for quite some time (lived in Saratoga for a few years back in the late 80's), so I don't know what is available, but if there are any local trailer manufacturers around they probably have some pieces they would part with. It may be worth your while to drop in on one.Dave
Reply:You can get steel in Syracuse, check the yellow pages.You can also get steel in Fulton, NY at C&C Fabrications and at Solotechin Pulaski, NY.John -  fabricator extraordinaire, car nut!-  bleeding Miller blue! http://www.weldfabzone.com