Advice needed on work bench/table construction

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Hello,I've been a lurker here for a while, and thought I'd chime in and ask for some advice. I have limited space in my garage for all my toys so I'm looking for ways to put that space to better use. I have a table saw, and want to make a bench for it to fit under. My dad gave me two steel panels that are about 1/4" thick and measure 48"x14-3/8". I plan on putting them together and building a frame to support them. The frame would have to be 44" tall and open on the front so I can slide the table saw in and out. What should I make the frame out of? I was thinking 2x2 square tubing. I would have the four legs with a tie at the bottom of each side and along the back, a tube at the top of the frame at all four corners, and some gusseting to reinforce the two front legs. Is that overkill or not enough?ThanksJohn
Reply:I take it that you must have a small table saw if it will fit under a 14" bench top? since your looking at a 48"x14" rectangle type bench. Do you need this bench to move or will it be stationally? What will be put on this table? anything heavy will require your additional support such as the 2" square tubing or L angle steelCo-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:Originally Posted by specterI take it that you must have a small table saw if it will fit under a 14" bench top? since your looking at a 48"x14" rectangle type bench. Do you need this bench to move or will it be stationally? What will be put on this table? anything heavy will require your additional support such as the 2" square tubing or L angle steel
Reply:Ah Guess I misread  that part.Since I assume that when you join the panels there will be a seam in the center. So put a cross support under the table top  that runs the lenght of the seem.Co-Own CNC shop:Miller :1251 plasma cutter, MaxStar 700 TIG/Stick, & XMT 456 Multiprocess Welder.&  2 Hypertherm HPR260's Plasma CutterSorry I had a bad stroke but now I am back.
Reply:yep, putting the two together with a brace going across both. I'll put my chop saw on it and my 10" drill press. I do plan on having casters so I can roll it around the garage, I assume it's going to get pretty heavy with all that steel. I did some quick plans in autocad, if I can, I'll post them tonight.
Reply:If you are going to weld the two tabletop pieces together solid, be careful not to warp the tabletop. I agree though, the 2x2 tube will work fine, and your general framing plan also sounds good.My adventures in welding projects:http://weldingshopblog.blogspot.com/
Reply:There's 120lbs in the top.  A little over 15lbs per sq foot.  Drill press maybe 80lbs, and saw probably less than that.  Figure on the potential leverage at the top of the table in relation to what you think the legs can stand.  It's gonna want to move side to side, and front to back.I don't know what ga the legs are, and how stiff they might be.  It's up to you to second guess where the weak points will be.  That's the sit and look partI would imagine the least stable will be the front to back dimension.  It's long, and narrow front to back.  It may want to tip that way.  If it's not mobile, it might just be fine.  Casters would increase the tipping thing.Stuff always wants to move"Any day above ground is a good day"http://www.farmersamm.com/