sheet metal for table top

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I've welded up a 3ft X 5ft work bench fabricated with 2X2 square tubing. what should i top it with. i figured i should just get some 12-18 gauge cold rolled sheet metal. i also wanted a piece of aluminum to put on top. probably some 1/8 inch. what yall think?
Reply:Usually it's recommended you go with the thickest top you can find/afford. 1/4" thick will easily warp with very little heat. 3/8" doesn't take that much more, and both will easily dent with light to medium pounding. Frequently tops are used to tack things in place while welds are made. A thin top will quickly get pulled all out of shape if you do this, and that not only wrecks the top, but defeats the purpose of tacking the parts down.Serious guys use 3/4" and thicker. I know several with tops greater than 1 1/2" thick. My small 2x4' table is 3/4" plate. my friends shop table is 1 1/2" thick..No government ever voluntarily reduces itself in size. Government programs, once launched, never disappear. Actually, a government bureau is the nearest thing to eternal life we'll ever see on this earth! Ronald Reagan
Reply:What are you using the table for?  Welding?  Metal fabrication?  Woodworking?  Why did you want aluminum on it?Jack OlsenMy garage website
Reply:Originally Posted by Jack OlsenWhy did you want aluminum on it?
Reply:base it on what  you intend to do, but go heavy. and look into hot rolled, should be cheaper and it dont  sound like you are gonna build a watch...
Reply:after a little more thought, and reading yalls advice, a thin layer of cold roll is silly. if i need to weld something to my table ill just take the aluminum off. i'm prob just gonna get a thick piece, no less than an 1/8th thick. aluminum cause its soft, absorbs heat well, light weight. thanks for the help, it was helpfull.
Reply:I have a couple 2x4x3/8 table tops, a 4x8x3/8", and a 8x12x3/8 chassis table.  I have never had an issue with any of them.  Depending on how the table is built and intended purpose you may not need to go thicker."I Build Stuff"www.jmrmfg.comwww.509media.com