stainless countertop as welding table?

[pumalex]

Hey everyone, i am a pretty good mechanic but i know nothing about welding and i mean NOTHING!

But, if i want to take my skills to the next level, i really need to learn. I already bought the welder, now i need a place to weld. I need to make a new counter to get more working space and i thought about getting a big iron plate so it could do my welding table but my countertop and the rest of the garage is made out of a stainless theme. How good would it work to weld on a stainless countertop? I thought about buying a used one, something like and old butcher or laboratory counter top. Maybe try to reinforce it with some iron square tubing or angle iron? My other countertop is made of 1/8 stainless on top of a 3/4 plywood, i suppose that would not be a good idea for a welding table?

Next question, this one is easy, my 40A outlet for the welder isn't exactly where i want it. It would need to be like 25 feet farther. I don't feel like tearing the garage apart to install a new wire. Would an extension with the right size wire do the job, let say a 30 feet extension so i could move the welder around in the garage? Is there any precaution to take when making or buying such an extension?

thanks a lot, i feel like i will have a heck of lot of questions when i finally start welding.

 

[zmotorsports]

I would recommend having a minimum of 3/8" thick, preferably 1/2" thick top when welding. If that is out of stainless steel then it should be fine, however, generally when dealing with stainless steel I see people using a thinner layer of stainless over something else. My workbenches are this way, 10 gauge stainless steel over 3/4" plywood. They work fantastic for a general workbench. My welding table top however is 1/2" thick carbon steel and it works perfectly, no warpage and will support much more weight than I will ever put on it.

As far as an extension cord, there is no problem as long as you use a large enough gauge wire to not develop a large voltage drop to the welder. My extension cord is made of 6 gauge 4 conductor wiring and works great. If memory serves it is 30' long. I can reach across my shop and a bit outside as well.

Mike.

 

[BC1]

check your local welding supply for the extension cord. mine was about 30$ cheaper to purchase ready-made than making one myself. and as long as your bench supports the weight of whatever your welding it should be fine; if you don't mind cleaning the spatter off it.

 

[dr_clyde]

I would avoid it. On stainless, spatter and other stuff sticks without mercy, and if it's thin, it'll warp.

 

[Jackfre]

I'd skip the SS and use mild steel at least 1/2" thick and better if you can get some heavier. One thing to consider is that as you weld one of the problems you frequently encounter is how the h*** do I get this thing to hold still so I can tack it and weld it out. You will regularly tack something to the table top to secure the material. When done you will grind it off and smooth the table back out. Also, in doing this you don't have to worry about the ground clamp flopping around as it is clamped to the table. I am frequently in a situation where I know I can weld it, if I can get the parts in position and make them hold still with whatever clamping wonders I can figure out. Then once it is all there I will find that I can't get the right arm swing on the rod or mig or tig.Anyway, the welding is the easy part. Getting the fit up is the hard part

 

[pumalex]

good point, i will consider this

 

[weems]

I used an old stainless steel fridge door and made it into my welding table... Works great!

 

[pumalex]

I used an old stainless steel fridge door and made it into my welding table... Works great!

what did you use to frame or reinforce it?