Wiring work table?

[Yojinbo]

(USA 120v)

I have an old steel 30" by 60" table that I want to power 120v (install plugs on/near). It sits in the middle of my shop and I have 120v service right above in the form of drop-down metal duplex receptacles.

I would like to have 2 or 3 duplex 120v receptacles on my table either below the table top in a "skirt" around the edges and in front or on a rectangular steel tubing "splash guard" situation fabbed up on on back along the top. I can fab the metal, etc.

Q1: Does anyone have an opinion on the usefulness or safety of the below vs above the table options?

Q2: Should I sacrifice one of my exiting drop 120V services or run a new line from my subpanel to a "power pole"?

Q3: Does anyone have a small power pole to recommend brand wise?

Q4: I am looking at Leviton 5342-GY or Leviton 5362-GYS 20amp receptacles. Does anyone have an opinion on them or recommended some other?

I use the table as a bench for cleaning (ultrasonic cleaner), mixing paint, occasional grinding (right angle grinder), a bit of drilling (the table has a permanently mounted vise). So metal chips and liquids are possible.

Thank you all for your input - and "don't do that!" is an OK answer.

 

[Gregishome]

Run emt from the ceiling down to a surface mounted multiple outlet enclosed raceway that is preferably out of the flying chips/liquid's path. Grainger or any electric supply house carries them

 

[sberry]

You can do that, my benches are wired, make it cord and plug, EMT to handi boxes or hook a couple simple power strips on it. Ideally this comes from GFCI circuit. The brand of recepts don't mean squat. A drop is a pain in the rear, maybe you need to move this bench so you cant help it but mine sit in the middle too, cut a groove in the floor and ran a pipe to feed them. Below the skirt is my choice, one of the reasons for this is so there are not cords laying on bench, making a backstop kind of defeats the point of having the bench in the middle.

 

[Yojinbo]

Thanks for the pics. I hate to dig into my floor but thats probably a better solution. I appriciate the input.

 

[Gregishome]

From the sounds of what you are doing with the metal chips, paint cleaners etc, those table mounted outlets are going get clobbered with stuff..

If you are wanting it to be mobile, I would stay with a two gang outlet box(four plugs) hanging it from the ceiling on a steel cabled strain relief SO cord...

Let it hang down above the table and put a two gang outlet box on it using a steel cabled strain relief male connector that is going in to a 3/4 female hub or (FS style hub) two gang box. jmo

 

[Kevin54]

You can get a prewired raceway from Grainger for $50 / with 6 outlets http://www.grainger.com/Grainger/WIREMOLD-Prewired-Raceway-2W603?Pid=search

 

[dittle fart around]

Check out McDonald's next time your there. All the power comes from above with water proof twist lock plugs. Put casters on every bench. Then when the big project comes in move the benches out of the way. I would much rather have outlets below the tops overhang. Put a shelf below that and keep often used tools plugged in, like your grinders.

 

[Yojinbo]

Nice. I like the ideas. Thank you all.