Welding bench

[Ho55]

I want to construct a welding bench. I have an industrial bench with a 30mm wood top and was thinking of putting at 5mm sheet over it.
I would think 5mm should be flat enough and conductive enough to stop the wood burning. Comments?
I can get Alu plate quite easily, but Steel or SS a little more tricky, do we think Alu would work?

 

[macandmoss]

don't put metal over wood and weld on it ,you will be asking for trouble , even if you don't see flames it could be smouldering slowly underneath and catch fire later ,get a cheap metal welding bench off ebay or gumtree ,well worth the investment and your safety

 

[knighty]

you could lay some 30mm box section around the top of the table, screw it down, and then weld your 5mm steel top to it?
(need a couple of bits across the middle too)

doesn't need much weld holding it on, a dozen good strong 1 inch welds will hold it down great

you really need steel tho, Alu is too soft