Welding table question

[jammy]

Quick question on welding tables:

One advantage seems to be that you can put the clamp anywhere you want and just clamp your work to the metal top.

Does this work if the table is aluminum topped? I've got a bench made of an old fire door and a ~4mm alu sign topped it with all the stickers ground off. Can I use this like a welding table or will the oxide layer of the alu give me problems? I'm not too worried about heat on the wood underneath as it's a fire door

 

[Bsmith]

As for an aluminium table carrying welding current it's ideal but dunno about oxide etc.

 

[Norm]

I have a piece of aluminium chequer plate on top of a wooden bench which I use as my welding table, I use it flat side up and let it overhang the edge of the bench I attach the earth clamp to the overhang and it seems to work fine. I just give it a quick wipe over with some 240 grit paper if it starts getting sooty or marked and it comes up like new.
Hope that helps.
Norm

 

[Engineer1964]

if you weld steel on an aluminium table top then the arc from the steel will gouge holes in the top of the aluminium and you will be forever sanding back.

Best top for a welding table is steel But if you are happy with aluminium then its upto you

 

[rich r]

The oxide layer on aluminium is so thin that it forms virtually no barrier to electric current - especially at the high currents used in welding.

 

[jammy]

Cheers guys!