New welding bench

Hi

l am thinking of making a new welding bench as my present one is past its sell by date, the one l have is just a 6'x3' bench with an aluminium top, l want to move up to some thing more sturdy this time, l can cope with knocking up a 3"x3" box frame for the legs/frame it's the top l am pondering, do you think 6mm is enough or 8 or even 10mm, 8'x4 this time l think. l havent priced it yet so might be in for a shock but what do you chaps do to the top like cutting slots in it for clamps etc to drop into, l was thinking of cutting key holes into it, say a 2" hole with a 1" slot leading of it for an inch or so ??
any one built one or got pics of one ?

Andy

I sometimes work on a bench made from 2 x 2 box with a 6mm top, it's a real good sturdy bench, there is a stock of magnetic clamps which work well although they need brushed off now and again to get shot of debris....no big deal

Well, here's mine, there are some comments about leaving a clamping gap between plates, on balance I'm glad I didn't:
http://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=21965

For what its worth, (I keep saying this), I think its better to put the money into the supporting structure than a thicker and thicker plate. A few extra crossbars for support and you can have a much thinner top and never notice. I think 6mm with good structure makes a nice general metalwork table.

Leave space for clamps underneath (structure doesn't come right to the edge of the plate.

Good luck, Al.

Nice big bench astro; solidly built. Bet you get back ache standing at it though?

Well, yes and no - I made it low deliberately - its for larger stuff really and laying out etc.

The low height helps reaching towards the middle (although I'm often standing on it).

I wouldn't want to work on flat stuff at it all day, but I have other benches for 'normal height'. Defo not recommended for people with only 1 workbench!

Al.

I made mine for £120

50mm box for the frame thats 2m x 1m x 1m

The top is only 4mm with 4 5mm braces

I still need to get a vice on it to finish but its so much better than working on the floor