[JustTheDad]

I would give serious thought to making it a 'bolt on' top, and maybe a bolt together frame too.
I grew up as a military brat. It will be easier to make new friends at your new duty station, if you don't start out giving them sore backs and hernias.
With proper design, it can be a solid feeling table that breaks down to manageable size pieces.

I agree with this. In fact, I'd consider making it a 2 or 3 piece top. If you have 3 pieces that are 3'x2', you can weld 1x1 angle iron under the long edges, and weld 6 pieces of 3"x3/4" threaded rod to the bottom of each piece of angle iron. Drill holes in the supports on the base, space the pieces ~1" apart. Now you can level each piece using with 2 nuts per rod. You also have two slots for clamps. More work, but flat, versatile, and mobile. You could do 3 pieces of 1'x6' steel too.

My son and I are CAD'ing out a small table that will have 8 stainless slats, 5" by 28" long. 6 bolts welded on the bottom of each piece. 1" and 1.25" spacing. We may add a solid piece along the front to create a place you can slide your hand for long TIG welds, or we may use a couple of the large linear bearings and tubing I have downstairs to make a movable hand support. Whatever you do, I wouldn't build a one piece 800 lb table you may have to move every few years.

[cj737]

My son and I are CAD'ing out a small table that will have 8 stainless slats, 5" by 28" long. 6 bolts welded on the bottom of each piece. 1" and 1.25" spacing. We may add a solid piece along the front to create a place you can slide your hand for long TIG welds, or we may use a couple of the large linear bearings and tubing I have downstairs to make a movable hand support. Whatever you do, I wouldn't build a one piece 800 lb table you may have to move every few years.

You would do well to re-think using stainless for a welding table. First of all, it will get unbelievably HOT. Second, it is prone to warping despite the attachments. Sure, it won't rust, but neither would aluminum.

A far better choice would be cast iron slats in the same dimensions. Spatter won't stick, it can take the heat, and is stable from warpage.

[JustTheDad]

First of all, it will get unbelievably HOT. Second, it is prone to warping despite the attachments. Sure, it won't rust, but neither would aluminum.
A far better choice would be cast iron slats in the same dimensions. Spatter won't stick, it can take the heat, and is stable from warpage.

Good points. I considered aluminum, but we got the stainless for a lower price than mild steel or aluminum at a recycling yard. I didn't realize poor thermal conductivity made it a bad choice, although I was considering adding something to the bottom of the slats to improve their thermal conductivity. I'm not sure how that would work though. there'd be different expansion coeficients to worry about.

I guess if it warps or doesn't work, we'll just have gotten a lot of practice welding the bolts to it

Edit,
I found some 1/2" thick aluminum slats. I'll use them (too). We'll modify the design and learn TIG brazing.

Didn't have access to cheap cast iron slats, although if anyone wants to find super cheap cast iron tops, watch IRAauctions. The old 3 phase tools that often sell for $25 or $50 bucks can have huge very flat cast iron tops. Course you have to move the entire machine, but it's still a deal.
Saw some hydraulic press plates that had 1.5" thick tops and bottoms sell for less than their value in scrap steel a week or so ago. But I didn't want a 1500 lb table top. I already have a 1200 lb assembly table because I had to store a 5x10' piece of granite and just build a table under and over it in the wood shop. Thanks Oscar, for the stainless issue.