Welding table question

I see the monthly surplus auction for the local University (Mizzou) will include some stainless steel foodservice type tables.  Could they be used as a welding table or are they likely to not be rigid or sturdy enough?

I’d think they wouldn’t be sturdy enough unless you reinforce them at which point it would likely be easier and better to just make a table out of wood and skin it. 

I kept looking on Craigslist until I found a metal table made of 1” steel plate on top. 

It isn’t huge (maybe 4x6) but no one who has come over has been able to lift one end of it but everyone thinks they can.  

It has two 1/2” plate shelves as well.   

Regardless, I’m saying to maybe check craigslist or consider trying to buy a trench plate and make your own. 

It’s nice having a table I can hammer on with a sledge and know I will never damage it. 

From my time in kitchens, most of those will be useless in a shop for much more than collecting stuff. There's some great stuff, not exactly cheap though, on my local craigslist, be worth looking at. If you have a metal yard nearby, call them up for drops and built one yourself. I just paid under $20 for some 18x18x1/2" plate drops, and the guy mentioned that table sized pieces could be had for under $100. Not that pricing is universal, but it's worth a phone call.

One of the nice things about a welding table is the ability to weld stuff to it.  Stainless makes they tougher. If the table you are looking at is sturdy enough, you could add steel plate on top.  

If cheap enough and you need shelving, a couple of them might be useful as material donors.  A stainless shelf sounds like a nice thing for the garage where sometimes chemicals can wreck havok on mild steel or wooden shelving.

I have done it. The heat will quickly warp the tops. The spatter from the mig will stick to it very firmly. Instead of being able to knock the spatter off with a cold chisel,  you have to grind it off of your now oil canned surface. It sucks.

I quickly upgraded. 

I just bought a surplus food service table.  It's 18 gauge at best and it wouldn't do well as a welding table.  It looks like 430 stainless which is great for food service; strong and corrosion resistant, but in the 18 gauge it will just warp and dent.

I kept trolling CL and I am looking at some 1/8" aluminum sheet right now.  I'll probably put it on some 3/4 plywood knowing that it will be sacrificial, but it will keep it flat and give it support.  I'm doing aluminum because weld spatter won't stick.... unless I succeed in my threat to learn how to TIG aluminum.