Arc, Acetyline, or both? The welding table in our school shop has a cutting area made of 1/4" X 2" flat bar, mounted edgewise, and spaced 1/2" apart. The acetyline-welding area is lined with firebrick, and the arc weld area is made from 1/2" plate. about 2' square. The complete table is about 3' square, with the acetyline cutting and welding area across one end. It's a good general-use table for layout and fabricatrion work. For big layout jobs, we've got a 5' X 10' piece of 2" solid steel plate, supported by six 6" pipe legs. Rigid!
Jerry

"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!