Welding Tips and Tricks

I'm in the process of putting a list of materials together for a welding table. It'll have basic framing and the top will be 5" x 3/8" thick flat bar gapped slats. My question is can I use aluminum for the slats?

I'm new to welding so I don't know much but I know welding on an aluminum surface greatly reduces heat. I just don't know if 3/8" thick will be thick enough or should I just stick with steel?

To put it in perspective, StrongHand sells an aluminum table that they recommend for production stainless work so as to prevent carbon contamination of the work.

To answer your question specifically, we would need to know what you are welding primarily, and how heavy it is.

Nothing more the 1/4" steel. Possibly some small aluminum parts.