Wow Randy, those high school work benches -- FLASHBACK! I can still hear Mr Simond's (shop teacher) preaching shop safety on first day. "When in the welding or casting area when the metal is white hot -- do not touch it. I don't like the smell and you'll jump around, knock things over and make a mess of my shop.... besides it'll hurt."
/heh. Gotta love shop teacher with dry humor.