Abstract: A water table and submersible conveyor system for use with an in-line material handling system, particularly a system in which the work is processed by burning, is disclosed. The water table includes opposing end walls whose top portions each define a substantially rectangular opening to accommodate a conveyor carrying a workpiece and end doors for sealing the openings having vertical slots with resilient seals mounted therein for engaging and effecting a watertight closure about sealable links of the conveyor. The water level in the water table can be raised to submerge and protect the conveyor beneath the workpiece during the burning operation.