Building tables in forum postings

How do I build a table to go into a forum posting?  I have tried making tables using Word and saving it as HTML and pasting it into the forum, but the column sizes change  I know it is possible because I see it done.  What is the best way to build tables?

HTML tables tend to cut and paste nicely -- cut the actual rendered table, not the HTML code itself.

Not sure about cutting and pasting directly from word or excel -- I think word used to post a bunch of extra meta-data, but that excel might work.

After creating a table in Word, set table style to Table Web 1 (or 2 or 3) - before copying and pasting it back into the forum posting.

Table -> Table Autoformat (if using Word 2003) or earlier.

If using Word 2007 or 2010, I use ubitmenu to restore the classic menus and my sanity.