Work bench top -Metal?

24ga metal is ok.......we've had ours covered for a couple of years with it. It bends and dents though........and is hard of the finish of the saws. I'm not sure I'll use it in the new shop.

 

I have several work benches and a couple are 1/4" steel tops.

The one I use the most has 20 gauge galvanized sheet broken as in the first post. It was made 45 years ago and has held up fine.

 

A thick piece of the black rubber gasket material on mine works great. Easy on the saw and non skid

 

Is that the material on the bench you had in the video of how to clean transfer off with out acid?

 

Yes sir.

On my bench it is still in good shape, but it needs replaced on Jon's. He does a lot of case splitting, and muffler work, and that is hard on it.

 

I think if it was glued down with a heavy flooring glue, that would make it a bit tougher as well.

 

I'd go with the thinner stainless, I don't think the 1/8" is really needed unless you plan on hammering on the bench. One of my work benches has a thin layer of stainless on top, I like it for working on since the surface is easy to see parts on and clean-up is quick. I have a second, more heavy duty bench that I use to mount tools on, and it has a 1.5" block of steel that I use when I need an anvil.

 

hmmm. I may try that one. Can you get it to be smooth or is it rough like a bed liner?

 

I was thinking old comics kitchen counter top bolted to whatever base you have.

I rather have wood personally. I got a metal top one bit its covered with metal and its rusted now from a leaking shed. I put gear oil all over it to soak in and now its just nasty and dirty. Needs to clean it off with gas or something that said. I probably will bolt 3/4 ply down. To it. The oil will soak in. Still have the dust and pollen thing but what can you do. I dont have a shop or garage or basement. I work in sheds that are open. Work with what you got.

 

I have about a 12" section of rail (train track)on my bench that I use for a table.

 

My brother somehow acquired a section of train track like that. I'm kind of jealous, my block works great, but having that slight radius on top would come in handy at times.

 

I "acquired" mine along the track. I also "acquired" about a 5ft section of RR track. I use it as a weight on my disk harrow on the tractor. All I could do to put out in the truck.

There still sections of rail laying along the 19 miles or so that I follow on the way to my office that are longer than that. I think there is a 10-20 ft section laying along the track.

 

Can you box it up and ship it? Just maybe 10' or so?

 

The thing has been there for a few years!! If I could pick it up I would put a label on it for you "COD" and send it on.

 

I use plywood on the saw work bench and 3/16" carbon steel on the bench with the vise over plywood for welding and stuff like that.

 

Metal or plastic or plexiglass or ruber is fine just because is very easy for cleaning , the wood materials are just soak oils , anyway is a personal decision