Edsal steel top question

[DC_Gearhead]

Anybody know if the Edsal steel workbench tops have any kind of substrate under them? I want to replace my top but plan to just sit the new one on top of my old one. I see the Edsal workbench tops all over Amazon, eBay, etc and they are listed at 1-1/2" thick. I'm wondering if that is a 1-1/2 thick particle board or plywood with steel over it. Obviously it is not an inch and a half of solid steel.

Anybody have one? I'm hoping it has a plywood sub base inside.

Ben

 

[Cyberbear]

Don't have one of these, but I looked at a few on Amazon and being made of 12 ga. is a good thing, especially considering free shipping was included. They didn't offer any details but I presume these are made to slip over something for strength, although with light use and proper support, they could hold up well w/o. Personally, I'd opt for using D.F. on the inside as it has less tendency to sag over time, but if well supported anything can work. Particle board is not suited for heavy work, ply is better, and solid wood is best, IMHO.

 

[DC_Gearhead]

Don't have one of these, but I looked at a few on Amazon and being made of 12 ga. is a good thing, especially considering free shipping was included. They didn't offer any details but I presume these are made to slip over something for strength, although with light use and proper support, they could hold up well w/o. Personally, I'd opt for using D.F. on the inside as it has less tendency to sag over time, but if well supported anything can work. Particle board is not suited for heavy work, ply is better, and solid wood is best, IMHO.

My thought exactly. My worry is that the Edsal metal top is for something other than pounding on and has strange cross bracing or something that keeps me from putting plywood up in it as a supportive layer. They make all kinds of tops for different uses according to the website. What I want to do is just build a plywood sub top that I can just skip it over. That would be great work area.

 

[alfagarage]

I do not have a high opinion of edseal items. I have put together many of there cabinets at work and find that they are flimsy and not what I would want in my garage.

As for the tables, we have them as well and they are all metal with nothing under the top for reinforcement other than the bent metal of the top. Again nothing I would pay for. For free maybe. If you wanted to add a backing of mdf or plywood might be OK.

Their tables seem to be a little better built than their cabinets and shelves for what that's worth.

 

[DC_Gearhead]

I do not have a high opinion of edseal items. I have put together many of there cabinets at work and find that they are flimsy and not what I would want in my garage.



As for the tables, we have them as well and they are all metal with nothing under the top for reinforcement other than the bent metal of the top. Again nothing I would pay for. For free maybe. If you wanted to add a backing of mdf or plywood might be OK.



Their tables seem to be a little better built than their cabinets and shelves for what that's worth.

Well as my luck normally goes, I ordered one about 10 seconds before this post.

My plan is to just cut out all of the supports and install it over plywood.

I guess we'll see how it goes.

 

[Cyberbear]

Here's another thought: If you plan on using the Edsal product as a work bench cover, why not use a heavy D.F. timber underneath? I once was given two long 4 x 12 timbers and simply used them side by side as a bench top, which worked out well for me. If i had the steel top cover, the bench would have been perfect and I wouldn't mind the heavy timber showing below. Simple but effective as a heavy duty bench.

 

[Kevin54]

The ones we had at work were just heavy gage steel tops but they were sheetmetal. The edges were rolled down so maybe that is where they are getting 1 1/2" from. Do you have a link to one of them that you are looking at?

 

[300Deluxe]

Steel tops are supposed to have reinforcement channels installed in the void. Tennsco steel tops ship with 4 included: http://www.tennsco.com/Product/steel-top-t-3072 Not sure about Edsal.

 

[DC_Gearhead]

I'll post pics when it gets here.

 

[DC_Gearhead]

Note to self....when a deal looks too good to be true....the seller is an idiot.

Here is what was delivered.





Nice steel 48" work bench top huh?!!

I did say I was going to modify the top to work on my existing bench, but this is a little extreme.