Ultimate garage countertop

[pawscal]

What is the absolute tabletop, assembly table top material for say preforming these tasks.

Weld a large project on it.

Right after clean it and play poker with 10 friends

assemble a fine glueup on it with no need for paper to protect it

do these same activities in 10 years with no noticeable change in appearance and performance.

Thanks (BTW this is already my favourite forum!)

 

[bmwpower]

I'd say stainless.

 

[pawscal]

Could granite work in a setup like this?

 

[Cargo]

1" steel. Mine is only 3/4" so I don't know how well it will hold up to a decade of card games. Better safe than sorry and all that.

 

[pawscal]

Although the steel would excell in all the durability tests it dosent pass the cleanliness test. anybody heard of epoxy counters? can you weld on them?

 

[bmwpower]

Could granite work in a setup like this?

Granite is porous. Anything you spill on it is going to soak into the stone and/or stain it.

 

[IDASHO]

I use standard steel exterior door blanks.

Get them all nasty and greasy, and all it takes is a bit of oil and a few rags to clean them back up.

 

[bmwpower]

Although the steel would excell in all the durability tests it dosent pass the cleanliness test. anybody heard of epoxy counters? can you weld on them?

I would think they would not hold up to hot slag, especially at that proximity.

 

[Mickey O]

Steel, thick steel, also good for ground clamp and grounding work, get a table cloth or make 1/4" or so thick oak veneer cover (maybe epoxy finish on that)with thickened edges to put on top of the steel table.

 

[Karnage]

Granite is porous. Anything you spill on it is going to soak into the stone and/or stain it.

No totally correct. We had granite benchtops installed in our old house. After the tops were installed he went over the top with a wax type product which he burnt into the top with a gas burner. ten years on you can spill beetroot juice on it and an hour later wipe it off without any stains

I would say a laminate of 25mm MDF, 5mm steel and 1.5mm stainless would be as durable as it comes, but welding will still marr the surface, I don't think you can really have your cake and eat it on this topic.

 

[Bull]

Concrete, with an epoxy sealer?

 

[pawscal]

Steel, thick steel, also good for ground clamp and grounding work, get a table cloth or make 1/4" or so thick oak veneer cover (maybe epoxy finish on that)with thickened edges to put on top of the steel table.

Thats my back up plan if there is no engineered one top solution. The size of this top would make storage a pain the the space.

 

[pawscal]

Concrete, with an epoxy sealer?

I saw pictures of wolverine epoxy sealers used in in large industrial welding shops, as long if the thing can cleanup with relative ease I would be very interested.

 

[Bull]

Well, we know concrete is durable and can take some abuse.

And from what I have seen on here, these epoxy floors are like mirrors that nothing sticks to/are easy to clean up.

So, I thought it might be something to look into for your project.

 

[bmwpower]

Well, we know concrete is durable and can take some abuse.

And from what I have seen on here, these epoxy floors are like mirrors that nothing sticks to/are easy to clean up.

So, I thought it might be something to look into for your project.

Yea, but won't that stuff melt when it comes to hot welding slag? I think some sort of metal is your only choice.

 

[Bull]

I dunno how the epoxies work.

Aren't there products that soak into fresh concrete to seal them? I wouldn't figure that kind of thing would just burn off, but maybe someone with knowledge can chime in.

 

[Jack Olsen]

I don't think you ever want to play poker on a table where you do serious welding work.

A workbench is like any other tool -- you want the right one for the job. Steel for welding. Stainless for clean work and assembly. Wood because a lot of jobs are nicer to do on wood.

I'm kind of a work surface junkie, especially considering how small my garage is. Still, I'd take the poker game inside. Isn't that what rec rooms are for?

 

[pawscal]

I don't think you ever want to play poker on a table where you do serious welding work.

A workbench is like any other tool -- you want the right one for the job. Steel for welding. Stainless for clean work and assembly. Wood because a lot of jobs are nicer to do on wood.

I'd take the poker game inside. Isn't that what rec rooms are for?

This will be a garage hybrid recroom, ultimate work and play solution.

 

[TONE]

Concrete will crack when pounded on
Wood will stain, crack, or burn
Granite will crack and stain
Stainless steel can dent
Solid steel can rust

Id go with NASA carbon fiber in your case

 

[pawscal]

Concrete will crack when pounded on
Wood will stain, crack, or burn
Granite will crack and stain
Stainless steel can dent
Solid steel can rust

Id go with NASA carbon fiber in your case

Pounding will be pretty minimal, and if i were to use concrete a proper amount would be used to prevent cracking.

EDIT

Just tought that hardwood wrapped in carbon sheet and wolverinne expoxy floor coat would yield carbon fibre and would probably stand up to abuse...

 

[TONE]

Ive never made a concrete top. But, from what Ive seen and read about them its not so much the amount of concrete, its all about the vibration machine and proper mesh or rebar used.

Pounding will be pretty minimal, and if i were to use concrete a proper amount would be used to prevent cracking.

 

[pawscal]

Ive never made a concrete top. But, from what Ive seen and read about them its not so much the amount of concrete, its all about the vibration machine and proper mesh or rebar used.

thats right, I could weld it together too

 

[rsanter]

concrete and grainte are not good for pounding on or welding on
the heat can cause chipping

wood will dent, warp, burn,....etc

resins, plastics will melt, char, warp, burn.....

steel is good but will rust

stainless steel is the only thing close to what you are wanting
3/4" to 1" thick

bob

 

[bb1970]

8 posts. All in one day. All in this thread. Just joined a couple of days ago. Someone got something to sell!!

 

[TONE]

Not to split hairs because I think its pretty much understood its kinda decadant to even imagine welding on granite, but Im not sure the heat would make it chip.

The heat tolerance of granite is pretty extreme. Not sure of its number but I thnk it could actually handle it.

Can you imagine welding on granite? LOL

concrete and grainte are not good for pounding on or welding on
the heat can cause chipping


bob

 

[pawscal]

8 posts. All in one day. All in this thread. Just joined a couple of days ago. Someone got something to sell!!

No, build. my ultimate garage

 

[sanddrag]

Seems to me like an epoxy resin laboratory countertop may do just about everything you need. I've used them extensively and they're darn near indestructible. Quite heavy too.

 

[pawscal]

Seems to me like an epoxy resin laboratory countertop may do just about everything you need. I've used them extensively and they're darn near indestructible. Quite heavy too.

Yeah I have a friend who instals labs and swears by them, just wondering about the welding... lemme try to find some operating temps for that material online..

 

[pawscal]

Temperature use limit = 331F... how hot does slag get?! hotter than that i think

 

[Bull]

Welding slag will not cause granite to chip.

There is a show on DIY where they essentially try to break things to show their limits. They showed how much heat granite could withstand. To destroy it, they ended up having to use phosphorous.

 

[pawscal]

Welding slag will not cause granite to chip.

There is a show on DIY where they essentially try to break things to show their limits. They showed how much heat granite could withstand. To destroy it, they ended up having to use phosphorous.

cool , i always tought rock thats millions of years old would put up a good fight.

 

[Jack Olsen]

This will be a garage hybrid recroom, ultimate work and play solution.

Then the 3/4" to 1" stainless is the 'ultimate' way to go.

Or you could go with 1" steel, and put a tablecloth on it when it's time to play cards.

I love my inch-thick steel bench. But then, I don't play poker.

 

[1320stang]

...........uhhh.......... how about a poker table top with felt that is placed on TOP of said worktable? Then the top can be whatever you want it to be.

 

[pawscal]

The poker thing was just a example of a table that could be cleaned after really being used and come out looking like new even after several years of wear and tear

Also keep in mind that this will not just be a small workbench, but the main focal point of the shop where everything revolves around, will mesure about 40"x72", 2 HF U.S general 42" wide tool chest lowers faceing opposite directions will be used for the base to provide tool storage.

 

[rsanter]

Not to split hairs because I think its pretty much understood its kinda decadant to even imagine welding on granite, but Im not sure the heat would make it chip.

The heat tolerance of granite is pretty extreme. Not sure of its number but I thnk it could actually handle it.

Can you imagine welding on granite? LOL

they have something called textured granite
it is done with heat/flame
granite has a combination of several minerals in it. the minearals have different expansion rates and diferent critical tempatures.
the 'lower tempature' minerals will crack/pop/explode causing 'chipping'
have you ever taken a torch to concrete?

bob

 

[pawscal]

they have something called textured granite
it is done with heat/flame
granite has a combination of several minerals in it. the minearals have different expansion rates and diferent critical tempatures.
the 'lower tempature' minerals will crack/pop/explode causing 'chipping'
have you ever taken a torch to concrete?

bob

I was skeptical of the granite because i tough it would be like a torch on concrete but I think thats due to the water mini pockets in the concrete and that is not present in granite

 

[Evogun]

stainless steel is the only thing close to what you are wanting
3/4" to 1" thick

bob

Okay problem solved, you want ultimate. I suggest 1 inch think titanium.

 

[pawscal]

Okay problem solved, you want ultimate. I suggest 1 inch think titanium.

til i look at the bill lol!

 

[Shocker]

Is this all just an exercise or are you really going to build the do-it-all table?

Personally, I think trying to build a table that does it all, fails at all the jobs. You end up with a table that does everything poorly.

 

[pawscal]

Is this all just an exercise or are you really going to build the do-it-all table?

Personally, I think trying to build a table that does it all, fails at all the jobs. You end up with a table that does everything poorly.

yes i will build this project, its currently in the planing stages, i will post pics of the toolboxes tomorrow and so you guys can get a feel of what I am trying to pull off, failure is not a option!