workbench question

[R6 Racer]

I had a post a wile ago about my workbench...
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=60969
I have recently come across a new roll of asbestos paper!
The thought of putting a layer of it between the wood & the steel top plate has been plaguing me ever since. I do know about the dangers of asbestos, I am sure I can Install it safely & I will seal all around it so it will not be able to cause any damage in the future.
With the way everything is built I would be able to remove it at any time that I needed to, so it is not a "permanent" situation.

The post I referred to will give you pics & details...

What do you think about my Idea ??

Thanks
Steve

 

[Flange]

I don't know what asbestos paper is exactly but if it contains asbestos (which I think it must do) then my advise is to leave it well alone and find alternative means to fireproof your bench.

My step-father was diagnosed with mesothelioma (google it) about 10 years ago and he was dead 18 months later. Mesothelioma is only caused by the inhalation of asbestos and it is always fatal. The scary thing is that you can breath in asbestos once in your life and then anything between say 10 and 30 years later you get ill and die.

My stap-father did exactly this. He worked for a train carriage manufacturer all of his life and was a desk jockey so was not exposed to the workshops much. One time in a visit to the workshops (early 1970's I think) there was an accident and a carriage was dropped from a crane and a cloud of dust went everywhere. 30 years later he dies from breathing in brown asbestos that was used as insulation and was present in the dust.

Brown and blue asbestos is the worst as it has barbs on the fibres that stops your lungs from expelling it naturally. White asbestos doesn't have the barbs but still has the same carcinogenic properties.

Stay well away is my advice, even if you are careful, what if in 10 years time someone else gets the bench and rips it apart unaware of the contents?

Just my opinion though.

 

[tyrell2004]

The lighting and grips on TV/Movies sets use something that I thought was called "refercell' or 'refercil" but I could not find it. (could be movie jargon) It is a non-asbestos fabric that is used to protect surfaces/wall ceilings that are close to hot lights while on location. The closest thing I could find is linked below maybe this will work for you.

http://www.accentshopping.com/product.asp?P_ID=154165

 

[lupinsea]

What about putting a layer or two (or three?) of nomex down between the steel and the wood?

Nomex is the stuff the make fire-proof racing suites out of.

 

[rburke65]

I'd pass on the asbestos.......bad stuff.

 

[reinhardt]

there is asbestos free fire cloth available. i live in virginia beach, virginia. we have one of the largest navy bases in the world right down the street. we also have a lot of shipyards to support the navy. i work in ship repair. the navy used a lot of asbestos in ships years ago. if you saw the way they handle asbestos in the shipyard u would understand why my eyes bugged out of my head when i read your post. it would also help if you could see my eyes bugging out of my head....

asbestos is a wicked material. stay away from it. the dust from the material is lighter than air. it sits in the air for very long periods of time. this makes it very easy to breath the stuff in. i know several ppl in the area here who have had loved ones die from that stuff.

buddies uncle died from it in newport news shipyard, he was a crane operator. the brakes of the crane had asbestos linings.

there have been cases of women dieing from doing their husbands laundry. man brings it home on his clothing, and wife washes clothes.

there is no way that u can gaurantee that you have sealed it into your workbench 100%. here in the usa asbestos is illegal, it should be like that in canada too. get rid of that stuff and washes your hands.

 

[larry4406]

Use 1/2 inch cement board (Durock) between the steel and the wood substrate. The concrete board is very good in compression, inert, and non-flammable.

When my company would use propane heaters in new house construction, we alwas placed the heater on cement board so as to not burn the sub floors (which some com-workers did).

 

[akdiesel]

If you do use this paper asbestos material how do you plan on sizing it for your table, cutting, tearing, etc... I would think, with today's known hazards, either way would be unsafe.
What size metal top is it? If it is at least 1/2" or more and you get it hot it will retain the heat for a long time and start to break down the wood material even with a nomex layer.
larry406 might have the best idea for what you want.

 

[ZRX61]

What do you think about my Idea ??

Thanks
Steve

It's probably illegal & will most definitley invalidate your homeowners insurance...

 

[lupinsea]

What about pouring a 2"+ thick concrete counter top?

I did a conrete counter top for the bathroom vanity in my house and it turned out real nice. If need be, put some steel over it for better protection.

Or do the 1/2" cement board with a layer of thinset over that that the steel top cover is set onto. The thinset will take up any odd gaps between teh steel and cemement board for good support.

 

[Jack Olsen]

Use a jigsaw to cut a square hole in the benchtop that's 1" in each direction smaller than the 1/4" plate. Then use a router to make a half inch wide (by 1/4" deep) channel along the perimeter. The steel will stay in place and be flush with the rest of the bench.

As a bonus, you won't have to worry about heat transfer setting the bench on fire.

 

[R6 Racer]

Thanks guys!
I think I will leave the asbestos alone. I like your thinking Jack... I just might work on that theory.

Steve

 

[ZRX61]

My 5/16 welding plate rests directly on a bunch of 2x4's, had the steel off recently & there's not a mark on the wood....