Aluminum workbench top

[ron in sc]

A friend of mine gave me a 4' x 8' sheet of 1/2" 6061 T6 structural aircraft aluminum so I made top below.

I know it's probably a waste of good aluminum and not the best material but it was free.

I've polished it somewhat and rounded the edges. I'm sure it will get scratched and stained easily but I can always polish it out again if I get the urge.

I'll install it to my workbench in the garage when one of my neighbors gets home so I can get them to help me move it.

 

[Kevin54]

I know it's probably a waste of good aluminum and not the best material but it was free.

Good grade of aluminum and an expensive top if you had to buy a sheet that big. That top would last a few generations easily. You won't be sorry. And at 7.2 lbs /sq. ft. it's not going to walk off anytime soon

 

[MichaelUser]

Watch out for dreaded aluminum crud. You know how even when aluminum is clean you can wipe with a clean cloth and black residue appears. But very cool nonetheless.

MPQ

 

[CraigFL]

You could have it Anodized for a durable top surface and it would stop the crud too....

 

[Stuart in MN]

Good grade of aluminum and an expensive top if you had to buy a sheet that big. That top would last a few generations easily. You won't be sorry. And at 7.2 lbs /sq. ft. it's not going to walk off anytime soon

The scrap hunters must not be as determined in your neck of the woods...I think if I left that in my driveway unattended it would be gone in five minutes.

 

[ron in sc]

Watch out for dreaded aluminum crud. You know how even when aluminum is clean you can wipe with a clean cloth and black residue appears

It looks clean and shiny now but I know that will only last until I touch it. Stainless steel would have been my first choice but 1/2" stainless steel is quite expensive and I would have had to buy that.

I do have another work surface that is stainless steel but it's only 16 gauge. It's 304 stainless which is not the best as far as chemical resistance.

 

[swgray]

I have a similar table top in my basement (allegedly to fold clothes) that I sprayed with clear plastic spray. I bang around on it will few ill effects. Being that it is a "harder" soft metal, it won't hurt your delicates.

 

[ron in sc]

clear plastic spray

Where to you get something like that?

 

[swgray]

It was an enamel. The color was "clear plastic". I'm sure I picked it up at an auto parts retailer. Probably any clear other than a lacquer would do.

 

[ron in sc]

That interesting. I had called the people I buy automotive paint from to see if they sold a clear with a hardener for aluminum and they told me no. It sounds like I need to call someone else.

 

[ovilla]

You could always take it to a shop and get clear powder coating put on it.

 

[Torque1st]

Go for it, paint it candy apple red, or jet black, or white, or battleship gray, or pink...