Bench top advise

[st@rk]

Hi

I've built two benches out of 50mm SHS and wanted to finish them off with mdf tops with stainless steel over and round the mdf. This would leave me with a really clean, wipe-able surface.

I'm prepared to spend good money to make a top robust bench, but I've realised the cost to do them in stainless is far too high!

What would the best alternative be?

I thought about welding some 2-3mm thick sheet steel to the bench frame, then painting the underneath so it stays clean and avoids corrosion, but that leaves the top exposed to corrosion (I live in Scotland so you can imagine how quickly surface rust appears!). Or if I go with this, would I need to continually wipe the top with an oily rag to avoid corrosion? This obviously means anything I put on the top (like paper / books) would become grubby...

Any suggestions guys?

 

[thightower]

My big workbench is made from a 4ft x 8ft x 1/2in plate. Dad built it in about 1980. I live in oklahoma where it is humid but not to bad most of the time. I have never noticed a surface rust problem, expecialy when I use it regulary. I don't see a problem with steel as long as you can keep it clean and wiped off, it usually takes a while for steel to rust enough to cause a problem.

 

[akdiesel]

You did not mention the length of the bench you need.
I don't know your suppliers over there but I would think you could get a wide variety of choices.
Stainless would be the first choice of most anyone but as you stated cost brings us back to reality. I have a 10' 7" bench top made out of two 6' 12 gauge tops I got from Grainger for around $150 each. I cut one to get my size and welded the them together. I then took it and some other items to get powder coated. I used a hammered gray color and the cost for all the powder coating was about $450.
The powder coating has been in use for about 8 months now and has had numerous metal items on it. I don't drop heavy items on it or drag sharp objects either but it does get worked and the top is still in great condition.

 

[Snowbound]

My top is 1.5" MDF also, but just bare for now. I saw a top that was coated in truck bed liner and it looked great and very durable.

It has some texture, so not sure how easy it would be to clean up.

 

[ClintNZ]

I have a plain steel benchtop that I painted underneath & left the top mill finish. It gets a wipe down with WD40 now & then but I don't seem to need to leave any significant oily residue on it to stop rust. I don't live near the sea but it's not a desert here either.

Cheers
Clint

 

[st@rk]

Thanks guys!

The first bench is 2000x800mm in plan and the second is 2000x1500mm. Why the second is so big will become apparent later!

The first bench is the heavy duty area which will take the most abuse; the second not so much.

It sounds like I should be ok with a bare finish and the odd skim of a wire wheel on a grinder and a wipe of WD40.

 

[Engineer61]

Instead of using an oil on your bench top, use floor or car wax. Works better than oil at keeping moisture from rusting the top without any of the problems.

 

[st@rk]

Finally got round to taking a few photos of the finished benches:

Workbench

Special bench for building race karts

This has been built so I can work standing (not stooping) and also so that once built, the karts can drive straight into the back of the truck before heading out to races.

You'll see I'm half way through patching a few cracks and repainting the floor!

 

[roche]

Finally got round to taking a few photos of the finished benches:

Pretty much exactly what I want to build this summer. More details, specs or plans?

Thank you.

 

[st@rk]

For the workbench or kart bench?

The workbench is 2000x800x1000mm high, the top frame is made from 50mm square box section with 50x50mm angle for the legs and 25mm square box section to tie the bottom of the legs together. There is some 10mm thick plates in the top to mount vises too and also three 50mm square box sections in the top frame to make the top absolutely solid and avoid the sheet top from bowing.

The sheet top is 3mm thick steel with a 100mm upstand at the rear. There are also square feet at the bottom of each leg.

The kart bench is 2000x1500x1000mm high all in 50mm square box section. It's been sized specifically to my vanso that I can drive the karts straight in as there are platforms for the kart to sit on inside the van at the same level. Note the cross bar has been omitted at the front so that it doesnt foul the van towbar and the fixed castors are at the front so it can be guided / controlled as it meets the rear of the van without hitting or scratching it.