Brushed aluminum formica?

[nismomans13]

Do they make this? Brushed aluminum, stainless any type of metal looking formica. I want to skin my workbench but the cost of shipping actual sheet metal is stupid insane for freight.

I checked homedepot and lowes but no luck. Anybody know of something I could use?

 

[CraigFL]

Aluminum might be too soft for a workbench top depending on the use. Even stainless would need to be somewhat thick in order not to ding & dent. You might try a metal roofing place because some roll it on site so they should have the sheets.

 

[PAToyota]

I've specified WilsonArt's Metalaminates before: http://samples.wilsonart.com/c-24-metalaminates.aspx

I'm sure that the other manufacturers have similar products - Formica, Nevamar, Pionite, etc.

 

[boiler7904]

We had a lunch and learn presentation about Wilsonart yesterday. The Metalaminates is a thinner product only intended for an interior vertical surface. There's no way it would stand up to the abuse of a workbench that actually gets used.

Wilsonart Metalaminates Tech Data

 

[idoine in toronto]

Yes.
Formica is available in brushed aluminum look and many other different metal look styles.
Search the Formica website for laminates, keyword "metal".
Once you find the style you want Home Depot should be able to special order it for you.
My wifes grandmother's kitchen is covered with brushed aluminum laminate from floor to ceiling. It looks like a vault from a James Bond movie.

 

[428]

Talk to a couple of local sheet metal shops, they order metal all the time. They'll get it cheaper than you, mark it up to retail so than can make a buck for their trouble but can include it in a normal shipment.
If you buy a full sheet and have them cut it it's sometimes cheaper than paying pre cut prices.

 

[nismomans13]

The bench i'm covering doesn't get abused. Its more of a parts bench for when i'm building motors. I just don't want assembly lube being absorbed into the mdf top so I wanted to cover it with something that could be easily wiped down. Thanks for all the advice guys. I'll have to check the prices for HD to special order me the brushed look formica.

 

[PAToyota]

The Metalaminates is a thinner product only intended for an interior vertical surface.

Thanks for the catch. I knew I used something from WilsonArt, did a quick search, and turned up the MetaLaminates product.

This is what I used: MetalFX

Not as many options as the MetaLaminates, but gives you the brushed metal look in a laminate.

They also have some other options here: Metal Looks

Additionally, you can specify "HW107" on a lot of their products which is a high wear surface.

 

[nismomans13]

man, I wish they had prices. I need a 12' long piece

 

[boiler7904]

When I was looking at regular 4x8 sheets at Lowe's to match my existing kitchen countertops, they were about $90 and a 2 week lead time. Adhesive and particle board extra. Home Depot was roughly the same.

Can't remember if they had the metal laminates or not. You might have to order that type of product through a local cabinet shop or find the distributor for your area which may or may not be willing to sell to a consumer.

Jaeckle Distributors may be able to help you out. They carry NuMetal metal laminates in 4x8 sheets. Take a look at page 6 of section L of their catalog.

http://www.jaecklewholesale.com/hardware/

 

[jeepgod]

I have used a sheet of soft aluminum, and it's not that bad. I liked it because i bent it up in the back and down in the front. It showed wear, but I abused the hell out of it. Unless you want it to look purty, this was a good way to go. It was easy to clean which is why I got it, not to look nice, after all, it is a WORK bench.

You local machine/metal shop should have something for you.

 

[blkhonda1991]

We had a lunch and learn presentation about Wilsonart yesterday. The Metalaminates is a thinner product only intended for an interior vertical surface. There's no way it would stand up to the abuse of a workbench that actually gets used.

Wilsonart Metalaminates Tech Data

gotta love those lunch and learns

 

[boiler7904]

gotta love those lunch and learns

Heck yeah. I think we have at least one a week scheduled through the end of august. Free food is always a plus especially when you can order what you want in advance. We try to avoid the mystery sandwich platter whenever possible.

Some of the presenters aren't real bright. Every product that the presenter talked about yesterday was the coolest thing and her absolute favorite. After hearing it the first 4 or 5 times during an overview presentation that touches on 15 items, it almost becomes a drinking game.

I need to find a company that has some good giveaways to come in and do a talk.

 

[Toxicscrew]

I think it is Formica had a laminate of real brushed stainless steel on a phenolic backer. Used in on Honda dealership remodels in the late 90's. Stuff was tough as nails, as one would figure. But expensive as hell, back then it was like $21 sf and that was cost. Check out Outwater plastics as a supplier for metal laminates they have a ton of different options.

 

[JayB]

Funny, I just priced some that caught my eye at HD. When he said $27 per foot...I passed. I grabbed the swatch though.
It is 'Arborite P-623-CA Brushed Aluminum.'

 

[nismomans13]

I found a 60"x144" piece of brushed on EBay for like 75 bucks. Its probably not top quality, but i'm just a weekend wrencher and this bench top really isn't going to get super abused. Mostly just parts laying around on it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/60-X-144-SHEET-...hash=item380006159262&_trksid=p3286.m14.l1318

Shipping isn't listed which worry's me because its probably stupid high.

 

[boiler7904]

I found a 60"x144" piece of brushed on EBay for like 75 bucks. Its probably not top quality, but i'm just a weekend wrencher and this bench top really isn't going to get super abused. Mostly just parts laying around on it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/60-X-144-SHEET-...hash=item380006159262&_trksid=p3286.m14.l1318

Shipping isn't listed which worry's me because its probably stupid high.

Unless you're buying a lot of sheets of material, most plastic laminate can be rolled into a tube (about 12" diameter is what I've seen) for shipping. As long as its done carefully, the aluminum material should be the same. Then you're into a small(er) box that DHL, FedEx, or UPS can ship anywhere.

 

[Garage Guy]

We had stainless steel melamine cabinets made for us by The Garage Store. I am having issues uploading pics but you can see them on their wesite.http://www.garagestore.net

 

[Vinko]

Talk to a couple of local sheet metal shops, they order metal all the time. They'll get it cheaper than you, mark it up to retail so than can make a buck for their trouble but can include it in a normal shipment.
If you buy a full sheet and have them cut it it's sometimes cheaper than paying pre cut prices.

A wise alternative.