Granite Workbench Top

[dfndr]

I'm building my work bench and due to space constraints it's going to be 2x8 feet roughly. Looking for a top and saw a local company with special on 96x 26.5 X 5/8 inch GRANITE Countertops with bullnose front edge. Would any of you use this for 8 ft benchtop? Maybe put 3/4 plywood under it and a rubber mat where rough work is done. Pros: Solid, nearly indestructible. Cons: A ***** to drill thru to mount tools; heavy. WHAT YOU THINK?

 

[Ray-CA]

I don't think that I would use it. One tool drop or mis-strike in the wrong spot and you can crack and/or shatter the whole bench top. Yes granite is a hard, tough stone, but so is a diamond and they can be split also.

Ray

 

[mkdive]

Wood or metal bench tops for me. I just would feel funny working off granite in my garage?

 

[d33pt]

i wouldn't either. it's easier to damage than you think.

 

[PoorOwner]

That would not work at all.. if you could even mount a vise to it, it would probably just crack when you really try to use it.. Plus it is porous and absorb oil.
Those slabs you are looking at is about .75" thick, about 2 granite tile think..

Leave that stuff to the kitchen.

 

[johnnyz53]

I think although it would work for hobbies like modeling, your gonna have a tough time with it. I can imagine the cracks and eventual Granite Dusted Garage. Stick with wood.

Johnnyz53
www.americanworkbench.com

 

[Stuey]

I would also be concerned with damaging items dropped onto the granite. Drop a screw or spring, and they will bounce FAR. I would definitely think that a somewhat deformable surface would be much better.

 

[rinny_tin_tin]

I'm building my work bench and due to space constraints it's going to be 2x8 feet roughly. Looking for a top and saw a local company with special on 96x 26.5 X 5/8 inch GRANITE Countertops with bullnose front edge. Would any of you use this for 8 ft benchtop? Maybe put 3/4 plywood under it and a rubber mat where rough work is done. Pros: Solid, nearly indestructible. Cons: A ***** to drill thru to mount tools; heavy. WHAT YOU THINK?

Granite is Ok for tombstones, and looks - but not as a worktable - unless you perform autopsies....!

 

[davestlouis]

We use granite in our cemetery, for foundations under bronze memorials, and it is brittle and prone to breakage. Not a great work surface. It's also too porous, it would make a horrible autopsy or embalming table...ours are porcelain, just like a toilet or old bathroom sink.

 

[Richard Givan]

I have to agree with all of the above. I put granite countertops in two good-size kitchens about two years ago for my daughter and ourselves and lived in constant fear of breaking the slabs. It's like concrete, dense and immensely strong in compression with little strength in tension. Plus, it's brittle and can absorb liquids much more than you would think. Great stuff to mix dough on, pretty much heat proof, but not as tough as good old plywood in the qualities you want for a heavy-duty workbench top.

That being said, I did hang onto a piece of cut-off about two feet square to use as a poor man's surface plate (used on top of my bench in the basement room where I do my "machining."

 

[BlueSOG]

I wouldn't use it. Wood or metal for me. In fact, I just bought a piece of stainless steel for my bench. $200. 36 x 96 bent for 4 inch backsplash and 2 inch front drop. 12 ga. I thought it was worth it. Pretty much indestructable.

 

[dfndr]

Well, well, I guess that's the worst idea I've had in a long time! Thanks. Rick

 

[rsanter]

if you build models or do potery in your garage then you might be OK
if you are expecting to de any real work in there then that top will break
granite is hard but it is not strong

bob

 

[WHT]

I have one bench with a granite top (left over from a kitchen install). It is used when working with small parts such as fitting/grinding shims and shim rings for Ducati valves.

It works well if you mount the granite on a solid substrate and keep large parts and hammers away from it. But, you have to be careful and I only installed it because it was free.