How would aluminum work for a workbench top?

[V-10 Killer]

Once I get my workbench moved out to my new garage this summer, I had originally thought about having a few sheets of diamondplate aluminum bent to cover the OSB/particleboard. But the more I think of it, after the initial thrill wears off, I think it might look a little gaudy. But what about brushed aluminum? I know lots of people use stainless, but I don't think thats for me. The strength is already in the workbench top, it's 2 layers of 7/16" osb, and a 1/2" layer of particle board, all glued and nailed in between sheets. So all I need is something to trim it up.
Also, the local metal suppliers around here say they have to custom order brushed aluminum (understandable), but they have 1/16" 6061 (shiny finish and bends easily) for ~$240/sheet. Does this sound close to what you might pay for it? I priced 0.081" diamondplate last year, and I thought they told me $96/sheet... Can you use sandpaper and some type of anti-oxidyzing sealer to make it look brushed?

 

[carguy123]

Keep in mind that alum is softer than steel so you will develop gouges. It will also scuff up easier so I'd say not to worry about the brushed finish. In a short while it won't matter anyway.

 

[jhchoppers]

You can contact your local Heating and AC guy, they can cover your workbench with galvanized sheet metal. This is harder than 6061 and has a good shine too.

We bought Stainless Steel and wrapped ours.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5789

 

[thefairlaneman]

I made my bench top of 1/2 inch OSB(compressed wood) It absorbs alot of noise and when it gets to banged up I just turn it over or replace it with another piece. Metal is best if you do heavy work and use it often.

 

[V-10 Killer]

I understand aluminum is soft, and everyone prefers stainless. But I'm NOT paying more for garage countertops than I paid for the concrete slab. I won't do it. I won't be doing any metalworking on the top, and I'm not going to be dropping engine blocks on it. That's why we have engine stands.
This is needed more to look good than take abuse. I just don't think I can finish oil stained particle board to look nice in a finished shop like the one I'm planning.

 

[Steve in Mi]

Brushed aluminum. This outfit "frigodesign" handles brushed aluminum (different finishes available) on eBay but also will do custom work if you contact them. If I was looking for SS or Al countertop custom work, I'd get a quote from them.

http://search.ebay.com/_W0QQfgtpZ1QQfrppZ25QQsassZfrigodesign

Other options I've considered are galvanized metal, steel plate, vinyl tile, thin wood flooring laminate over ply, Formica, vinyl sheet goods (color all the way through like some commercial vinyl tile but not all the joints), some of the more durable kitchen countertop materials (Corian etc.), lab soap stone and the thick maple workbench tops. From these options I bought enough red formica to do my benchtops (still not installed), one maple workbench top to handle the heavy duty/abusive work and steel plate for 2 welding bench tops.

It was a tuff decision and I'm not 100% certain my decision is final, that's a lot of red I'm thinking now.

 

[V-10 Killer]

Thanks Steve. And also, I got ahold of Advance Metal Craft, and they say that nowadays they DO do one-off jobs like we talked about.

 

[1320stang]

I was going to have a HVAC contractor bend me up a top with a back splash and a front edge. Since I have a corner bench, I was going to have them put a pittsburg seam along the diagonal from the corner, then hammer it flat.

For now, I put about 12 coats of polyurethane over my plywood and painted the backsplash and front edge. I put rubber runner from Lowe's on the top.

 

[thefairlaneman]

If you want to have some real strong metal tables check out what this company offers......www.mopec.com

 

[jhchoppers]

I understand aluminum is soft, and everyone prefers stainless. But I'm NOT paying more for garage countertops than I paid for the concrete slab. I won't do it.

We didn't spend an arm and a leg for ours. The SS we bought is resturant grade that is used for back spashes and such in kitchens. We bought ours off of ebay from darkangel131, he mainly sells SS for this reason. This guy was real nice and we bought 2 rolls from him.

 

[Vermaraj]

Wilsonart sells rolls of Al or stainless that is a high pressure laminate. You apply it to a plywood or osb top (smooth surface would be much better) with contact cement the same way you apply formica to a counter top.

Cheap and easy solution. It won't dent because it is fully supported by the lamination.

 

[jeepgod]

work bench surfaces to look good??? so.. why do you need a work bench then?
i see you said you wont do this on it.. or do this on it.. blah blah blah..
i have had all kinds of tops on my benches.. and I USE mine for everything from glueing models together to working on 2.5 ton rockwells.. my bench is sturdy.. and i have some plane jane aluminum on it.. i would have to unscrew it to tell you exactly.. but its thin.. and soft.. and dull.. and it is by far the best i have had.. it cleans easy.. meaning all the **** that falls/gets on it.. wipes off easily.. try that with diamond plate.. and if i want to weld on it.. i just ground it to the vise that is also on it.. oil and what not comes right up.. but it is kinda ugly.. i thought i went out of my way by using finishing washers.. but hey.. its a WORK bench... it's not supposed to be pretty.. thats for your wifes vanity counter..

 

[V-10 Killer]

Wow.
Thanks, I guess

 

[wythors]

I covered my work bench in 1/8 diamond plate the I got from this guy on eBay. He will cut and bend it to your specification and his prices are quite reasonable.

Sorry, this is the best picture I have of it right now. I've had the top on it for three years right now and it's holding up very well.

 

[Uncle Buck]

I guess for a more or less show garage the diamond plate everyone is talking about would be great, (simply due to the **** appearance) I know that such a surface could be used in a functional working mans shop, but lord! Why would you? Seems like a great opportunity to cut your hand, hang something up on the surface as you attempt to push it across the bench, not to mention more difficult to keep clean. For the guy with money to burn, or the guy finding an ebay bargain, stainless would certainly be my ideal choice, unfortunately I will never have deep pockets so I guess galvanized steel would be my choice. If I had money to burn I would not choose diamond plate, it just strikes me as not real practical for a workbench application.

 

[wythors]

Dude, I spent $80 total and it's a breeze to keep clean. Why does everybody think because something looks cool, you can't actually do any work on it? Yes, it gets scuffed up, but it's a freakin' work bench. That's what it's for.

 

[duggie]

I bought a roll of eavestrough aluminum from one of the "big Orange stores" and covered a section of my bench and the wall behind it ... for my metal working area where a do my metal cutting and grinding.

So far it holds up pretty well ... better than the wood bench and drywall on the wall.

I am also going to build a hood behind my mitresaw for dust collection with the rest of it.

 

[V-10 Killer]

Since I don't have half a million worth of equity in my home/garage/property, and don't have a 80x120 garage with its own town, or small metalworking business, this is what my workbenches will probably wind up getting used for:

Will I actually care if there are scratches under all that?
I'm not trying to be an ***, just a realist here. The heaviest thing that I've ever put on my bench is an aluminum cylinder head. Everything else I do is done at/in the car, or woodworking projects at the saw table, or outside.
Right now, I can get 0.063" diamond plate for $132.80/sheet plus shipping.
16ga Stainless (0.060") is $483.80/sheet plus shipping.
18ga Stainless (0.048") is $386.88/sheet plus shipping.
20ga Stainless (0.036") is $290.24/sheet plus shipping.
22ga Stainless (0.030") is $253.76/sheet plus shipping.
0.040" 3003 Aluminum sheet is $109.44/sheet plus shipping.
0.063" 3003 Aluminum sheet is $135.68/sheet plus shipping.
Seeing as how I need 3-4x8 sheets, shipping sounds like its gonna be around $100.

 

[Charley varrick]

Aluminum,good for Beer Cans and Airplanes,not so good for Bench Tops.

Stainless is Best.IMHO...

 

[MustangRick]

As much as I thing the al/ss covers are nice, I have an old kitchen counter top that is the best bench I have ever had. This one is the butcher block looking formica coutner top.

 

[Tim240Z]

I used diamond plate aluminum for my worktop. I put the diamond facing down so that the surface was smooth and used the diamond surface for the backing. I have not had any problems with the surface gouging.....it is nice and easy to clean, and if you want to keep it shiney, then just a bit of polish and elbow grease will do it.
There is a picture in this thread: http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1497

Tim

 

[WOOS1]

At work, I am waiting on a shipment from my supplier of .080 3003 aluminum (28 sheets). My current price is $104/sheet delivered, with a pvc protective coating on one side. I was paying less than $56/sheet a little over three years ago. My last shipment of polished material (one side only) and laser film was $228/sheet.