Ikea topped Workbench

[brianpgriset]

Well some of you may have seen my thread about the stainless steel Ikea table tops. I bought two in a 60"x30" size to make workbenches out of. The first one is done! Steel is 14 ga. 1.5" square tube. Flanges are from 3/8" plate flame cut and drilled (by hand, man I need a drill press). Also I found these nice little adjustable chair/table feet at Lowes that have a 1/4"-20 thread, so when I capped the ends on the tube on the bottom, I also drilled a small hole and welded a 1/4"-20 nut on the backside so I can level it. Table top is secured with lag bolts. Table height is 36". Hit it with some el cheapo rattle can prime and paint, gray of course.

I wanted to see how cost-effective it was to build these myself so I did a quick analysis just in case some of you are curious.

Steel (Square Tube): 227.5" @ $0.1614/in = $36.73
Table Top (Ikea, 60"x30"): $129.99
1/4"-20 nuts: 4 @ $0.04 = $0.16
Lag Bolts (3/8"x1.5"): 8 @ $0.29 = $2.32
Split Washers (3/8"): 8 @ $0.15 = $1.20
Leveling Chair Tips: $2.87
Paint (1 Prime, 2 Gloss): $9.36

Total Cost: $182.63

Decent for a stainless workbench. Now I just got to make the other one!.

 

[Everyday]

I like what you did. If you don't feel like building one check out these two options.

Stainless
http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=158456&pCatg=7085

Wood Top
http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=329601&pCatg=7085

 

[66 GMC Truckin]

Very nice job! I might have to look for some stainless tops like that for my garage much to the chagrin of my wife!

It's good to paint it before putting it into use right away! Too many creations in bare metal and slightly patina'd!

 

[PoorOwner]

Very nice.. can I get more info on the table top, how thick is it? Is it stainless wrapped MDF? how far does the stainless wrap go at the bottom?

 

[Captain]

Hi Brian, thanks for the heads up on these tops.
I just checked my local Ikea 'cattle-dog', and they stock these too!

Is there any warping of the metal top sheet to the underside wood, or is it nice and flat hard down against it?
I wouldn't want any 'bubbling' or mounding of the top so it doesn't end up perfectly flat all over.
Does it give a dead thump sound when you hit down on it? (Might tell whether it has been glued or not).
Definitely much better than just an MDF top.

 

[brianpgriset]

Hi Brian, thanks for the heads up on these tops.
I just checked my local Ikea 'cattle-dog', and they stock these too!

Is there any warping of the metal top sheet to the underside wood, or is it nice and flat hard down against it?
I wouldn't want any 'bubbling' or mounding of the top so it doesn't end up perfectly flat all over.
Does it give a dead thump sound when you hit down on it? (Might tell whether it has been glued or not).
Definitely much better than just an MDF top.

I just took a gander at it, and the top is definetly very flat, right now. I gave it a few whacks with a variety of things inlcuding my hand, a hammer, and a screwdriver. I honestly couldn't tell if the SS is secured to the fiberboard in any way.

When a get a moment in the next day or so, I'll take off my vise again and check around the bolt holes I drilled in the top. That should provide enough of a look to see the layers.

To answer your question though, it does give a nice low thump.

Seeing those SS benches above at Sam's kinda makes me wish I'd of taken a look at those. I'd say mine vs. them, they have pros and cons. The frame on the Sam's one doesn't look nearly as robust as mine, but it probably has a slightly thicker gauge metal. Also, the Sam's one is backed by anything, so it could dent easily. It is a few bucks more too. Of course it won't take 6 hours to make it either.

 

[brianpgriset]

Very nice.. can I get more info on the table top, how thick is it? Is it stainless wrapped MDF? how far does the stainless wrap go at the bottom?

Sorry, I didn't see the post at first. It's 1.5" thick. The steel thickness isn't listed in the specs on Ikea's website, but when I had holes in it, it looked to be right around 20 gauge. The stainless wraps over a fiber board, and the wrap goes all the way around the to the bottom, about 1/2" in from the edge. It weighs in a 50lbs, so not crazy heavy, but reasonable. Also, the bottom has a melamine sheet covering it so it has a ncie finished look even on the bottom. Check my post in the "general garage discussion" and I have a pic of the backside.

I wouldn't label this as a "heavy duty" work surface. I would honestly label it as medium duty, judging by construction and weight. It'll be interesting to see how it performs over the next few years. Besides, most of my heavy duty work is done on my welding table. But it was made for a clean surface for engine stuff, soldering/electical work, etc... but I'm sure it'll get some of that soon though.

 

[5wndwcpe]

Brian, what I like about your bench vs. the Sam's club offering is yours lacks the cross bar and shelf underneath. This would allow more flexibilty for storage such as wheels and tires or a roll around tool cart. Nicely done.

 

[n2hcky]

Sorry, I didn't see the post at first. It's 1.5" thick. The steel thickness isn't listed in the specs on Ikea's website, but when I had holes in it, it looked to be right around 20 gauge. The stainless wraps over a fiber board, and the wrap goes all the way around the to the bottom, about 1/2" in from the edge. It weighs in a 50lbs, so not crazy heavy, but reasonable. Also, the bottom has a melamine sheet covering it so it has a ncie finished look even on the bottom. Check my post in the "general garage discussion" and I have a pic of the backside.

I wouldn't label this as a "heavy duty" work surface. I would honestly label it as medium duty, judging by construction and weight. It'll be interesting to see how it performs over the next few years. Besides, most of my heavy duty work is done on my welding table. But it was made for a clean surface for engine stuff, soldering/electical work, etc... but I'm sure it'll get some of that soon though.

How is the workbench holding up.
I was at IKEA this weekend and looking at these table tops.
It looks like it would work for what I need.

 

[brianpgriset]

How is the workbench holding up.
I was at IKEA this weekend and looking at these table tops.
It looks like it would work for what I need.

I was just cleaning the tops off a few mintues ago. So far I'm pretty impressed. I've really laced in to a few things on the bench. Only a few dings, deepest one is maybe 1/8 inch.

I think the key is to just make sure you dont hammer on the bench itself. So long as something distributed the load id say your OK.

There are some surface scratches too, but not too bad. A little time with some scotch brite and I bet it would be close to new...

 

[Robert Venable]

These table tops still holding up??

 

[Boost Creep]

i need to check these out next time i go to an ikea. too bad the closest one is almost 3 hours away