Matco Phenolic Top for 5325RX?

[Crackerballer]

Ah Matco. Sucky online catalog, a digital catalog that includes phrases like "call 1-866-BUY TOOL to see what's available", and unless you are a professional garage or business, you'll never be able to locate a distributor (or when you do they just won't return your emails).

Background: I bought a 5S triple bay, 5325RX, off the ole CL with a nice matching hutch and hutch protector (the stainless top that sits inside the hutch). Problem is, where I placed the box in my garage, I can't use the hutch or it blocks my fuse panel. So I removed it and have it sitting on the other side on top of my Craftsman work bench.

Dilemma: Now I need a work top. The Matco guy I ran down by my house at the gas station won't even return my emails anymore since I wouldn't buy a 73" 4S he had on his truck for "the spanking deal of $6,500" even though I have said in multiple emails I want to buy a top, a service cart, and potentially a few other items.

So I called the Matco number and was told the SS top was $991 (plus shipping) and the Phenolic top is $634. I asked if the phenolic top was like what came on top of my hutch, maybe a 1/4" thick piece that just drops in, or a thicker piece that rolls over to protect the edges. The response I got was "drop in" with no further details.

Question: Does anyone have one of the Matco phenolic tops on their boxes that is the thicker piece that covers the edges? Basically, a piece that looks like the SS top in fit and dimensions, or like what Snap-On offers?

If so, please post some pictures and impressions. I could MAYBE live with paying that much if the piece was huge, thick, and covered the edges of my box, but not if it's a little drop in piece.

Thanks.

 

[Lx460]

I would imagine by "drop in" they mean a piece of plastic that drops in. I wouldn't expect much more from it as far as wrapping around anything.

I assume you already know this but phenolic is just a term for fancy plastic. A Glock frame is phenolic as is the intake manifolds on a lot of newer vehicles.

 

[Crackerballer]

I would imagine by "drop in" they mean a piece of plastic that drops in. I wouldn't expect much more from it as far as wrapping around anything.

I assume you already know this but phenolic is just a term for fancy plastic. A Glock frame is phenolic as is the intake manifolds on a lot of newer vehicles.

Absolutely. But the way the box edges are rolled, you could have a drop in piece that still covers the edges. I'm well aware of what phenolic is.

After googling, I believe the piece is nicer and slightly thicker than the piece that comes on top of the hutch, but still doesn't offer edge protection.

SS

Phenolic. Is this what they are charging $630 for?

 

[Crackerballer]

Pretty sure this answers the question. This link is from last summer: http://www.jlaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=277059912

Looks to be the same board type/style that is on the white cart above.

 

[Lx460]

Found this 5s for sale with the optional phenolic top. Pics kinda **** but maybe you could have him send you better pics? Looks to me like it's just a piece of plastic that sits on top.


Not mine, don't know the guy, just found on Google.

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-tool-storage...ox/1050290969?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

 

[Crackerballer]

Found this 5s for sale with the optional phenolic top. Pics kinda **** but maybe you could have him send you better pics? Looks to me like it's just a piece of plastic that sits on top.


Not mine, don't know the guy, just found on Google.

http://www.kijiji.ca/v-tool-storage...ox/1050290969?enableSearchNavigationFlag=true

Spot on, thanks, looks just like the one on top of the white box. I can't believe that piece retails for $630. I guess if I had a truck guy I could try to get one for like $500 cash.

Looks like I will be just waiting for a used SS top to come available and then coating it with bedliner lining

 

[ttpete]

Why stainless if you're just going to cover it with bedliner? Get a metal dealer to cut a piece of 5/16" 6061 aluminum plate to size. Round the edge over with a router.

 

[Crackerballer]

Why stainless if you're just going to cover it with bedliner? Get a metal dealer to cut a piece of 5/16" 6061 aluminum plate to size. Round the edge over with a router.

I'd prefer the top to cover the edges and sit inside the lips of the box, meaning that just cutting a square piece isn't exactly the solution I want.

This would be a lot easier if they had the phenolic surface in the form factor of the SS top. Then it'd be $1,500 though.

I like the Snap-On coated steel one, but everyone says it is too hard to clean due to the texture (similar to bedliner) so maybe coating the Matco SS one with bedliner coating isn't the best idea.

 

[Zrexxer]

I assume you already know this but phenolic is just a term for fancy plastic. A Glock frame is phenolic as is the intake manifolds on a lot of newer vehicles.

That's absolutely incorrect. I suspect you're thinking of "polymer." Phenolics are various compounds made of phenols which are aromatic hydrocarbons bonded to a hydroxyl group. Glock frames are Nylon-6, which is a polyamide.

 

[Crackerballer]

That's absolutely incorrect. I suspect you're thinking of "polymer." Phenolics are compounds made from various phenols consisting of an aromatic hydrocarbon bonded to a hydroxyl group. Glock frames are Nylon-6.

Funny you mention that as I just watched a video from Formaspace explaining their work surfaces (I was briefly wondering if HDPE would be a good choice and found that NO it wouldn't) and he did a nice explanation of phenolic.

 

[EdT]

Phenolic makes a great bench top. Pretty much indestructible except for heat. It's a thermoset plastic. Think distributor caps or really thick formica. You can buy it in sheets from a plastics supplier. It's not cheap, but it may be a bunch less than the matco price. You can cut it with carbide woodworking tools but it make a lot of very smelly dust. If you can,have the supplier cut it up for you as much as possible. Generally comes in black or brown and i have seen some with a formica-like veneer on it.

 

[Sal Bandini]

plywood, contact cement, formica, $40 tops (pun intended)

 

[Zrexxer]

Phenolic makes a great bench top. Pretty much indestructible except for heat. It's a thermoset plastic.

Right. Phenolic sheet is usually a laminate of cloth or paper that's saturated with phenolic resin and cured. It's hard, tough, and has a high dielectric strength. "Micarta" is one popular formulation of a phenolic material.

 

[Crackerballer]

Phenolic makes a great bench top. Pretty much indestructible except for heat. It's a thermoset plastic. Think distributor caps or really thick formica. You can buy it in sheets from a plastics supplier. It's not cheap, but it may be a bunch less than the matco price. You can cut it with carbide woodworking tools but it make a lot of very smelly dust. If you can,have the supplier cut it up for you as much as possible. Generally comes in black or brown and i have seen some with a formica-like veneer on it.

Funny you mention...

I have done my homework and if I can get away with a 72x24 (which I think I can and it work pretty damn well) then I have found that to be a standard size for lab benches. Seems many companies offer the phenolic in 72x24 and 3/4" thick for a LOT cheaper than what Matco wanted. About to make some calls and then measure when I get home.

I'll keep everyone updated.

 

[Crackerballer]

Alas, no luck. The top of my box needs a piece almost 74" by just under 24". A standard lab top would be a little too short in length and a bit too long in depth. Sad.

Guess I would either have to order custom or buy from Matco.