metal top
- Thread starter jawdoc
- Start date
Steevo
Well-known member
When I made a bench for my lathe, I went to the local steel supply place, and had a top cap folded up out of 12ga, steel sheet.
I plan to do the same for my workbenches in my new shop, including a rolling workbench:
I mig welded the corners together and ground them smooth.
This one is 24"x72" x 1.5" and cost $130
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Steevo, that's an awesome bench.
Steevo
Well-known member
I paid $130 to the steel place for the top cap, all folded and ready to install. I then welded up the corners and ground them off to make them smooth.
Steevo
Well-known member
dittle fart around
Well-known member
Benji
Well-known member
Nice bench Steevo
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
Very nice!
I can almost guarantee thats not a solid steel top. if it were, it would weigh over 1000#, and ive never seen steel for less than 50cwt today. its probably wood with a steel sheet on top.
Edit: i see now that it says its 12ga on top, thats more reasonable.
Grinder Bill
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2011
- Messages
- 217
Bought 3 full sheets of stainless and had it sheared for the kick plate and side trim before bending the lip and backsplash. Installed with PL Premium over 3/4" plywood.
When I made a bench for my lathe, I went to the local steel supply place, and had a top cap folded up out of 12ga, steel sheet.
I plan to do the same for my workbenches in my new shop, including a rolling workbench:
I mig welded the corners together and ground them smooth.
This one is 24"x72" x 1.5" and cost $130
nice bench there do you find that the top gets heaps cold in the winter?
Steevo
Well-known member
Those are still cheaper than you can make them for.
dittle fart around
Well-known member
Just think how much the shipping would be.
Steevo
Well-known member
It is in a heated shop, so no, it doesn't get real cold.
poleclimber06
New member
How did you attach the metal top to the wood underneath?
Steevo
Well-known member
On mine, it now has a lathe on top of it, and the lathe is bolted through the top in five places, as are the motor mount and light/switch stand. That pretty well keeps the top from blowing away. 
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I also had a 12ga top made for my roll around bench. It was $60: cut, bent and corners welded.
Thats exactly what I want to do. Did you suppply the wood and they took care of the rest? How is it affixed to the base?
I just supplied the measurements. They were (or my measurement was) off on one side by 1/8". I just used some door frame shims and two screws on each side to hold it in place.
It's a good medium duty bench top. You can't whale on it with a hammer and not expect it to show, but you can throw a transmission on top of it and not worry about it. And for the $60 price tag, I'll just take it off when it's beat up and have another one made.
It's a good medium duty bench top. You can't whale on it with a hammer and not expect it to show, but you can throw a transmission on top of it and not worry about it. And for the $60 price tag, I'll just take it off when it's beat up and have another one made.