Securing a steel top to a workbench

[AA7483]

I have a bench I built a few years back that I'm using in the center of my new shop. I just painted it and had a piece of 12 gauge steel cut and broken for the top to cover the double layer of 3/4 MDF. I got some pl 3x glue that I'm going to spread out with a square notch trowel to glue it down. Should I fasten it with screws on the side or will the glue be sufficient enough? What should I use to put pressure on the top to press it into the glue? I dont have a roller.

 

[aslack99]

Nice looking bench! I think the glue will probably be fine without screws. Can you clamp it? Place heavy items down?

 

[mdog892001]

Glue it screw it. Got anything with a lot of surface area and heavy? Concrete blocks? Fire wood? Gas cans?


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[AA7483]

Yea I have enough refrigerant tanks to cover the whole thing.

 

[AA7483]

I'd rather not scew it if I can get away with it.

 

[mdog892001]

In ur case you should have enough area for the glue to cover that the top shouldn’t move. Me personally I would screw the sides at least. Other than that. Spread your glue weight the top down and let it sit for a while.
One question though, do you plan on using heat/welding ontop of this table?


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[AA7483]

Just a multi purpose table. I may use it to weld at some point. Is that an issue?

 

[tarmy]

Just a multi purpose table. I may use it to weld at some point. Is that an issue?

Yes...at some point you may want to either tack something to it for a fit up...or get it hot welding some heavy material on it.

I had a table exactly like you are building...12G on wood...got it close to ignition a couple of times...just finished building my solution to the problem...

You may want to consider a solid sheet of 1/2” steel on cribs so as to not have a fire hazard...or add it later as needed.

 

[PoorOwner]

I would use a counter sink and 4 screws. Once you put glue it will want to move back and forth.

Just put a smear of the glue on the counter sink, it's not going to have a moisture problem or anything.

If you are using glue, I would just use the thinest V notch available (1/8")? squeeze the glue into a container first then work it fast, shallow angle, less is more....

you don't want it so thick that the top float over the substrate

 

[AA7483]

I would use a counter sink and 4 screws. Once you put glue it will want to move back and forth.

Just put a smear of the glue on the counter sink, it's not going to have a moisture problem or anything.

If you are using glue, I would just use the thinest V notch available (1/8")? squeeze the glue into a container first then work it fast, shallow angle, less is more....

you don't want it so thick that the top float over the substrate

That's a good idea squeezing the glue out first. I have a small v notch I can use. As far as counter sinking screws it's only 12 ga so I dont have much to countersink into. I top is a really tight fit so I dont see it moving.

Yes...at some point you may want to either tack something to it for a fit up...or get it hot welding some heavy material on it.

I had a table exactly like you are building...12G on wood...got it close to ignition a couple of times...just finished building my solution to the problem...

You may want to consider a solid sheet of 1/2” steel on cribs so as to not have a fire hazard...or add it later as needed.

That's a bad *** table!

 

[cdestuck]

Just stand on top and walk all over it.

 

[545_days]

My first option would be to let gravity secure the top. I would only fasten it down to solve a specific problem that gravity is not taking care of.

No problem = no need to fasten it down.

 

[AA7483]

I'm just concerned with it flexing if I dont glue it.

 

[AA7483]

I dont necessarily have to weld on if it's that much of an issue. I have an all metal table in the shop I can use. The top is a light gauge so it flexes alot but i can always beef it up or replace it in the future.

 

[OccupantRJ]

Clean both surfaces. Contact cement brushed or rolled onto both surfaces. Let both dry to the touch. Don’t put glue on sides. Put top in place and walk around on it, then place heavy objects. If you don’t do hot work in localized areas, you won’t get it back off easily. This is how Formica countertops are glued.

 

[bad_idea]

Glue it and place heavy weight on it to dry. Skip the screws. Don't weld on it. 12 gauge will transfer the heat rapidly to the glue and MDF, will burn like crazy.

 

[AA7483]

Do u think contact cement is a better choice that a thin layer of the pl 3x I got?

 

[rustyjames]

I think you're way over thinking this, get a tube of PL Premium squirt some on with a caulking gun, walk on top it and have a cold one. I can assure you that it will be stuck.

 

[AA7483]

I tend to overthink everything.

 

[rustyjames]

Same here. But can tell you with a high degree of confidence that PL will do the job. And you can't beat the price.

 

[dfiler2]

Gluing it down will work fine, set something heavy on top and I'll bet it never moves, it's not like you have to worry about it falling up. Screws will **** it down more in those areas and put ripples in it. Worst case scenario, use mechanical fasteners later, if the glue is not enough.

 

[RustyJunk]

I would use some high temp silicone if your going to weld on it otherwise you could just use some granite/glass adhesive.

 

[850xpeps]

Pl in a tube like said. And spread a couple
Lines. Biggest thing is place enough weight to flatten pl so you don’t get ridges in metal or have empty spots underneath.

 

[Jackfre]

Glue a toothed trowel to spread, set it and find a way to roll it. Check the rental shops for large floor rollers. You could drop a 4x4 down the center and clamp it and kinda work to the edges. Avoid air pockets. They may not affect the work you do on the table, but they will drive you nuts knowing they are there. Nice table!

 

[doublearon98]

Do u think contact cement is a better choice that a thin layer of the pl 3x I got?

Leech F-26 is some damn good stuff. Cant comment on the pl 3x tho

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[Leaflessshadetree]

I'd let gravity hold it especially since it wraps around the sides. Why would it move?

 

[sweetk30]

https://www.mcmaster.com/elevator-bolts some of these would be nice welded on the bottom side . then pop the hole down threw the wood and secure with fender washers and lock nuts . might need a tiny section bored out of the wood so the whole thing sits flat .

nice bench by the way

 

[rburke65]

Since the sides are bent over, I don’t think it’s going anywhere

 

[lightn95]

I'd let gravity hold it especially since it wraps around the sides. Why would it move?

Since the sides are bent over, I don’t think it’s going anywhere

+3...its basically a 5 sided box..... where's it going to go?? ...it can't slide off the plywood base...... What are we missing....

 

[lis2323]

+3...its basically a 5 sided box..... where's it going to go?? ...it can't slide off the plywood base...... What are we missing....

+4


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[AA7483]

My concern is the top flexing. When I put the top on it fits very tight around the sides. when I press down on the top there is some movement. Im Going to just use the PL. Spread it with a small v notch trowel, walk on it and put a bunch of weight on top and call it a day.

 

[AA7483]

So I growled out the pl set the top and put a bunch of weight on it after walking on it. All turned out well but I did notice the middle of the table has a dip in it I guess from settling over the years. I should have put casters in the center when I built it is it too late to add then to lift the center?

 

[doublearon98]

So I growled out the pl set the top and put a bunch of weight on it after walking on it. All turned out well but I did notice the middle of the table has a dip in it I guess from settling over the years. I should have put casters in the center when I built it is it too late to add then to lift the center?

Put a jack under it and see if it raises

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[Kevin54]

I would use contact cement. I would also sand the backside of the metal to give the glue a little tooth to bite into. Spread the contact cement onto both surfaces, just as you would with a piece of laminate. Spread out with a flat paint paddle, let both surfaces set until tacky. Position one on the other, and get a buddy, a 2x4, and a towel. Wrap the towel around the 2x4, and start at one end, with one person on each side, and press the two pieces together using downward pressure and walk the 2x slowly to the other end.

 

[AA7483]

I put a set of the same casters in the middle. Now the table lifts off the ground on either side and rocks back and forth. How do I force back this bowed section in the middle?

 

[OccupantRJ]

Leave it a while to see if it settles. If not, shim the outer casters. Alternately, shim between the middle casters and floor, and add weights to the outer ends for a while.

 

[AA7483]

I loosened all the bolts and put a bunch of weight on both ends. All 6 casters are touching the ground now. I'm going to leave it like that a few days.

 

[AA7483]

So after I took all the weight off after having it there for a few days the one side came off the ground again. Maybe I should leave the weight on for a longer time. I am toying with the idea using some aircraft cable though the sides under the middle and back up the other side and some turnbuckles to basically lift the center. Or maybe I should live with the dip in the middle and shim the outer casters

 

[bwessler]

3x10 wood bench with 2x12’s for top. Sheet of steel over that with a vise on each end. Nothing ever moves.

 

[Lucky13driver]

Awsome build. I'm holing out for some 5/8" plate. For a top. Only downsideis cost.

Here's my build
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=408820