Stainless steel Bench Top

[89vert]

I have just finished building my new bench .
It's about 13 feet long and 26 " wide .The top is two layers of 3/4" plywood.

I can get some 18 gauge stainless for the top locally , but they can only supply it in 8 ft lengths , so I'll end up with a piece top .

What's the best way to attach it to the top and ensure the seam between the two sheets will lie flat ?

 

[filthy_shovel]

Contact cement? Just like you would do with laminate?

 

[REFLEXX]

Tig it and grind it smooth!

 

[BoostAddiction]

Show us how it looks after you finish it- however you choose to do it.

I struggled with this for some time before I decided to just use two pre-made stainless tops. They were only 5' each (for a total of 10') and I wanted about 13', just like you. I ended up not running the top over the removable cabinet.

My problem was that I didn't think I could form the edges neatly with the tools I had, and I couldn't find sheet longer than 12', so there would be a seam as well.

I have a tig, am pretty good with stainless, but I don't think I could have done job that looks as good as the solution I ended up with.

Here's a pic of what I ended up with:

You can see the removable cab, and just see the cabs in the back with the stainless tops (there is another on the left that is not visible in the picture).

Here's another pic with a closeup of the tops:

-Will

 

[89vert]

Thanks for all the advice !

I was thinking about 18 Ga. Is this suitable?

 

[cudacharlie]

Hey BoostAddict -

Inspired by your magnificent Lista layout, I've been studying all 24 volumes of their printed catalog, sleeping with it under my pillow, etc. I've wanted a stainless benchtop that could span an empty space, for leg clearance when sitting, as well as a hole to 'dock' a small roll cab in. At first it would appear that Lista only make stainless COVERS for cabinets, but I found this on page 31 of the "Lista General Workbench and Workspace Solutions Catalog", where they describe exactly what I was looking for:

"STAINLESS STEEL OVER WOOD - Worksurface is constructed of durable, heavy gauge stainless steel, fitted over top and sides of wood core. Worksurface is 2" thick...."

They have sizes up to 96x36 inches!!!! Probably $1500, but, hey, it's Lista!

p/n LSSTOP-96x36 is a 96x36 stainless-over-wood Lista worksurface...

Is this what you have, or are yours the 'cap' style?

 

[BoostAddiction]

Hey BoostAddict -

Inspired by your magnificent Lista layout, I've been studying all 24 volumes of their printed catalog, sleeping with it under my pillow, etc. I've wanted a stainless benchtop that could span an empty space, for leg clearance when sitting, as well as a hole to 'dock' a small roll cab in. At first it would appear that Lista only make stainless COVERS for cabinets, but I found this on page 31 of the "Lista General Workbench and Workspace Solutions Catalog", where they describe exactly what I was looking for:

"STAINLESS STEEL OVER WOOD - Worksurface is constructed of durable, heavy gauge stainless steel, fitted over top and sides of wood core. Worksurface is 2" thick...."

They have sizes up to 96x36 inches!!!! Probably $1500, but, hey, it's Lista!

p/n LSSTOP-96x36 is a 96x36 stainless-over-wood Lista worksurface...

Is this what you have, or are yours the 'cap' style?

Hi Charlie,

Mine are the "tops", which are made from what looks like 20ga SS over a 2" wood base.

There are also "covers" which are just the stainless, and quite thin. These are great for higher cabinet tops that won't really see heavy duty but need a little bling, along with added protection.

The tops so far are great, but Lista wouldn't make the 12-13' length I really needed- only their standard sizes. Originally I wanted to do exactly what you are talking about, but couldn't see how the seams with their standard sizes were going to look good, so I went down to the two 60" tops with an open space over the mobile cab. Ironically, the mobile cab was deisgned for the one long top and is a little lower than needed with an open top. But I'm happy overall.

No one I talked to wanted to fab a stainless top that size- even if I had been willing to travel to pick it up. OTOH, the Lista tops are really just what you'd expect from them- very high quality, solid, and expensive.

HTH,

-Will

 

[bmwpower]

Hey BoostAddict -

Inspired by your magnificent Lista layout, I've been studying all 24 volumes of their printed catalog, sleeping with it under my pillow, etc. I've wanted a stainless benchtop that could span an empty space, for leg clearance when sitting, as well as a hole to 'dock' a small roll cab in. At first it would appear that Lista only make stainless COVERS for cabinets, but I found this on page 31 of the "Lista General Workbench and Workspace Solutions Catalog", where they describe exactly what I was looking for:

"STAINLESS STEEL OVER WOOD - Worksurface is constructed of durable, heavy gauge stainless steel, fitted over top and sides of wood core. Worksurface is 2" thick...."

They have sizes up to 96x36 inches!!!! Probably $1500, but, hey, it's Lista!

p/n LSSTOP-96x36 is a 96x36 stainless-over-wood Lista worksurface...

Is this what you have, or are yours the 'cap' style?

Lista will make custom sized tops for you, too. I believe the maximum SS over wood is around 114" or so (I have it written down at home).

FYI...Using prices I've been quoted, a 96x36 SS over wood should come in around $850.

 

[Hamptons]

Looks great! I went with a premade stainless steel top as well.

 

[danski0224]

Someone own a diesel VW? I see 505.01 oil....

 

[BoostAddiction]

Someone own a diesel VW? I see 505.01 oil....

Wow. People have sharp eyes! Here is der diesel:

For those who don't know about the relatively rare VW Touareg diesel, it is an all-alloy 5.0L V10 with twin turbos, twin intercoolers and 553 ft/lbs of torque (take that, Viper!). Mine gets about 25 MPG at normal highwy speeds - pulling a relatively portly 6000 llbs of technology.

The newer "PD" style cars like this one run rail pressures of over 30,000 PSI (not a misprint!) and need the special oil shown in the above pic to lube the fuel pump.

-Will

 

[dboat]

What was the real reason they stopped making them? I was wanting one and now they are almost impossible to find..

Dana

 

[BoostAddiction]

What was the real reason they stopped making them? I was wanting one and now they are almost impossible to find..

Dana

They couldn't meet the 2005 regs without either better fuel (as is available elsewhere in the world but not yet in the US) or another technology. VW came up with technology that required urea to be injected from a tank in the car into the exhaust stream. It works elsewhere, but EPA nixed it because they thought (probably correctly) that people wouldn't refill the tank when it ran dry and then the vehicle would be out of compliance.

The only year they imported them was 2004, and they only brought in around 400. So they are pretty rare. Rumor now is that they will be available as a 2007 in late calendar 2006, but the little people (us) don't know anything for sure yet.

-Will

 

[bmwpower]

Urea? There are so many times I have to urinate when I'm driving. This would be a great way to releave myself without having the possibility of getting arrested. "Officer, I'm filling my urea tank!"