Stainless Steel Restaurant Table Workbench

[dmeadow]

I've built a few wood workbenches in my time and I'm ready for something different. A little nicer looking and easier to keep clean.

I'm considering buying some used/surplus stainless steel restaurant prep tables. Anyone else tried this? Pros and cons?

Best place to find them in the Houston area?

 

[FluxCore]

Yes, they certainly look great, but really easy to dent.

There are several ways to go....You can sometimes buy the used tables cheaper than their scrap value...Or, depending on your access to metal working friends, you can simply overlay a sturdy wooden workbench top with stainless sheet formed on a brake.

 

[rburke65]

I was just in Houston for 9 days. Great weather.

 

[holt2ton]

Used to have one...was great . I put a piece of hardboard over part of it just because ...well I needed to do something with the sheet but they are very nice and easy cleaning. Yes, they are a bit soft, but damn they look "cool". Heard one guy say he bought a commercial SS counter with built-in sink and used that for a parts washer...hhhhmmmmm.

 

[Richard Cranium]

The restore in Yakima had two of them last week when I was in, 38.00 each as I remember, but I didn't dare bring any more garage stuff home, I still have stuff stacked out side that I have not found a home for... Rich

 

[iride47]

They are all over Craigslist. Look in the business section.

 

[KSwiss]

As already stated it will dent easy, but look nice. I'd either have some bent to shape or build a wooden top underneath somehow to provide the extra support and dent protection.

 

[dmeadow]

I plan to put some pretty heavy stuff on 'em. Will they hold up?

 

[Falcon67]

I'd back it up with some MDF under it. Try some of the commercial kitchen resale places.

 

[CAPTTOMB]

I have used a couple qand they work best as an overlay for a 2x6 wood bench. That provides the support and the SS is nice, easy to clean and very smooth.

 

[tfleegel]

Glad I stumbled upon this. I have 8 24"x30" stainless table tops I got for cheap. Looking to make a workbench with them and can't figure out the best way to mount them. Any ideas?

 

[egnorant]

Here is some tough stuff if you need a different top.

http://www.govliquidation.com/auction/view?auctionId=6673817&convertTo=USD

Bruce

 

[Nowater]

A simple piece of 2 by 4 shaped on each end (rounded over) and cut to length for a friction fit can make the tables quieter. Cut the 2 by 4 to fit underneath the table top and wedge it into the rounded coves (looks like the letter C) that form the tabletop edges. The wood acts to damp the vibrations that come with an all steel table.

 

[Jagmandave]

I ran a frozen dough plant for a number of years, and there are different grades of these tables - you need commercial grade, not just kitchen prep grade.

IOW, there are heavy duty and light duty versions, if you can find the HD you won't need to reinforce it, they're plenty strong as is. I used a couple of these for my shop in the plant, they did NOT dent easily!

Used restaurant supply places are the best place to look, but they're not cheap. I'm going to go the SS sheet over wood for my shop.

 

[tfleegel]

Mine are just table tops, no legs or anything. Was going to make a basic workbench and use them as the top but I'm unsure on how to mount to the MDF that the stainless wraps. These came from a Chipotle that changed their table tops.


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[dawgee]

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