Stainless Steel WorkBench - where to begin?

[vankaye]

Hey guys,
I bought 4 of the HF 44" boxes and I'd like to set them in a steel frame as seen in the
HF Toolboxes Workbench Thread

I'm thinking I will build the bench top out of two layers of 3/4" ply
but I'm not sure where to begin on making a stainless steel surface to go over
the top...

Where to get the stainless steel? Should I recycle old restaurant equipment?

Can I buy the material and do this myself without a tig welder? I need about 20ft of continuous bench so I can also incorporate my part-washer.

I need some ideas... because I think I may be over-reaching my budget by wanting stainless...

 

[Richard Cranium]

A metal shop can fab. you one up, to where you just slip it over your wooden top.

 

[Jagmandave]

Yep, that's what I did.....

My 8ft X 2 ft with a 6" backsplash and a return under the front lip cost just over $200, and that was with the corners welded too.

Just to help you guestimate your cost....

Just find a nearby sheet metal shop and take in your dimensions and a rough sketch of what you want, they'll work you up a quote.

Nota lot of places can bend something more than 8 ft long tho.

 

[jonski]

I am a sheet metal worker and have made numerous countertop/work benches. If you are putting down a solid wood base and just looking to cover it with stainless, 18-20 gauge will be fine. If you want something a bit more solid ask for 16ga. Your smaller shops may only be able to handle 8ft, but larger shops like the one I work at can handle 14ft.

 

[Garage Customz]

I will be installing my top on Monday or Tuesday. My frame is the welded sguare tube with laminate cabinets setting in the frame. I installed 2 layers of 3/4" MDF as the sub top, and will put 16ga S/S over that. Really only need to lay a few lines of silicone over the MDF and then set the S/S on it. After a day it will be solid as a rock.

Mine is 103" long so it was made from a 10" sheet. Bend down an 1 5/8" and it will cove the wood perfectly. Here is one we installed a couple of weeks ago for one of our restaurant customers.