Anyone have a steel-top workbench?

[greyshirtguy]

Hi all (from "Down Under")

Anyone here have a steel topped work bench?
If so...
Is the top only steel? or perhaps sheet over wood?
What thickness?
Has it kept it's flat shape or has it dipped or dented?

I have been lucky enough to acquire (for nicks) enough square (40x40x4mm) steel to build a good-sized sturdy workbench - Yay! finally a workbench.

Was thinking about buying some sheet steel for the top rather than wood...

I got a little attached to the idea of an almost indestructible workbench top that would always be "flat" enough so that I could use it a reference surface to build on.

I was advised by a the senior guy at my local steel dealer that 6mm thick would fulfill that desire of mine but it is quite $$$ - and I estimate it would add 80Kg to the weight of the bench!! (assuming mild steel density of 7.85g/cm3 with surface area of 2400x720mm).

I was also thinking about doing a wood top covered with some thin sheet that I already have (it's an old business sign that seems to be about 0.9mm thick).

 

[rtbcomp]

Reference surfaces are best kept seperate from work surfaces - you wouldn't use a vernier caliper as a spanner or a micrometer as a G-cramp ????

 

[shenion]

Rather than covering a wood bench with steel, you could use a steel-clad door. I have one that will become my bench soon.

When one side gets beaten up, you can flip it over.

 

[Haze]

any steel workbench whether steel alone or on wood will not be good enough for a reference surface, unless you had the surface milled to god knows what, and then it wouldnt be too long till it was out of true, i have a steel workbench purely for strength and conductivity so I can weld stuff without having the clamp on the work.

 

[malcolm]

Mine has a 1/2 inch thick top. It's quite a big bench (6 foot by 4 foot or thereabouts) and is excellent for hammering on and other messing around. I suspect 4mm might be a bit thin for resisting hammer blows, especially if you are bending sheet around the edge of the bench.

I've picked up a few benches second hand over the years. Last couple came from a closing down auction from some factory.

Don't trust mine for exact positioning though - the surface has become curved so a straight bar clamped to one end will be 10mm off the bench at the other. (too much hammering maybe).

Sorry - not paying attention - the 4mm will be fine for the legs.

 

[Drains]

If the money and weight are restrictive, you could make a smaller steel welding/bashing table and have the bench for lighter use, with a lighter covering.

Or use thinner sheet overall but reinforce at the main working area - say use 4mm sheet, even 3, but double up at the front edge, and/or put plenty of section underneath. If you do that you won't need any timber underneath anyway.

 

[Welderpaul]

It's bad news to have a steel top over a timber bench, any serious welding will burn/scorch the timber underneath and yer eyes will start to run when fumes/smoke starts emitting from the sides. Plus its an obvious fire risk!
We have a bench formed from 50 x 50 x 8 angle with a 10mm plate top which is great for most jobs, and very resistant. We also have a huge t slot table which is 120mm thick on adjustable legs - it weighs 12 ton, but cost us 100 quid at auction. cost four times that in transport, but one of our fave bits o kit!!

 

[Drains]

it weighs 12 ton, but cost us 100 quid at auction. cost four times that in transport, but one of our fave bits o kit!!

Blimey, that's worth about a grand in scrap value!!! (scrap steel prices v. high the noo)

 

[Bigjoe]

Simon,
fancy a bit of midnight shopping with a forklift and a flatbed!? thats some bench!

Dont make the mistake i made when i built a wooden bench and put a sheet of 18g mild steel,welding away and i kinda set fire to it!

 

[Welderpaul]

Boys - yer welcome too it, oh, forgot to mention, its also bolted down with M36 resin anchors - don't know why we felt the need to bolt it down
If they ever drop the bomb, feel free to pop round and hide under it with me - you bring the tinnies!

 

[Bigjoe]

Thats a good deal,a multi-use bench....work and Inter continental ballistic missile bunker!

 

[rtbcomp]

- don't know why we felt the need to bolt it down

The Pikeys will have it away as soon as your back's turned.

 

[Bigjoe]

 

[Hitch]

Steel benches all the way.
We have a few smaller ones, 50x50 box, with 12mm plate tops, then a tslot bench (slightly smaller than pauls!!) and a large surface table, about 1200x1800, then a 2mx2mm low bench made from 40x150 flat bar tops with gaps just wide enough for g-clamps.

I think steel is definatly the way to go, aything less than about 4mm thick top isnt a lot of good, it wont stay flat etc, and cant take much hammering.
Another good thing, is you can tack jigs/jobs to it to stop them moving.

 

[Welderpaul]

Anyone caught tacking to my t slot bench will get the sack. Even had a sign made!!

 

[Hitch]

Cant tack to them any sense anyway

 

[Welderpaul]

Nah, but you can blow bits of it away by trying!