Steel choice for bench top

[elkjunkie]

I'm putting together a bench for my shop. 36" x 16' so two sheets of 3/16 is what I was thinking. The high-tensile stuff is only about $15 more. Any reason not to use it? The surface will be for small diesel engine work, hydraulics etc. It is about to have a tb135 final on it as well as a Kubota d722.
Thanks

 

[repowerguy]

I think you’ll be disappointed with 3/16” steel, I personally would use 3/8” or more. The thinner steel will be flimsy between the supports. I think there is a bench thread on here somewhere, you should look it up.

 

[thepumpguysc]

A nice thick "formica" top.. like a kitchen counter top.. easy to clean, soft enough to keep parts from getting marred. yet sturdy enough to take a beating.. {I don't know about you, but I've thrown the Mrs up on there quite a few times}..LOL.
easy to drill holes in for a vise & what-nots.. in my case, a press, pop-tester & a wire wheel..
& they are inexpensive, come in any length & found just about anywhere..
Just a thought..

 

[colson04]

I just built a corner work bench and ended up using premade butcher block counter tops from Menards. They were $150 each and I coated them with three coats of polyurethane. These came 25" x 96" which works pretty good. They also had 36"x72". Thick, sturdy and clean easily with the poly finish. And if I get upset about the surface condition, sand and poly again later on.

I have to custom make the corner section still, but I'll get to it eventually.

 

[elkjunkie]

Thanks all!
those butcher blocks look sweet but I will be welding etc. and would feel guilty on them. The cabinets i'm covering have formica. I think my two best options (although 1/2 inch sounds great) is A36 hot rolled 3/16 @272 or 4130 cold rolled @286 as long as the fab shop can bend the 4130.

 

[Nige]

How about something like our standard workbench..?
10mm (3/8") thick mild steel topped with polyurethane.

 

[thepumpguysc]

Wow.. that Butcher Block looks great!! & 25x96 for 150.00!!! Sweet..

 

[JD955SC]

How about something like our standard workbench..?
10mm (3/8") thick mild steel topped with polyurethane.

View attachment 184841

I really like that.

We just have mild steel 3/8 shop fabricated tables with sheets of rubber covering them

I wouldn’t go high tensil strength steel Id just stick with mild steel.

 

[willie59]

If you're gonna make a steel top bench for welding be sure and have some overhang on the front side to allow for using clamps on the piece your working on.

 

[elkjunkie]

After a bit more consulting and research I am lowering my expectations. Looks like 1/8" A36 for $140 a sheet. I may tackle a 1/2" welding specific table at a later date. Thanks for all the input

 

[Ronsii]

Yeah, like others have said I'd go for thicker if you can... but understand things get pricey quick

have you checked out any of the local scrap yards? would be a lot cheaper then at the steel yard... as scrap steel is still pretty low here

 

[colson04]

Wow.. that Butcher Block looks great!! & 25x96 for 150.00!!! Sweet..

Thank you

 

[Bumpsteer]

3/4" AR plate....with a Bullet.

Ed

 

[Ronsii]

Nice bullet Bumpsteer

curious question here.... why'd ya' put the vice so far inland? I've always mounted mine on a corner to keep em' out of the way... never had a need to be in further in.

 

[thepumpguysc]

Ya GOTTA have a place for your coffee cup Ron.. {water ring} Lol..

 

[Ronsii]

LOL, I see now the vice is a blocker to protect it.

 

[Bumpsteer]

The vise would be a gut buster mounted on the corner....also do smaller welding jobs on the open end.

Ed

 

[Tinkerer]

You may find this an interesting read. Maybe not.
I will post a photo of the finished bench tonight.
https://www.heavyequipmentforums.com/threads/what-is-your-preferred-workbench-depth.69141/

 

[DMiller]

I had access to really good welding tables in the shops I used to work, either 1/2 or full 1" steel sheet so could weld work directly to them for stability. We then had solid wood top benches for machine work and a few old US of Army Quartermaster Corp thin ga steel benches with drain holes at center for wet oily messy work as transmissions or smaller engines.

 

[terex herder]

I like to use tempered masonite for a bench cover. Screw/glue it down. Throw it away when it gets torn up and replace it. IMO 1/8 steel is to flimsy for a bench unless it is covering 2 x 12's.