Metal-surfaced work benches???

[The Adam Blaster]

All you guys that have covered their work benches with some type of sheet metal, how much louder is it when you are using the BFH on an object that is sitting on the table?
Do you have any warping issues?
How do you get the metal to stay tight against the supporting surface below?

I really like the idea of a nice and easy to clean setup like this, but i'm wondering if it will give me more headaches when i'm working...

[speedo]

I have worked on all metal work benches, wooden work benches and wood with metal work surface and I prefer the wood with a metal work surface. The ones we have at the shop are 4x4s for the legs 2x6 to tie everything together with 2x6 t&g for the top with 3/16" plate on the top with countersunk screws holding that to the t&g. They are solid, not as noisy as all metal and work for everything except welding. I don't have a camera here at work but I'll bring one in tomorrow and take some pictures of the 3 different types that we have here.

Gus

[Krylon..]

My all metal work bench is really loud! I am thinking of putting a sheet of 1/2" or so plywood or similar on top....

[wheelsup]

Not sure on the metal over wood, I would thing it could notbe near as loud as an all metal. All three of my work benches are solid steel. One 2'x4' bench with a 1/4" top, one same size with 14ga top, and a 4x4 with 1/2" top. All plenty sturdy, but can be noisy when pounding on them.
Has never been an isssue yet with noise, but my shop is kinf of noisy anyway, and I don't hear at all out of one ear, so hard to tell. Personally I would not have a wood topped bench ever again, they tear up fast, catch fire, get soaked in crap all the time and generally stink after being oil or grease soaked a few times.
Brian.

[BlueJeep]

Mine are both .120 wall square tube frame, with a 3/4" plywood top bolted to the frame. Then I have custom bent 1/8" steel tops with a rolled front edge and a backsplash that I glue to the plywood with PL400. Works VERY well, is not loud, and doesn't "oil can" in the middle.

If I had it to do over again, I'd do it exactly the same.

[OCNORB]

I have a metal top bench over wood that came with this old house. Only bad thing I've found is that you have to remember that it will conduct electricity and YOU are the ground. (Testing a coil)

I suppose you could run a ground wire from the top to a known ground simewhere.

[DarkEternal]

I just painted my wood one so it wont soak stuff up and then use a .25" plate on saw horses for welding. This way I can move it out of the way by just takeing teh plate off and leaning it up against the wall.

[The Adam Blaster]

Thanks guys, i think hearing the PL400 suggestion is what i was looking for. ;)

[Toyota_Jim]

Bench i work on every day.
2x4 frame, 3/4" plywood top, with 1/4" masonite over that, then bent the 12 ga metal to fit it. works nice.

[Robert]

I prefer an all steel bench. Something I can really hammer on without worrying about the bench failing. Something I can load up with an engine or tranny and it won't collapse (I play with big diesels, engines can weigh over a ton, trannies weigh around 1200lbs)

My work bench consists of three big rig frame rails cut to length, welded together side by side, so the long side of the rail is upward. Then covered with a formed sheet of 3/16" steel. Legs are 6" diameter tube.
Requires a forklift to move the bench (or all of your biggest, strongest friends.)
I have never seen a bench that will put up with as much abuse as this will.

[darkstar]

Unless you want an all-out welding table, I would go for metal over wood. My bench is 8'x3', frame constructed out of 2x6 with 6 4x4 legs, and 2x6 and 2x4 trusses with a 1-1/2" particle board top, and 3/16" steel over that. weighs over 300 lbs without the metal top (which was screwed on with countersunk screws, filled in with weld and ground flat). I can pound on it with a sledgehammer and it doesn't even shake! can also weld on it. Only problem is, if I ever move, this thing will probably have to stay. hope whoever buys my house likes it.

[BlueJeep]

Mine are both .120 wall square tube frame, with a 3/4" plywood top bolted to the frame. Then I have custom bent 1/8" steel tops with a rolled front edge and a backsplash that I glue to the plywood with PL400. Works VERY well, is not loud, and doesn't "oil can" in the middle.

If I had it to do over again, I'd do it exactly the same.

In addition, this bench is nice and heavy (about all 2 people can do to slide it, 4 people to actually lift and move it) and I welded some plates under it to the frame, which sandwich the plywood under where the vice is mounted. It is very nice to be able to beat or crank on something without the whole bench moving.

With the metal frame and the wood top sheathed with the 1/8" steel top, I doubt there is anything I could do to damage this bench. The plywood is mainly to stiffen up the top without going rediculously thick with the steel.

[Gen. Nonsense]

We have all metal work tables at the shop, super loud when your puonding on something. At home, I have a wooden top (Solid core door) but am gonna put a metal top down for teh welding

[Rock Taxi]

I have two benches that I use for different purposes.

One is 14' x 2' out of 2x6's covered with hardboard, then the hardboard painted with Safety Red Rustolem. It doesn not asborb oil, is easily touched up and is stout enough for most work.

The other bench is 30x60 out of 2x4x.25" rectangular tubing, covered with 1/2" plate that is supported every 8" underneath by the 2x4 tubing, it has a sloped drip rail around 3 sides below the top surface that drains into a bucket, and has a 6" splash guard in the back. Weighs all of 750lbs, but I can beat on it, drop motors on it, I use it for my TIG table, and it never dents, bends, moves around, etc.... It is loud when you really go to town with the BFH though.

Both have their purpose, I wouldn't want to be without both of them, but if I only had one, I would probably keep the wood one and get a 2'x4'x.25" metal plate to set on top for a welding surface.

Ed

[Backncardr]

The other bench is 30x60 out of 2x4x.25" rectangular tubing, covered with 1/2" plate that is supported every 8" underneath by the 2x4 tubing, it has a sloped drip rail around 3 sides below the top surface that drains into a bucket, and has a 6" splash guard in the back. Weighs all of 750lbs.

Ed

Now that's a work bench and then some. :eek: