Alternative for shop table top other than plate steel?

[stephen4785]

I want to build a shop table about 6'X4'. I was originally planning on using a solid steel 3/8 plate for the top but I cant find a good deal on it. I really dont want to spend $200-300 on just the top. Are there any good alternatives for a shop table that will be used for mechanic/welding/fabrication work?

[projectPONY]

IMO you almost have to go with steel if you're doing any welding. I have seen welding being done on butcher block type top but not without the occasional fire.

[Doug Hatton]

Maybe a heavy gauge of flat steel sheet? Maybe 16ga or something? That'd probably still be pretty expensive though.

[stephen4785]

IMO you almost have to go with steel if you're doing any welding. I have seen welding being done on butcher block type top but not without the occasional fire.

Yeah definitely not wood. I was thinking about making a wood top and then covering it with some 12-14ga sheet metal. It would get dented and scratched over time but it's just a shop table so it's not like Im trying to win some awards with it.
Iv also though about buying a large stainless steel table off of craigslist and using it but Iv heard it's a bad idea to do any welding on stainless.

[Grape]

my table for chassis crap has a 1" blanchard ground top, you need the thickness to keep stuff from pulling. call commerce grinding in dallas

[capristang]

pm me a # and i will see what i can do

[projectPONY]

I'd like to know why you couldn't weld on a stainless top.

[projectPONY]

Almost forgot to mention, but FWIW, I looked into some 1/2" plate steel at Liberty Metals once. I was looking for something in the 3'x4' piece and I was quoted around $50. The only reason I didn't buy was because everything they had at the time was bowed.

[Baron Von Crowder]

Almost forgot to mention, but FWIW, I looked into some 1/2" plate steel at Liberty Metals once. I was looking for something in the 3'x4' piece and I was quoted around $50. The only reason I didn't buy was because everything they had at the time was bowed.

put the bow up and bolt/weld it down.

[Cooter]

my table for chassis crap has a 1" blanchard ground top, you need the thickness to keep stuff from pulling. call commerce grinding in dallas

all I heard was "I'm rich"

[Sleeper]

What i have seen the most is a 12-10 gauge steel top over wood.

If you can have the metal bent on a break it works the best. If not just weld something.

[stephen4785]

I'd like to know why you couldn't weld on a stainless top.

I was told that the metal slag will mess up stainless. Something like it causes it to pit or something. I dont have any personal experience welding on stainless so my statement is based off of what others have told me.

[stephen4785]

my table for chassis crap has a 1" blanchard ground top, you need the thickness to keep stuff from pulling. call commerce grinding in dallas

If you feel like donating another top like that to me Ill be glad to except.

[projectPONY]

put the bow up and bolt/weld it down.

damn, that sounds like it would eat my lunch being 1/2" thick.

[Baron Von Crowder]

damn, that sounds like it would eat my lunch being 1/2" thick.

put your back in to it!