Suggestions for new modding workbench top material

[bapgood]

I have decided its long overdue to get organized and make a new workbench. I'm thinking some kind of composite that could stand up to a soldering iron touch as well as being non electrically conductive would be great. Not breaking the bank would also be nice.

The bench will be ~144"x32"

Thanks for your suggestions!

 

[skoot]

I use a sheet of masonite over my bench top. A soldering iron will discolor it, but once the top gets in bad shape you just take it off and put another one down. If you're building it, you can add edge trim along the sides so it's flush with the top of the masonite.

 

[horton]

Bapgood...... My workbench is a "repurposed" soldering bench from my days of assembling circuit boards. It's just a nice heavy piece of office furniture (brand name = Tiffany - please no digs about the name...lol) and found it at a consignment office goods shop -- it was super cheap compared to the new one I saw at a big box office supply. It has overhead storage area for large items with doors that can be closed and locked if wanted. Also has a modesty shield with a shelf coming off the bottom for more storage of lesser used items. Since the frame is steel, I bought several boxes of magnetic clips that I can use to keep other more often used items items handy. Have a magnified light for the soldering work and also for general lighting and also attached a single tube 40 watt fluorescent light. It's nice and bright. So, all of my vaping goodies are handy at one bench. It's roughly 6' long by about 30" deep.
Have you considered using a static dissipative mat for your soldering area and a holder for your hot iron so it doesn't come in contact with the mat? The mats come with a length of coiled (springy) wire with an alligator clip on the end to use for a ground. You can find them in various sizes. True, you can easily burn the mat, but by using a holder for the iron, you can eliminate many burns. You could also use a third hand or Panavise to hold things you are soldering off the mat. I also find the mat is nice to work on for other vaping related jobs because it has a little "give" so if you drop something fragile, the chances of breakage are reduced and, big advantage, small items don't bounce off the bench and cause me to do a grid search of the floor for that tiny little screw I absolutely need. The top of the bench is some type of composite material (not sure what is is, but sure looks like Masonite to me) and I've made little stands and pigeon holes around the perimeter for storing materials.
Sorry, but I do not have a functional camera at the moment and my cell phone was just returned for a new hinge. Hope my verbal description suffices.
Good luck with your project!!

 

[bapgood]

Wow, thanks!

I have a pretty specific area so I'm going to build something to fit. I'm familiar with the esd mats, and I have a couple of solder stations both of which have holders, plus I have several other holders. I meant for accidental iron touches, I don't intend just to set the iron on the bench and leave it.

After doing some research and talking to few people, I have decided to just build a bench from MDF and cover it with stainless and just use mats for electronics. Through work I get good prices on sheet metal as well as being able to cut and bend it.

I think a 12' stainless bench will be pretty slick.

 

[horton]

I didn't mean to imply that you would just leave the hot iron on the bench or mat - my apologies for not being more clear about that. For as much modding as you are doing I figured you had the proper equipment, but just had to mention it because I've managed to put a few good burns in my mats -- actually burned the mats using hot air soldering devices...lol.
Sounds like you are going to be doing a custom job and with the good pricing you can get at work, I'm sure you will come up with a great bench. You can customize it to suit. A 12' bench certainly should give you plenty of room to work!!!
Again, good luck with your project.

 

[gravewolf]

Ceramic floor tiles....they're gonna hold up real well if you're just using a soldering iron. It's easy to clean and inexpensive since you only have to cover the area where you are soldering. If your gonna use a torch just use a brick cause that's what I use, just make sure to keep it leveled cause I had a small mishap months ago when I soldering a tube then it rolled down on to my shorts burned it along with some pretty sensitive area.

 

[bapgood]

Ceramic floor tiles....they're gonna hold up real well if you're just using a soldering iron. It's easy to clean and inexpensive since you only have to cover the area where you are soldering. If your gonna use a torch just use a brick cause that's what I use, just make sure to keep it leveled cause I had a small mishap months ago when I soldering a tube then it rolled down on to my shorts burned it along with some pretty sensitive area.

I think the floor tiles are a great idea! Thanks.

I have been reading a lot on the smith little torch and I'm in love. With the right stuff it will produce a 6000* flame able to melt ceramic, but the coolest thing is all the different fuel sources it will use. I already have oxy/acetylene tanks and regulators, but the natural gas ability has peeked my interest since I could tap into it from the house/shop and never have to fill a tank. I need to do a little more research on using natural gas and see if there is any down side.

 

[gravewolf]

I think the floor tiles are a great idea! Thanks.

I have been reading a lot on the smith little torch and I'm in love. With the right stuff it will produce a 6000* flame able to melt ceramic, but the coolest thing is all the different fuel sources it will use. I already have oxy/acetylene tanks and regulators, but the natural gas ability has peeked my interest since I could tap into it from the house/shop and never have to fill a tank. I need to do a little more research on using natural gas and see if there is any down side.

Another workshop here that make's brass trophies and other brass items use a propane torch. It doesn't use extra oxygen or other gases but the torch is huge along with the flame. The Little Torch is awesome, it can use different types gases and I've even used it on my hydroflux welder and works a lot better than the stock torch it uses. Mine came with five different sizes of tips and it's easy to clean with our ultrasonic cleaner. The only downside I know to natural gas like propane is that it is a bit carcinogenic and like other gas fuels can be dangerous if it leaks. I think you can use an oxy/propane set-up with the little torch.

 

[bapgood]

Just temporary for now to make sure I like it, which I do. So now it's time to get busy making it permanent.

If everything comes together I will have an air supply from a large system in the garage, sink against the opposite wall, exhaust system, and possibly a natural gas line.

Thanks for all the suggestion!

 

[gravewolf]

Dude where's the beer compartment?!? I am seeing that it's all workspace and no beerspace!

 

[bapgood]

Dude where's the beer compartment?!? I am seeing that it's all workspace and no beerspace!

Haha....I'm taking pics from where a freezer use to be and a fridge could and may end up there, but I haven't been much of beer drinker lately. Whiskey on the other hand, now thats a different story

I have been researching natural gas and the little torch and it seems like it isn't the best option. From what I can tell, depending on what kind of stuff your doing...being able to use both acetylene and propane will give you a ton of flexibility.

 

[gravewolf]

Haha....I'm taking pics from where a freezer use to be and a fridge could and may end up there, but I haven't been much of beer drinker lately. Whiskey on the other hand, now thats a different story

I have been researching natural gas and the little torch and it seems like it isn't the best option. From what I can tell, depending on what kind of stuff your doing...being able to use both acetylene and propane will give you a ton of flexibility.

I actually drink in moderation and rarely get drunk, it's my smoking habit that was my problem. I love whiskey too more than brandy cause I love feeling of that fire in the throat with each shot. Yeah the little torch is a flexible little thing but it's only good for small items. It takes a bit longer to solder silver with it since silver is a very good heat conductor and I have to really heat it really well before the solder starts to flow. I'm also looking at an oxy/acetylene set-up cause the gasoline torch I use seems more costly since gas prices have gone up but the suppliers here of oxygen and acetylene are located far from my area. Whenever someone mentions "natural gas" I always have a visual picture in my mind of a torch that has a hose plugged to someone's ....