Workbench Epoxy

[obsolete]

Anyone ever use an epoxy to make the top of a workbench? I'm gonna build a 12 foot work bench and want a surface a bit harder than a few coats of poly. Any ideas?

[b0xmonkey]

I actually have a wooden work bench with an epoxy finish, I highly recommend. Cleans up easy, nothing soaks in, and it's bullet proof.

[Pittenger5]

Use the bartop finish crap. Good stuff.

[rg500]

Use the bartop finish crap. Good stuff.

The bartop stuff is great, but it is designed to stay soft. Not the best if you want a hard work surface.

[SSearchVT]

Fiberglass resin. You can get it cheap at auto parts stores or West Marine.

[obsolete]

I actually have a wooden work bench with an epoxy finish, I highly recommend. Cleans up easy, nothing soaks in, and it's bullet proof.

What type of epoxy did you use.

I'd fuck that bar top stuff up.

[gadget]

Fiberglass resin. You can get it cheap at auto parts stores or West Marine.

if i am not mistaken, isn't that a form of epoxy?


My next question is, why are you putting anything on it?

A plywood top can be beat on until it gives up 20 years later and then you can just throw another piece of plywood on top of it.

[obsolete]

if i am not mistaken, isn't that a form of epoxy?


My next question is, why are you putting anything on it?

A plywood top can be beat on until it gives up 20 years later and then you can just throw another piece of plywood on top of it.

Until you spill a shit ton of all different types of oil and chemicals and what not on it.

[gadget]

Until you spill a shit ton of all different types of oil and chemicals and what not on it.

Well, if you are that clumsy maybe you shouldn't be around sharp objects either.....

Anyways you can just do what my Dad used to do...light it on fire to burn off the residue...

[obsolete]

I probably shouldn't lol.

I am going to try and keep the lighting of things on fire in my garage to a minimum.

[SSearchVT]

if i am not mistaken, isn't that a form of epoxy?


My next question is, why are you putting anything on it?

A plywood top can be beat on until it gives up 20 years later and then you can just throw another piece of plywood on top of it.

Yup - it is a type of epoxy. A really cheap, easy to use, tough, and available type of epoxy!

[rg500]

Yup - it is a type of epoxy. A really cheap, easy to use, tough, and available type of epoxy!

It is polyester resin like Bondo. Cheaper than epoxy but a lot More carcinogenic

[obsolete]

It is polyester resin like Bondo. Cheaper than epoxy but a lot More carcinogenic

Sign me the fuck up!

[keeena]

Obsolete - I used 2-part epoxy for my trailer floor (3/4" CDX)...just 1 coat of cheapo Rustoleum from HD/Lowes. Its pretty amazing how well it seals/binds/bonds the fibers and prevents surface tearing. I'd think it would definitely resist chemicals well. May be susceptible to heavy dings or cuts.

[Tricky Mike]

It's hard to beat steel plate for a workbench top, IMHO. 3/8" is more than adequate. For what it's worth, I have a 1.5" thick solid maple butcher block bench in my shop with a resin top (and a big old steel plate sitting on top of it

A good epoxy resin isn't going to be cheap and you'll need a fair amount to cover the 12' x x' surface. I'd put that $$ towards steel. Buy it from a supplier that will dimension it with a shear and you'll have little to no prep... just knock the edge down with a grinder.

If you are going epoxy I'd probably go with the West System stuff. Definitely wear a respirator. and make sure the air and epoxy temps are high enough.

[obsolete]

Mmmmmmm... Steel.

Any issues with rust?

[idratherberidin]

It's hard to beat steel plate for a workbench top, IMHO..

My buddy has a stainless bench and it is shweeet


This is the stuff I have on my bench. Its a Resin Decking that is used for mezzanine platforms.

http://www.resindek.com/Page.aspx/45...Floors-HD.html

http://www.resindek.com/Page.aspx/17...ssistance.html

[Tricky Mike]

Mmmmmmm... Steel.

Any issues with rust?

Zero, but my shop is heated. Only time I've seen any rust was when I foolishly threw the bay door open on a warm, humid spring morning without running the heater first. Cold iron + warm, humid air = rust.

Do you currently have rust issues with tools? If not I wouldn't worry about it... Hit it with some BoeShield every now and then and you're good. If you're doing a lot of car/jeep work I'd think you'd trash a resin top in short order. It does look nice, though...

Here's the AV rack I've been building... carbon fiber with a thick epoxy resin layer:

[obsolete]

I don't know yet. I've had my stuff in the garage for about a month maybe. I won't be heated till next year and even then it's only gonna go on when I'm out there.

Mike, still gonna check that stuff out tonight.

I guess my problem is some stuff I do is very abusive and other stuff is clean and kinda delicate. But that sounds like anyone that's into motorsports and what not.

PS. Nice rack Tricky!