Work tables - what surface do you use?

Alzibiff · Post by **Alzibiff** » Mon 21 Nov, 2005 8:52 am

Hello,
I am in the process of setting up a small workshop and was wondering what worktop surfaces are out there - so ... what do all of you use for your work table tops?

Alan

cleeve_prints · Post by **cleeve_prints** » Mon 21 Nov, 2005 4:10 pm

Hi Alzibiff,

I use carpet tiles stuck down onto 12mm MDF. Normally I will use a sheet of Mountboard laid on top as well.

Steve

Post by **John** » Tue 22 Nov, 2005 7:28 am

We use the black ribbed rubber sheet as supplied by Lion (Cat.No.2915).
Small fragments of glass fall into the grooves where they can't damage the face-down frame. Also, the black colour helps you to spot specks of dust on the glass.

markw · Post by **markw** » Tue 22 Nov, 2005 11:30 am

Same as John - black ribbed rubber sheet - stops the glass slipping around - you need to cover it with a sheet of mountboard to do clean work with mounts etc - but for assembly its great - You have to be very careful when turning metallic finishes as the rubber can scuff - but as a general work surface its very good.

James Miller · Post by **James Miller** » Wed 23 Nov, 2005 8:00 pm

Our work tables are covered with 4 mm fluted polypropylene sheeting. This is a popular substrate for vinyl-letter indoor & outdoor signs. Framing suppliers do not yet stock it, but we buy it from sign-making suppliers.

It comes in 48" x 96" sheets and in several colors. I stock black and white sheets for use as filler/reinforcement/backing boards in framing, because it is lightweight, has good structural integrity, chemically stable, non-hygroscopic, easy to cut and fit, and it costs less than foam center board. In central Ohio "Coroplast" brand costs about US$8.00 per 48"x96" sheet.

White is best for the table tops -- it shows every speck of debris and cleans up easily. White also reflects light and brightens the room. The soft plastic surface makes a good cutting board and when becomes deteriorated after a few months, we just throw it away and stick on a new sheet.

Jim Miller, MCPF, GCF
Suburban central Ohio

carpman · Post by **carpman** » Thu 25 Jun, 2015 1:07 pm

Hi, I know this is an old thread, but while researching a suitable workbench surface i found this one and the suggestion of Correx.

While getting the material to build the workbench i found some sheets of Correx at builders merchant, only £4.50 for 2mm 2400x1220mm sheets.

I got a couple in black and white to see how works, if not will make nice reflector for photography.

http://search.builderdepot.co.uk/search#w=correx

Whitewater Gallery · Post by **Whitewater Gallery** » Thu 25 Jun, 2015 3:48 pm

In a brief moment thinking about this with my cup of tea I recall that when I helped out in a framers for a couple of months (dare I admit this?) about 35 years ago (yes that hurts!

) they had green baize on the the bench tops (like snooker tables), very short pile so nasty things could be seem but still gives a bit of softening.

The Framers Forum