Bench top advice

[txargyll]

going to make my first welding bench. i have sourced the box steel i need for the frame and have also sourced a 3mm thick sheet for top, although two parts so these themselves will need welded together, my question is, is 3mm thick enough. the most i will be welding is car parts but normally its just for fabrication work, scultpure that type of think, nothing major major but mild steel upto maybe 4-5mm thick at times, mostly 2-4mm.

as i have got eveything i need (except the castors which i have bought) i dont really want to go out and by a 5mm plate for top but if its exactly what i should do i will.

Any advice really appreciated.

 

[pedrobedro]

Make a wood or plywood top and screw or bolt your plate to it. The top will be sacrificial anyway and your plate can be taken off to replace the under parts.

 

[txargyll]

Prefer all metal tbh

 

[BuiltnotBought]

the thicker the better! just put 10 on mine latest ones. Always good to have a sturdy hammering point, or anything else I can think of ... ironing board :/


Though back on topic, I would have thought 3mm is a bit thin. it will flex quite easily and not with stand a whole lot of ABuse. 5mm may be more reasonable if weight isn't to much of an issue

 

[sparkysy]

Hi I have 3mm top on my welding bench and its been sound for the last 4 years it is a welding bench and as such I don't abuse it with big hammers. I have a heavy duty top one for that. 3mm will be fine, if you want a bit more strength just put a few more braces across under it!

 

[Richard.]

Others will disagree but for me it's slightly too thin.
You have to also under stand it's got to take the weight of what you want to weld which I'm sure it will if it's built well but it's also got to take heat of what your welding. Quite often when I'm making frame work I'll tack my frame to the bench and if I'm ally welding the ally will conduct heat so well it will make the bench top red hot. So I think I would kill a 3mm top with distortion. 5mm min for me.