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Worktop material

Posted by Neil Thompson on 13 December 2005 at 16:33

Hey there guys

Building myself a new workbench in the workshop, we used Perspex top before, but once it got grooved, its was a nightmare causing all sorts of wavey lines!!

Anyone any better suggestions on material for worktop?

Thanks

Neil

Andrew John Sawyer replied 19 years, 11 months ago 13 Members · 19 Replies
19 Replies

George Elsmore

Member
13 December 2005 at 16:39

full size cutting mat from cherwell 8′ x 4′
Hugh Potter

Member
13 December 2005 at 19:01

i got 6mm toughened glass, support on the sticky stuff the install it with in double glazing, been sing it for about 3 months or so now, a few small scratches but otherwise brilliant, put transluscent white vinyl under it with a lamp so i doubles as a light bench too ! ideal for lining up stuff that you cant do on site,

2x 1.55m x 800mm cost £100,
H
Lorraine Clinch

Member
13 December 2005 at 20:40

Cutting mat from Jag Sign Supplies. Works well, but scores easily & can cut through it.

The green mats (got mine from Viking I think) are much tougher but couldn’t get one big enough at the time.

Next time around I’m going the toughened glass route, as hugh said.

There was a longish debate on here a couple of months ago about this, if you do a search?
Peter Normington

Member
13 December 2005 at 21:36

I would go with the 8 x 4 mat but…
The durability is what you need to consider, but it is hard to quantify.
We could not work properly with less than 8×4 ( standard sheet size for lots of stuff)
will you weed, tape and cut up on the same surface?

Do you use a laminater to apply app tape?

do you eat dinner off it, no not joking, if like us, you use the kitchen as a workshop, then it is part of the equation.

To sum it up..

Light usage… just use a sheet of 3mm foamex, cheap enough to replace every 3 or 4 months

medium use….8×4 from cherwell (cut in half if you have less working space)

Heavy use… glass may be an option to try, but if you are using the surface constantly, you should be making enough to use and replace
the cutting mat as required.

Peter
Shane Drew

Member
13 December 2005 at 22:10

Tried them all. Been using glass for 12 years, only replaced it once when it broke during an office relocation. When 1 side gets too scratched, just turn it over. Have the edges polished for saftey reasons

Always use sharp blades and it should last you years.

Hope that helps
Pryam Carter

Member
13 December 2005 at 22:37

Stainless Steel. Does the job for us.
David McDonald

Member
13 December 2005 at 22:43

Have just stuck an 8*4 of 3mm aluminium down on one of my benches and I’m really pleased – good combination of durability but slightly soft for cutting on (if that makes sense).

Macky
Nicola McIntosh

Member
13 December 2005 at 23:45

quote Peter Normington:

I would go with the 8 x 4 mat but…

thats what i use also, they are terrific self healing mats…the thought of cutting on glass….makes me all shivery…cant do it 😕

nik
Neil Thompson

Member
14 December 2005 at 09:07

Thanks guys for the help

I’ll have to consider this carefully.

Does the mat help the blade hold it line better due to the rubber?
Peter Normington

Member
11 January 2006 at 17:53

Just got an 8×4 6mm toughened glass table top.
Problem is it looks to beautiful to cut on!
Funnily enough Nik, it dosn’t squeal, I just ran my scalpel along it and it was smooth!

Peter
Nick Minall

Member
11 January 2006 at 18:08

quote Peter Normington:

Just got an 8×4 6mm toughened glass table top.
Problem is it looks to beautiful to cut on!
Funnily enough Nik, it dosn’t squeal, I just ran my scalpel along it and it was smooth!

Peter

Peter, I was thinking of getting a glass top, can you give me a guide to the cost please?

Nick.
Peter Normington

Member
11 January 2006 at 18:17

Nick, sorry,
but I did a deal with a double glazing customer of ours, we helped him out with a problem, he gave us the glass, (ground and rounded edges) I did have a general idea of about £150 being about a ballpark figure, but dont hold me to it.
Peter
Nick Minall

Member
11 January 2006 at 18:29

Thanks Peter, how thick is it?

Nick.
Peter Normington

Member
11 January 2006 at 19:18

6mm
Nick
Peter
Nick Minall

Member
11 January 2006 at 19:27

Oh… is that all… ok

Thanks

Nick.
Brian Maher

Member
11 January 2006 at 19:40

we use 2 x 6mm toughened glass sheets on the bench 8ft by 4ft each sheet..
no problems…it does take the egde of the knives quicker but theres no dust, its easy clean and lasts like nothing else…

as shane said get the edges rounded off for safety reasons

have it about 3 years and only regret not using it sooner..
Hugh Potter

Member
11 January 2006 at 20:17

my two sheets of 6mm toughened, didnt bother with the polished edges as toughened edges are not too bad anyway, mine is recessed by the way so it’s irrelevent,

shoulda cost £110+vat, paid £100 for pound notes !
Bart Van Wassenhove

Member
11 January 2006 at 20:29

i use soft rubber mats (3 pieces of 150x100cm) to cover up my working table. They have a thickness of 10mm and are clear. Really nice to cut in. Also very good to lay a panel on, because they almost ‘suck’ the panel to the rubber and give a lot of grip. 😀

Here in Belgium they use them also as a curtain (in smaller parts…) in the freezer department of large stores…
Andrew John Sawyer

Member
12 January 2006 at 13:57

Saffron Plastics (01268 288874) sell natural polypropelyneCutting Boards -8’x4′ 3mm @ £33.00 up to 9mm @ £99.00 – I’m ordering some when we move!
Andrew