a couple pics of my bench I built today.

[Ace315]

I used plans found here referenced in this thread: http://www.talkglass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=33155&highlight=bench. It went together very nicely. I just wanted to share a few pics. I really think it came out nice. I've got to finish it with some hardi backer but for the most part its done. Its 8ftx3ftx3ft and I used 5/8" plywood for the top. I double reinforced the top too. its solid as a rock!

[vetropod]

Looking good so far. You're going to need some shims to get it to sit solidly, eve cardboard will work - just shove it under whichever leg(s) don't fully contact with the floor.

[jac1961]

Another thing you might want to consider doing is covering your plywood top with a piece of 1/4" tempered hardboard. Just attach it with 6 screws or so and when it gets all beat to hell, you can just replace it for about 10 bucks and your main plywood stays pristine.

[Dom]

Nice work, I would suggest some nice 24" tile for the top, would only take about 8 tiles. If you have a tile warehouse around or discount home center you can get a good deal.

[RamblezMarblez]

Yeah...TILE! Super easy to spray and wipe clean. I do that each day I lampwork. Looks nice too.

[Ace315]

Tile huh? I was thinking of topping the plywood with some hardi backer but tile would look nice and probably be a lot less dusty. Also was thinking of a big piece of stainless or a Stop sign turned upside down as a work surface over the plywood where the torch will be mounted.

[Firekist]

putting something like hardibacker between a metal or tile cover is a really good idea.. go big enough, and you'll burn the wood underneath tile/metal.

---seth

[dew]

go with tile...you'll need a slick benchtop to go with that sexy torch that you're getting, haha.

[MPGB]

I'd say tile too. That's what I have and looks great. You can use stainless but unless you are getting is super cheap it's not worth the cost IMO. Stainless for my bench would have been about 150 bucks. Tile cost was less than $10.

The one thing about tile, that I found out today, is gold and silver bits that fall off rod get stuck in-between the tiles. I found about .6 grams of gold there today.

[glassblowingBiker]

if your going to use tile Id have to say use marble glass wont stick to it at all and LOOks really nice in the last shop i was in thats what we used and it worked out GREAT and LOOKED even Better

[naughty pirate wench]

nice work!

:clap: :kickflip: :clap:

btw, I use sandstone tiles left over from doing our fireplace.

[bzglass]

Yep the Hardibacker dust is harmful if inhaled, it was never designed or meant to be a bench top material; although being fireproof, many of us use it. Haribacker if used for tile applications, You will need some to be screwed down first if your are gonna lay tile.

Looks like a good size bench, lots of room, for lotsa glass creativity.

[lil'roller]

Christine,
"btw, I use sandstone tiles left over from doing our fireplace.'
Nice, that's kinda what I got . M.D.( son )brought me some black marble tile from a job he had done . I am a country girl, but I got one stylin" bench HA HA

[Ace315]

Thanks all! Looks like tile it is! Marble would look great! Thanks for the ideas! I'll put a sheet of hardibacker on the plywood and tile over that. Should be good to go after that. I'll post more pics after I get her tiled up.

[blackstoneglass]

I like an aluminum table top that i just screw down onto to the plywood. I like it because i drop stuff all the time and it breaks on a tile surface but not on the metal top.

[n3rd]

very nice work! i second tile, and take the time to grout it if this is permanent. i went with 12" ceramic tiles from home depot at 58 cents a pop, i really like it a lot.

[ALIEN!]

nice setup N3rd

[glasspyromania]

Just slap about 1/2 inch of cement on it no grout line to worry about :P