The Building Bench is the foundation of all work done on it Build on a Good Board
A good building board is common thin steel sheet that can be obtained from a metal dealer in your area. The board on the right is 24" x 60". It is nice having extra room to place fixtures and on-the-fly magnetic jigs. I look for metal, scrap metal or recycling in the yellow pages. Call around to let them know what you're looking for and get directions. Good Boards are:- Undamaged
- Flat
- Coated
- Receive magnets
Note: Some steels do not accept magnets. Take a magnet or two with you when you pick out your board to test before you buy. My board came from a piece having an undercoat treatment to prepare it for paint and that's how I use it. I wax it before I start a new project to help glue and tape release more easily. It doesn't rust so I don't have to look after it all the time when it's not in use. Uncoated boards need to be to protected from rust - climate control, paint or frequent wax applications. Sheet steel will conform to any acceptably flat surface that can support the board and the structure being built. Undamaged sheet flattens under its own weight and does not require hardware, weight, adhesive or clamps. Thick steel sheet or plate is heavy, difficult to handle and usually a poor choice unless you are building a half-ton bench having a permanent steel top. If a thicker top is wavy it will probably not lay flat and will need to be milled. I don't recommend you use a thick top unless you know something about metal working and understand what it will take to turn the plate into a flat bench top. My building boards are slightly less than 1/16" (1.6 mm) thickness and I like them that way. It's light enough that I can remove it easily when I don't need it. The board dimension should be approximately one foot longer and one foot wider than the largest models you build to allow room around the model for magnetic fixturing. Ask them to cut it to finished size and you should walk out smiling. If the board has burrs around the edges the first thing you should do is remove them. I use a file and finish with medium sandpaper. Round over all four corners so they aren't snagging things like cloths, shop towels, covering, etc. About 1/8" is usually good. Do not buy a damaged boardIf the dealer wants to give you a damaged board for free then graciously accept it and while you're there buy the undamaged board you still need. A damaged board can be used as a storage board. Inspect the board. Turn it so one face is up. Look over the surface and note how it droops. Flip it over and check the other side. Board Damage:- Doesn't lay flat on a flat surface
- Dings
- Dents
- Deep scratches
- Permanent waves
- Kinks
If a board has any damage then put it back and check another. Damaged boards aren't a bargain even when they're free.
A storage board (right) is a very good idea. It stores your magnetic tools where they stay together and are not attracting loose metal items in your shop. Mine is mounted on a wall where it's accessible but out of the way. Metal-Top benches and TablesSome magnetic builders use a permanent metal bench top. The only requirement is that the board is flat when you build. Metal tables that are bent from sheet metal aren't flat. That includes the expensive stainless steel type in restaurants. If you look at them you will notice they are always billowy in the middle. If you can find one that's flat then it's ok but if it's billowing at all it's not a building bench. |