Bench help needed

[Purple Cobwebs]

Well, my OH has finally agreed to build me a shedio!!!! I think the Kiln, oxycon, torch, and ever increasing glass and press stash in the kitchen has started to take up just a bit too much space!!!! (I already use the spare bedroom for my jewellery and card making!)

It won't be big, about 6' x 6', but it will be all mine!

Question is, what do I use for my bench? He's doing some plans now, and is looking at building a wooden banch all down one side, with a narrower one for storage on the opposite side.

Do I get sheet metal to bend around it to protect it against molten glass? Or is there a better solution?

I want to get it right, from the start, as once it's done, it probably won't be changed for many years!!!

I've ordered my ventilation kit from Tuffnells, so no more open doors, open windows, and crossed fingers!!!

Sooooo excited!!!

[DragonflyLynne]

I have a piece of granite that covers my bench. It was an off-cut found on ebay, and cheaper than a piece of steel. It was from a guy that sold granite for kitchens. Works well 

[Purple Cobwebs]

Thanks Lynne. Hadn't thought about anything like that. Would go well with my purple colour scheme too!!!!

[DragonflyLynne]

Thanks Lynne. Hadn't thought about anything like that. Would go well with my purple colour scheme too!!!!

LOL! He was very good, and cut it to size and bull nosed all the edges. It is nice to work on, and very easy to clean 

[Lush!]

Or Ikea do a stainless steel table top.

[MadelineBunyan]

mine is a bit of old kitchen worktop with stainless steel on top. I bought the whole sheet and the guy cut it up for me, he wanted to charge me for the whole sheet to just cut the bits I wanted, I said I wanted all the offcuts since I'm paying for em! I have them on the back wall too so I don't set fire to my lovely purple paint!

some people use tiles.

[elburnzo]

someone on here posted a pic of their workspace and it was covered in tiles.... cant remember who now  

[MadelineBunyan]

it was Vonnie, its here http://www.frit-happens.co.uk/forum/index.php?topic=30163.0;topicseen

[ScarletLeonard]

I just have wooden work top, and a flame proof square right under my torch.

Gets a bit smelly when I forget to use my rod rest though.

I want to go with tiles so I can put some on the wall too.

[Shirl]

Mine is an old computer desk with  a sheet of metal on the top stolen  borrowed from DH's workshop.

It is a only temporary set up, hope to move my studio before the winter as the conservatory is so cold then (unless its a sunny day)

As long as you have the area under and around your torch in some sort of fire proof material I think you can choose whatever you like.

[sparrow]

I've just got tiles, large ones, and they get an awful lot of abuse, as I happily use them to marver, squish, etc

[Krysia@No98]

Not that I am recommending this, but I have rubber mats.  I am very aware when I put something hot on them 

[awrylemming]

I have an old table covered with steel - but I bartered and swapped for mine, it cost me nothing 

[GlassOwl]

I'm covering mine with ceramic tiles, just bought a job lot from Focus when they started their close down so got them as cheap as chips, not the same colour but who cares it will be bright!! So got enough for the walll as well

Sandra

[Blue Box Studio]

Mine's kitchen worktop and I use the metal stand thingy that came with my HH as a protector.  Warm Glass sell some metal bits just for the job.  In class we had wooden table tops and a baking sheet under the torch to catch the drips and hold the rods, worked fine.