Granite base for working

[RandyScott]

Check this link for surface plates on sale through Nov 30th to see what $40 can buy:

http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INLMPI?PMPANO=0515608&PMKBNO=2038&PMPAGE=16&PMCTLG=01

A 12"x18"x3" weighs about 85 pounds and sale priced at $24.95 + S&H.

Or the next step up:

A 18"x24"x3" weighs about 180 pounds and sale priced at $44.95 + S&H.

I presume shipping cost will be ZIP code dependent.

I bought their 9"x12"x2", weighs about 30 pounds, a couple of years ago. I think total cost including shipping (it too was on sale!)was about $25. I works just fine for my purposes.

And by the way, I did pickup a sink cutout. It is still sitting in the garage. I just did not want to mess with a masonry blade (to square it up), a respirator (rock dust), goggles (rock splinters/shards), ear muffs (I have enought hearing problems as it is!) or the dust and listening to my wife complain about the mess and the noise.

Your mileage may vary...

[Jimbob]

What do you think about a piece of granite that is 29 ¾” X 23 3/8” and ¾ “ thick for a good solid place to work? I found a pice for 40 bucks. Let me know what you think.

Where are u located???

I have a 4 inch thick slab for free...but u need to pick up!!!

Let me know....I am in SW VA

Greetings

[leatherjunkie]

i agree with what everyone has said.

that and 3/4" thick is too thin. should at least get 2" thick.

i was able to pickup a counter top that was cut wrong from a friend that installed granite counter tops.

only catch in getting it was his wallet had to be the first project the granite slab was used for.

so i traded a wallet for my granite slab that measures 2" thick by 30" long by 20" wide.

its great for doing belts and other large projects

[oldtimer]

I started out with a 1" granite slab. Then I made a wooden frame out of 2"x 4", same size as the slab, put the slab into the frame, bottom side up and then filled it with concrete and reinforcement iron bars. That way I got a 4 inch stone with a granite top. Important: The mould must be level !

/ Knut

[David]

The Enco site seems to be dead

Dave

[RandyScott]

The Enco site seems to be dead

Dave

I just checked... seems to be alive and well for me...

[1911Joe]

look around for counter shops that handle granite or marble.

X2

I did this and the owner told me I could dig through his scrap bin and whatever I found I could have. I wound up getting a cutout for a large oval sink, about 30"x20".

[Hawgman]

Here's something else you may want to think about. I went to a headstone maker here in town and asked what they did with the misspelled or mistake pieces. The guy said they usually just toss them. I found an old military grave marker that was 18" x 30" x 4" that was rectangular in the scrap pile. I told the guy what I wanted it for, and he just gave it to me. I had to kinda rebuild my bench to make it work, but it's now sweet. The slab is recessed to be level with the bench, and braced with a 4 x 4. It's solid, big, and works like a dream. Just a route you may want to look at if it's feasible for you.

This is what I did also. Most Grave stone places have old Military markers that are not used. The Government furnishes every Vet with a marker and most families do not use them so they are sometimes just laying around taking up space. If you ask for them you can probably get one for free or for pennies. Mine is 30" x 18" x 6" and built into my table and It works great. I also have a 2" sink cutout that I use when I go to Tim Kleffners shop for training and It works good for that on his sturdy table. I agree with the others - The thicker the better and make your table as strong as you can.

[Mongo]

I agree that you need a thicker piece.

www.use-enco.com is where I got mine with free shipping. Check with them for specials on shipping.

I got my first stone at a memorial shop. They gave me a nice section of granite for free. It was scrap and they were going to throw it out. Go ask at a couple of places; they can only say no and they might say yes.

[hivemind]

This is what I did also. Most Grave stone places have old Military markers that are not used. The Government furnishes every Vet with a marker and most families do not use them so they are sometimes just laying around taking up space. If you ask for them you can probably get one for free or for pennies. Mine is 30" x 18" x 6" and built into my table and It works great. I also have a 2" sink cutout that I use when I go to Tim Kleffners shop for training and It works good for that on his sturdy table. I agree with the others - The thicker the better and make your table as strong as you can.

I agree that you need a thicker piece.http://www.use-enco.com' rel="external nofollow">

I got my first stone at a memorial shop. They gave me a nice section of granite for free. It was scrap and they were going to throw it out. Go ask at a couple of places; they can only say no and they might say yes.

I'll throw a third vote here for this. My stone is also an unused military headstone, in my case mine was rejected for a cosmetic blemish in the stone. My sister's an undertaker who's dating a guy who owns a memorial business, so she asked him nice and he cut it down to a 14"x14"x4" block for me. It's gotta weigh 60 pounds, and sits directly above the 4x4 leg of my workbench.

Edited January 1, 2010 by hivemind