Replies

1. 
   RickL | Oct 29, 2004 04:58pm | #1

   Why do you need to secure it? The weight alone will  keep it in place and since it's set in a pocket where is it going to go?  I've done a lot with stainless using epoxy but the stuff was a lighter gage and  the substrate was MFD or plywood. If I wnated to fasten it I would consider welding nuts to the bottom and have slots in the Beech worksurface. But you have to be careful as the welding makes distortions and colors on the top surface and would take more time and effort to get a nice consistent finish. SS is a bear to work even with experience. I really think the simplest solution is the best...gravity is free!

2. 
   jackplane | Oct 29, 2004 06:58pm | #2

   Silicone.

3. 
   JohnWW | Oct 29, 2004 08:12pm | #3

   I'd glue the sheet of steel to a substrate such as a thick piece of Baltic birch plywood and drop it in a recess with leveling screws underneath.  This will make it very easy to flush it up or raise it slightly above the surrounding wood surface.  This would also allow replacement if damaged or to substitute a different surface.  A last advantage is that it would allow an easy repair if the glue bond failed.

   If you glue the metal directly to a solid wood bench top you will have problems with the wood cracking or the sheet buckling with humidity changes, another reason to glue onto plywood.  For the drop in panel you will need to leave a bit of room around it to allow for possible shrinkage of the wood top in the future, unless the cutout is made during a time of very low humidity.

   I think an epoxy would serve to glue the metal to the wood.  Check with a company like West Systems for a specific glue recommendation, their stuff is regularly used for wood to stainless connections in boat building.

   John W.

4. 
   HowardAcheson | Oct 29, 2004 08:16pm | #4

   Silicone Adhesive/Sealent will work very well. Not much is needed, just around the edges. The weight of alone will keep it in place. Silicone is one of the strongest adhesives.

   Howie.........
5. 
   Jamie_Buxton | Oct 29, 2004 09:33pm | #5

   The expansion of the solid lumber will be an issue.   Could you do the following?   Glue the stainless to a sheet of plywood -- construction adhesive, caulk, whatever.  Then "frame" the metal/plywood sheet with beech, fastened to the plywood?  This whole table top won't expand with humidity.   You could directly fasten it to legs and aprons and such. Or if you already have the beech table top, you could fasten the non-expanding table top to the beech with slotted screw holes which allow the the beech to move.   I'd build it so that the table top overhangs the beech, and nobody will see that the beech moves.

   BTW, beech has one of the highest expansion rates of the common hardwoods.

6. 
   AlanWS | Oct 29, 2004 11:20pm | #6

   The epoxy/plywood scheme sounds good to me. I just want to point out that the type of epoxy you use makes a big difference: make sure you get one designed for steel. The same consideration holds for silicone if you go that route, but even more so: the biggest distinction between types of silicone is what they stick to and how well. Ask the manufacturer for the best answer.

7. 
   jackplane | Oct 29, 2004 11:24pm | #7

   it's really not rocket science; silicone adhesive(100%) is an excellent, and I believe the best, adhesive for this.

8. 
   robkelly | Oct 30, 2004 03:17am | #8

   I did this with 1/4" aluminum on a 2" oak top, 72" x 24". I bolted it down and wood movement was not a problem during the 10+ years I used it. Then I gave it to a nephew and he's still using it 25 yrs later.