Sciencemadness Discussion Board

New lab and lab table

hyfalcon - 15-6-2012 at 14:59

I'm building a new shop/lab and I want to do a poured concrete lab table. My question is, as long as I use a good epoxy paint to seal the concrete, is there any reason for me not to use it as a lab table?

jk32sho - 21-6-2012 at 20:27

If you are dead set on pouring concrete I would recommend a stainless steel top with a sturdy padded surface that can absorb shock mildly between the concrete and stainless steel top. Or if that is out of the question, use chemical and heat resistant laminate (very easy to find) and lay that on top of a level damping surface. I use stainless steel top for its limited reactivity but laminate works equally well for most procedures.

Magpie - 21-6-2012 at 20:52

Ordinary epoxy floor sealant will be discolored by con H2SO4.

hyfalcon - 22-6-2012 at 02:22

I may just go with hdpe instead then. Stainless steel will become discolored from just HCl. I've found sheets of HDPE reasonably priced. I think that's the way I'm going to go with it. Thanks for the input.