Glass as surface plate

[gbick]

Given my current space and dollar constraints, I plan to get a piece of glass to use as a surface plate into the foreseeable future. I realize this won't be inspection quality, but should suffice for now. As I haven't yet bought it, I thought I would seek your collective advice. Thicker is better?? Tempered glass will probably stand up better to my frequent clumsyness, unless it is not the flattest type?? Please advise. Thanks. Greg.

[pacrat]

Might check local yellow pages for shop that does hard surface kitchen counters.

They will usually have a few sink cutouts of granite or marble they sell cheap. Last I bought was $20.

Still not inspection quality but a lot safer and tougher than glass.

[Conrad_R_Hoffman]

I've done this and the problem is it scratches and gouges way easier than you'd think. Even very heavy plate glass can easily flex by an eighth of an inch, depending on how you support it. The import surface plates, 12x16 or so, are really cheap and I've had one of those for years now.

[JTiers]

Do you want FLAT? No foolin, really FLAT?

If you DO, but you want to use glass, or tombstones or countertop, none of which is made to BE flat, just nice-looking.........Then HOW LUCKY DO YOU FEEL TODAY?

'nuff said.

[SteveM]

Enco has a 9x12 black granite plate for $42. Order $8 more stuff and find a "free shipping with $50 order" code and you won't pay for shipping.

Even better, the 12x18 is on sale for $45:
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PMAK ... TPG=INLMK3

Might want to check if there is a weight limit on the free shipping code. That one weights 85 pounds.

I have the 9x12. If I had more bench space, I'd get the 12x18.

How much money are you going to spend on a piece of glass that you are probably going to get rid of anyway in favor of a real surface plate?

Steve

[Harold_V]

If you must use a piece of glass, make it float glass, and NOT tempered. The tempering process can yield out of flat material. The thicker, the better, by the way.

Harold

[Torch]

I too am quite limited for space, and the 12"x18" surface plate weighs a fair bit to be hauling in and out as needed. So I built a plywood enclosure with handles and a removable top. If I really need to move it out of the way, the handles come into play -- or at least, that was the plan. I can't recall ever needing to move it because the removable top that protects it does double duty as temporary bench space any time the plate is not in use.

Here's how it looked when I built it:

and here's how it looks today:

[PeteH]

Current Enco "Hot Deals" lists the 12x18 Class B plate for $45.95 -- and at least when I bought mine, two years ago, the "free shipping" code applied (check recent postings in this forum for the current code).

They CAN'T have made money on that one !!

BTW, if you don't need the thing instantly, it pays to check for better prices. IIRC, I didn't pay any more than that for their Class A. (Since the things aren't NIST traceable anyway, I don't know how much that matters... but I wanted the ledges -- 'tain't easy to haul an 80-pound plate around if you can't get a grip on it.)

[farrviewsouth]

Just got my 12 by 18 plate today from Enco, Yes $45 price did include free shipping UPS
with the free shipping code listed above. Thanks for the original tip and I don't see
how that price can be beat for my use