Building my own custom small game / fish cleaning table.....

[Diggs27]

Hello there. I am going to be building my small game and fish cleaning table shortly. In know that you can get them online, but want to build mine this way it is created to my specifications. All the framework is going to be done in 2x4 lumber, then the top is going to be a sheet of plywood topped off with some sheet metal. First question I would ask is what kind of sheet metal should I go with?? dimensions are going to be 2' by 4'.... was thinking of going with something similar to diamond plate aluminum (without the actual diamond plate pattern) or even stainless steel (I know that would be a bit more cost wise, but exploring my options). Secondly, I will be keeping this outside where it will be under the elements... What should I use to "preserve" the wood as that I may get the most use out of it before the legs and framework start rotting?? I was thinking something like Thompson's water seal or similar; or would i8t be better to go with an actual polyurethane??

[dorminWS]

(1) You might look at some of those stainless cabinets and/or countertops that some of the home stores have.
(2) You could use redwood or cedar to help with weathering, or some of that new non-toxic treated wood if there won't be any contact between food and the table frame. I'm not sure those plastic 2x4s would work well over time in a cabinet.
(3) If I were going to do that, I'd consider a larger work surface and include a sink I could hook a garden hose up to.
(4) I'd get the biggest plastic cutting board I could find and mount some stop blocks around its edges so it can't scoot. Trouble with a metal top on a game dressing bench is that it is too easy to ruin a good edge by cutting through the meat and into the tabletop.
(5) Or, you might try to find a sheet of 1/2" or 3/4" Poly sheet like plastic boards are made of to use for the whole top - even if you have to back it with plywood.

[Snakester]

I built one like you are describing for a friend of mine about 12 yrs. ago . We used 3" PVC Plumbing Pipe for the legs with a flange on both ends. It is screwed down to a Treated Deck . The top flange is screwed to two layers of 3/4" Treated Plywood. The top is a piece of solid 1" PVC we ordered at Lowe's in the Cabinet Dept. Our table is 2' x 8' . The top will cost you about $80 / the piece of treated plywood will cost about $30 and the Pipe and fittings will cost about $50. Our table has 6 legs . We did not install a sink , but we did install an over head sprayer . If Matt is not fishing he's hunting...Always cleaning something. The PVC Top is well worth the $$$$ . The whole surface is a cutting board.