Best Side Table Surface Material

[Dean_A]

Well, I finished the trailer, but now it's time to move on to the "improvements".

I'm going to build a side table to give me a little more counter space when working in the galley, and I want to know the best surface material.

I have left over aluminum, left over Formica, and left over birch plywood. I'm also open to other suggestions. I want something that will hold up OK to sunlight, and the occasional bit of unexpected rain.

My preference is to use the Formica, as it looks great and would match the galley, but I've had no luck online finding any info about using it outdoors.

Thanks!
--Dean

[caseydog]

I used birch plywood with a clear polyurethane. But that was also my galley top finish.

I would probably use the same formica that you used on your galley top. It will hold up fine as long as it is not in the weather all the time. For the amount of time you go camping, I can't see the sun damaging it, and the occasional rain should be okay, as long as you don't leave it in the rain all day. That's true of any surface, for the most part.

I vote for the formica.

BTW, you can always put a UV protecting coating for vinyl on the formica for extra protection. A car care product with UV protection would do the trick.

CD

[Lou Park]

How about you do one side in formica and the other in aluminum so
if you get tired of seeing one, you flip it over to see the other.
Lou

[Miriam C.]

Can you seal the aluminum so it doesn't stain. I wish I could do a stainless side table.

If you have left over material then you can make more than one. Put one back for later...........

[Dean_A]

Can you seal the aluminum so it doesn't stain. I wish I could do a stainless side table.

If you have left over material then you can make more than one. Put one back for later...........

I'm using a wipe on clear coat that *should* protect the aluminum from any sort or staining or oxidation.

The trailer took me 4.5 years. I don't work fast enough to make extra ANYTHING.

[Mike Angeles]

Dean,
I just completed mine, I used formica to match the Galey, Aluminum would look sharp though.





Mike

[Rock]

How about a thin sheet of stainless steel over a thicker piece of plain steel - then it's a dutch oven table as well?

That's what I'm doing but it will pretty much be a dedicated DO table, not necessarily for extra counter space.

Eric

[Dagny]

Mike, did you buy a hardware kit to attach it? or make it yourself. I'm loking to add one too.

[Mike Angeles]

Hey Dagny I did make it. I got the idea from Doug Hodder. Table can be moved to either side of the Galley. I needed a place to fit the stove since I ran out of room in the galley for a pull out. I have a few more pics in my Album as well.

Thanks,
Mike

[planovet]

My preference is to use the Formica, as it looks great and would match the galley, but I've had no luck online finding any info about using it outdoors.

I vote for Formica. As for using it outdoors, Eddie built the Evac A Shack and covered the whole thing with Formica. It's faded a little but has held up well.

[Dean_A]

Thanks everybody. Formica it is!