What is the best material for a Miller Table top?

[DizzyDigger]

I've been trying to get the materials together for a righteous Miller Table, and
was hoping to use a piece of pool table slate for the top, but that opportunity
is no longer available.

Desired dimensions of the table will be 18" x 48", and I've already got a 250 GPH.
pump and all the PVC, valves, etc., and the only thing holding me off of building
the table to mount it all on is I want to be sure of the top dimensions before
I start cutting lumber.

I can buy a piece of pre-cut slate, but am also considering other materials that
may not be quite as costly, and have read about folks using plywood, Formica
and a couple other materials as well. Has anyone tried using a granite slab?
Polished counter top granite is about as flat and slick of a material as I can
think of, and odds are it is also lower cost than the slate.

Has anyone tried using lower cost counter top materials like Corian?

Key issue is performance. The table itself will have 4x4 legs and levelers
mounted on the bottom of each, and will no doubt be very solid and sturdy.

Also, does a length of 48" seem sufficient for an 18" width?

Thanks in advance for the help, as this has been an on-going project.
I've now got about 3 gallons of black sand saved up, and looking at
samples of it with a 30x loupe I can easily see quite a bit of micro fine
gold throughout the material. Gotta get that yellow stuff out of there...

 

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[jcazgoldchaser]

http://goldfeverminingsupply.com/miller-table%20A.pdf

https://www.google.com/search?q=miller+table+hobby+mat

https://www.google.com/search?q=miller+table+chalkboard+paint

 

[DizzyDigger]

Thanks JC. I've done a good deal of web research and had that .pdf
saved. Was hoping to get some input from some members here that
have experience with various surfaces, as I'm not after the lowest cost
(within reason, of course) but the best performing of the materials.

 

[Oakview2]

Any flat surface material that will not absorb water will work, and if too slick, paint with chalk board paint. I hear some guys gets small pieces of granite scrap for nothing and then paint... I haven't tried it, usually use a blue bowl for the fine stuff...

 

[benny]

Hmm.. I haven't built a miller table, but always thought that frosted glass should work well. Of course, if the glass is thin, it should be reinforced so that it doesn't sag/warp.

 

[huntsman53]

I think that if I was going to build one, I would build it to last but still be lightweight and resist warping! For those reasons, I would use a thin sheet of aluminum glued to 3/8" sealed plywood. The two together, will make a very sturdy, lightweight and durable surface that will not warp so easily. Just make sure to re-seal the plywood as needed! You can even cut the aluminum sheeting about 1 inch wider and longer, cut out the corners after it is glued to the plywood, then fold (bend) and hammer each side down over the plywood sides and over onto the opposite side to more secure the aluminum sheet to the plywood. Of course, you will have to make the appropriate adjustments to the frame!


Frank

 

[jcazgoldchaser]

Doug Watson posted this on Gpex:
miller table material

I think it sums up the OP's question pretty succinctly:

I built one out of slate and what I did was to try different materials over the top of the slate. Like the hobby mat, I just cut a piece and slid it on top of the slate to try out. Then I took a piece of alum and tried different coatings on it. Makes it easy to experiment. Doug.
PS: Gold from different places worked differently on the different surfaces.

Also a good glass thread
Glass surface for a miller table.