Fish cleaning board?

[Fish Head]

I'm going to build a fish cleaning station at my cabin this spring. The cleaning table will be around 6 ft long. I'm trying to figure out the best type of top to use. So far I'm leaning towards ordering a 1" Polyethylene board online.

Any other suggestions as to what would be the best fish cleaning board (table top), or where to get one reasonably?

[JohnMickish]

I would use smooth FRP panels. Glue it right on top of whatever your bases and when it gets caught up glue another 1 on top of it.

[Down Deep]

I fish out of a resort in Canada. I was there about 15 years ago when they were building a new cleaning house. The used 2X6 green treated for the base and top, then glued a counter top laminate sheet on top. The use some 2X10s as cutting boards. This top has held up under heavy resort use for a long time.

[Tom7227]

Have you priced the poly? Gets a little spendy.

[magnum mike]

1/4" is great plenty thick enough. 1" PTFE will be over $500 a sheet.

[flyfisher03]

I would build the frame and a top out of wood and then use a very large poly cutting board over the top.

[aczr2k]

Yeah the 1" thick is overkill for sure, mine are made out of 1/2" HDPE.

[Cicada]

Check with local appliance stores and see if they have any stainless steel refrigerator doors that have been scrapped. There are a few models that have flat doors and they may have minior damage, but you may get one cheap if they charge at all. I got two bottom freezer doors from an LG model that are about 20'x32" for nothing other than a kind word.

[amateurfishing]

100% maintenance free would be stainless steel. any other type of material (plastic, wood, etc) are pourous where bacteria and smell may be an issue over time. if u wanna do it the perfect right way go stainless steel, if u wanna go a much cheaper route i would look into stock premade laminate countertop at local hardware store put on top of whatever base u like (cabinets, wall ledger with table legs, etc)

[Tom7227]

Often the big box stores have counter tops that have dings in them and they are pretty cheap. You probably could get on and be good to go for pretty minimal money.

BTW do you catch that many fish that you need a special place to clean them? I would be willing to come up and help with the build if that's the case.

[JohnMickish]

The FRP board that I suggested is about $20 for a 4X8 sheet, is the same stuff that is used in commercial bathrooms and kitchens, it does not hold water or bacteria. Stainless, countertop and hardwood will all be harder on you knife edge. FRP (the smooth stuff, not the pebble fisnish)is soft but should still last years. You can get it at Menards and Home Depot too.

[Fish Head]

I already have the base built with 2x4s. I'm just looking for a top... a good non-porous cutting surface. I think stainless is too hard on a knife, and wood is too porous for bacteria. I've been leaning towards the Polyethylene because that is what's used in a lot of commercial kitchens, but its very expensive. I suppose I could go less than 1" if I support it more underneath.

I'm not familiar with the FRP board. It sounds like it might be a good affordable option. I'll look into that too.

[Walleyehooker]

Last one I built I used a poly table I got at menards for the top and made longer legs for it. They come in many sizes and are fairly cheap and durable and clean up easy.

[Fish Head]

BTW do you catch that many fish that you need a special place to clean them? I would be willing to come up and help with the build if that's the case.

I'm happy to say we do. Especially when we have people visiting the cabin (more people = more fish), it’s nice to have a designated cleaning area that’s easily big enough for more than one person.