Simple (cheap) floor cabinet tops?

Coloshaver · Feb 14, 2013

I need to add a simple floor cabinet next to my shop sink. I have a plan for the box, but would appreciate ideas on material for the top. To nestle up next to the sink, the top has non-standard dimensions - 21" deep x 30" wide. Since it will be next to the sink, I'd like a fairly moisture proof material. With the odd size, a pre-manufactured counter top would need to be cut down - exposing edges.

I've come up with:
Plywood with a good finishing material
Hardboard ("Masonite") with a good finishing material over a wood surface.
Formica - custom cut and contact cement onto a wood surface.

Any other ideas?

Thanks in advance.

Kevin54 · Feb 14, 2013

Get a piece of 3/4" MDF and make your own and cover it with Formica of your choice.

To cover it, all you need is a can of Contact Cement. You spread it out on the MDF and spread it out on the back of the Formica. When both feel dry to the touch, put them together and taking a towel, iron them together by pushing down on the Formica all over. Trim the excess off with a laminate bit in a router. The laminate bit has a roller bearing on it that goes along the edge of the MDF.

And I almost forgot, make sure when you glue it, to leave it slightly oversize so you can trim it with the router.

Mandres · Feb 14, 2013

Only problem is that sheet formica is fairly expensive, as is MDF. About $60 in materials there. And you're still left with ugly unfinished mdf edges.

I'd buy a butcher-block top from Sears or Ikea and cut it to size.

rsanter · Feb 14, 2013

MDF with thin stainless or aluminum glued to it

Bob

Bender78 · Feb 14, 2013

I have used laminate flooring material on plywood for cheap counter tops. It works amazingly well, and this stuff has proven to be more durable and water resistant than I ever expected it to be.

Three years ago I covered some damaged formica kitchen counters for a friend of mine and they still look great. This included a sink surround. The material I used was about 85 cents per sq foot at home depot.

JamieK · Feb 14, 2013

Go to a building salvage store (Habitat Restore is good) and find a solid wood core door, like used in offices. Easy to cut down, and usually already has a nice finish on them you can use. Best part is that they're cheap. Here they sell for about $5-$10.

rick carpenter · Feb 14, 2013

I'd go with a good marine/exterior plywood top and cover it with Formica. MDF no matter how well covered next to a sink is gonna get water down to it one day.

bullnerd · Feb 14, 2013

I'm with Kevein.Try going to a local counter top fabricator,they would probably give you scraps. I worked for one for a while and we threw out the MDF cut outs from sinks all day long and there are tons of left over laminate pieces.For something that small you could use the spray glue made by 3m.And do the edges too so you dont see the MDF.Do the edges first,and laminate trim(or file if your good)the top side.Then hit it with a belt sander pulling towards the MDF.Then add the top and laminate trim it.Clean the edges with a file and you will be long dead before it rots out.

melliott28 · Feb 14, 2013

One 8ft SYP 2x12, cut 2 30 inch pieces, rip or plane 1/8" off of each side to flatten the edges, edge glue the 2 pieces together with Titebond III or Elmers Wood Glue Max (both are waterproof), and apply 3-5 coats of marine varnish. The materials shouldn't cost you more than $35 and the process of building the top shouldn't take more than 3 or 4 days (most of the time is waiting for the varnish to dry). Attached is a pic of my worktop I made, but I used polyurethane because my workbench isn't in a wet environment.

dladcock · Feb 15, 2013

melliott28 said:
One 8ft SYP 2x12, cut 2 30 inch pieces, rip or plane 1/8" off of each side to flatten the edges, edge glue the 2 pieces together with Titebond III or Elmers Wood Glue Max (both are waterproof), and apply 3-5 coats of marine varnish. The materials shouldn't cost you more than $35 and the process of building the top shouldn't take more than 3 or 4 days (most of the time is waiting for the varnish to dry). Attached is a pic of my worktop I made, but I used polyurethane because my workbench isn't in a wet environment.

I like your solution here. I like the flavor of the table top and the brick wall, it looks very comfortable and relaxing. Would like to see more if you don't mind. :drool:

dla

84944Redline · Feb 15, 2013

All good suggestions...I think it often comes down to materials available. I was able to pick up a sheet of Formica for just a few bucks and already had some MDF leftover from a previous project. Happy with how it turned out...it's held up very well.

OccupantRJ · Feb 15, 2013

Find a cabinet top fabricator and flip him a few bucks to save you a piece of solid surface from a kitchen tear out. Some granites have now reached down to the price level of corian, and some people are changing to granite. One of my benches has Corian solid surface on it, a freebie, as one of my friends owns a custom countertop business. Here's a thread on it.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=50798

Coloshaver · Feb 18, 2013

Bender78 said:
I have used laminate flooring material on plywood for cheap counter tops. .

Brilliant!! :bowdown:

I had forgotten all about a chunk of vinyl flooring I salvaged a few years ago. I had used some of it for counter tops in my car trailer. Cemented to a piece of MDF, it certainly meets my "cheap" criterion.

Thanks!

Nostraquedeo · Feb 19, 2013

I did colored concrete counter tops with multiple layers of sealer in my garage. Cost me maybe $50 for a 30" wide and 10' long. Took about 2 hours to form, an hour to pour, another hour to remove the forms and seal. Looks really good and is very strong. I made it 3" thick. Lots of youtube videos on techniques.

melliott28 · Feb 19, 2013

dladcock said:
I like your solution here. I like the flavor of the table top and the brick wall, it looks very comfortable and relaxing. Would like to see more if you don't mind.

dla

Thanks. I am in the middle of getting my garage reorganized so it is a mess and I only have current pics of the workbench area. But, I'll gladly post what I have:

theoldwizard1 · Feb 19, 2013

Mandres said:
Only problem is that sheet formica is fairly expensive, as is MDF.

Find a place that makes counter tops. I'll bet you can but left overs cheap.

Kevin54 · Feb 19, 2013

Is that real brick, brick veneer, or some other type of brick looking material? Whatever though, I like the looks of the brick with the bench :thumbup:

melliott28 · Feb 19, 2013

Kevin54 said:
Is that real brick, brick veneer, or some other type of brick looking material? Whatever though, I like the looks of the brick with the bench

It is real brick. Only the rear wall of the garage is brick. The other walls are drywalled. I don't know if it was built like that for the aesthetics, or if it actually has a purpose, but I do like it.

Spareparts · Feb 19, 2013

Get a short piece of counter top and cut the back off, seal the cut edge with some type of polturathane. Put a 1 X 4 for a back stop.

dladcock · Feb 19, 2013

melliott28 said:
It is real brick. Only the rear wall of the garage is brick. The other walls are drywalled. I don't know if it was built like that for the aesthetics, or if it actually has a purpose, but I do like it.

Hey, Thanks for posting the pics. Yep, I like that a lot also. Like I mentioned, that looks comfortable. An atmosphere that can relax you when you're working is just plain good for you.

The bench looks great...... if not to mention smart. It all plays well together.

dla

Simple (cheap) floor cabinet tops?

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