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new tops for workbenches

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jeffmoss26

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May 25, 2011
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Location
Cleveland, Ohio
Hey guys-
I've got two Craftsman benches that have served me well, but the tops are in bad shape. The newer bench (10-15 years) is definitely some kind of cheap particle board or press board. The second bench is very old, we got it from a garage sale, it may actually be plywood. I am thinking of just getting a sheet of 3/4 inch plywood, cutting two pieces (one for each bench) and screwing it down to the existing top. That will give me some more stability, I think.

Newer bench:
DSCN5940.jpg


Older bench:
DSCN5943.jpg


Any other ideas?
Thanks,
Jeff
 
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NitroPress

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Jul 26, 2011
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Aurora, CO
I have pretty much always used disposable workbench toppers - usually something like half-inch particle board, cut to fit and routed smooth on the top edge. A few years wear and tear and replace it - always clean, always smooth and you don't have to worry about permanent damage no matter what you're doing. Paint or sealer or other purtifying stuff optional. :)
 
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J

jeffmoss26

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Cleveland, Ohio
That's not a bad idea. As you can see, young Jeff was not kind to the workbenches.
I've become a bit more wise nowadays!
 
M

mlittle29

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Jul 20, 2011
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Oklahoma City
I use 3/4" Particle Board or Cabinet grade plywood as a base. Then I get some Hardwood Flooring remainants (like maple or even harder wood) at a flooring store and glue or nail the wood flooring to the top.

Best part is you have a really great looking top with minimal investment...and you can change it easily in a few years when it gets all beat up and ugly.
 
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kvanderploeg

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Aug 23, 2010
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Location
Minooka, IL
Replace the tops, or if they're still decent, cover the tops with a piece of masonite hardboard. It's $9 a sheet and easily replaceable.

Kent
 
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NWwoods

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Aug 29, 2011
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Location
Vancouver, WA
VCT tile top...
(had extra from floor)
...course the only way this top will take abuse is with some Epoxy Resin coatings over the tiles.:bounce:
 

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Falcon67

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Jun 11, 2009
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Merkel, TX
My newer Craftsman benches came with a 1 1/4" MDF top. After painting, they are holding up well. One hosted a lathe for a while and the other is for transmission work. At the least, I'd do a double 3/4 ply on each with maybe a masonite top. FWIW - my old shop had an 8' bench with a 3/4 ply top, painted gray. It held up very well over 12 years to all kinds of abuse. My new shop big bench will be a double 3/4 glued for extra stiffness and strength. Easy to replace.
 
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K'ledgeBldr

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Aug 22, 2011
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Location
Johns Creek, GA
I'm a particle board guy myself. I use cheap Thompson's water seal on it after it installed to reduce swelling from liquids. When it gets to the point of "rode hard, put away wet" or "to Hell and back" just replace the top piece with a fresh one.

Oh, and I think you could use a few more phones in your shop!
 
7

7echo

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Feb 16, 2008
Messages
432
Location
coastal Georgia
Hi Jeff,

Your name rang a bell, then I see the images with all the telco stuff and realize I have seen you on the phone system board. (ha, rang a bell) That is a good place to read up on phone and wiring stuff.

The Ikea hardwood tops are pretty affordable. Also, saw something similar in a Lumber Liquidators store, they are stocking hard wood counter tops. Don't remember if they were over priced or not, but they would be great for a work bench. Other good options have been mentioned. Hard to get something cheaper than a 3/4 pc of ply wood, skin it with a pc of masonite that you can toss when it gets trashed. The solid core doors make good tops, sometimes you can get them cheap. If you have a friend that works maint/repair in a hospital ask them about the doors. Those doors are wide and solid, would make a heavy duty bench top.

Here is an image you might appreciate...
 

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J

jeffmoss26

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Cleveland, Ohio
Can I post that in 'ugly work' over there? I'm sure many others would appreciate it.
Thanks for all the ideas, keep them coming!
 
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scw1991

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Mar 28, 2010
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506
Several years ago I bit the bullet and built a workbench consisting of 2x4 framed construction. I used structural type sheet metal hanger brackets to mount the legs and used a 3/4" plywood sub base and finished it off with a 14ga galvanized sheet metal top. That piece of sheet metal only cost me $150 and measured 30" deep x 121" long. I had the sheet metal fabricater bend a 3/4" lip on the front edge to prevent any sharp exposed sheet metal edges. Total cost for the bench was about $225. That galvanized sheet metal top will outlast me.
 
D

dilley340

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Joined
Feb 17, 2008
Messages
6
Location
Michigan
I have three very old Craftsman workbenches that came with the particle board tops too. I went to Home Depot and picked up a 5' and 10' section of in-stock kitchen counter-top on the cheap... less than $5.00 a linear foot. Be sure to get one that has the vertical back splash built in. That keeps things from falling behind the bench.

Because these tops are also made of particle board, you really don't have to fasten them to your benches. The weight of the tops holds them in place even when using the vise and grinder.

I've had these tops for over twenty years now and they still look great, although dated with the butcher block pattern!

Here's a few images...

Garage__Heaters_11.JPG


082703-Frt-End-Ready-To-Install-5.JPG


110803-CRT_Tranny-1.jpg
 
C

CrashTestDummy

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Apr 20, 2009
Messages
232
Falcon67 said:
<SNIP> At the least, I'd do a double 3/4 ply on each with maybe a masonite top. FWIW - my old shop had an 8' bench with a 3/4 ply top, painted gray. It held up very well over 12 years to all kinds of abuse. My new shop big bench will be a double 3/4 glued for extra stiffness and strength. Easy to replace.
Click to expand...

That's exactly what I did. Since I was using pallet racks, I braced the underside with 2X6's that sat in the channels in the rack rail for extra support. So far, so good.

Gene Beaird,
Pearland, Texas
 

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jeffmoss26

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Cleveland, Ohio
Lowe's had 4X8 sheets of 1/8" paneling for less than 10 bucks. Looks more like Lauan to me than masonite but it will work! Gonna have my buddy with a pickup truck help me get it this weekend. Will post the results!
 
R

RTcat

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Apr 4, 2005
Messages
224
Location
South Central Wi
Do you guys find that sometimes your formica counter top is too slippery...say compared to unfinished 1/2 plywood?

In my garage I've got a formica counter top with back splash. I sometimes find that the object I'm working on slides too easily. If I work on that same object up in the shed where the bench there as a plywood top, the same object doesn't "skate" away as I'm working on it.
 
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Lt. Dan

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Sep 8, 2011
Messages
10
about two years ago I sold my Snap-On box, and went to Sears to pick up a Craftsman bench setup... For the top, I ended up going with their Stainless Steel option... I have loved it so far!!! Very stout, and has taken a good bit of abuse...
 
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