Bamboo countertop as a workbench top

[ToolGuyKWC]

Hi all,
About to start my right of passage and build my own workbench for my garage.

Lowes in Canada has a bamboo countertop for a decent price ($164.00 CDN)
Specs: 6 feet 3 inches x 2 feet 1½ inches x 1½ inches @ ~64 lbs.

I imagine it'll need some sealing, but figured I' ask the experts here on whether this is a 'good idea' or should i just go with a plywood top torsion box.

I'm planning on building the base with simpson strong-ties (i like the look of them) and 2x4s for legs, doubled at the base to put castors on.

Anyone using bamboo as a workbench top, and anything I should know before pulling the trigger and lugging this thing into my car?

 

[jimreed2160]

Well the price seems good and a bonus is that it is probably really flat. Its suitability really depends on what kind of work you intend to do. The bamboo may not hold up well to liquids and/or pounding. If it is a general purpose workbench, you might consider cladding it with Masonite or even thin plywood or paneling. That would give you a sacrificial top with a solid base. And then you could change out the top whenever it gets too beat up. Good luck with your bench.

 

[Stuart in MN]

If it is a general purpose workbench, you might consider cladding it with Masonite or even thin plywood or paneling. That would give you a sacrificial top with a solid base. And then you could change out the top whenever it gets too beat up.

I too like using Masonite / tempered hardboard as the top surface. It's cheap, has a hard surface and is reasonably resistant to oil and grease (you can slap on a coat of varnish for extra protection if you like) and when it gets too beat up you simply toss it and get another piece. Just hold it down in the corners and a few other places with some small screws or brad nails.

 

[exmaxima1]

I have a large bamboo cutting board and it seems really durable (and heavy). Bamboo would likely be a very good workbench top.

 

[Marctrees]

What are the main uses of this top?

A bench used for ****** rebuilding, heavy hammering, etc will be very different than one used to build small picture frames.

If your uses are lighter, general homeowner stuff, a big box interior door slab works great w/o having to build a torsion box.

If you are concerned about punching through the skin, then overlay w "Tempered Hardboard" denser grade "Masonite" as said above.

6'8" long, 24- 36 widths in 2" increments.... under $40.

Marc

 

[bushmechanic]

The best Gladiator benches come with bamboo tops.

They'll take more of a beating than anything else you can buy easily.

That's excluding metal, obviously.

Bamboo is an ideal material for workbenches. Just check how it's made. If it's solid all the way through, just brace the bottom side and hammer away. It'll dent, but so will anything else.

Bamboo is easy to clean, as well, and it's pretty darn resistant to spills.

 

[KenC]

Heavy, harder than oak by a lot. It will dent, but only from hard hits. I'd use it bare, or with a clear finish, for woodwork or clean parts assembly. For disassembly of dirty stuff or exposure to liquids, protect it with tempered grade hardboard (Masonite or similar).

 

[pi_guy]

You will find it slowly deteriorates into a fine yellow powder.
One reason is the bamboo is harvested in 5 years not at seven which is the optimum for life span of bamboo made products.
Some will come with bamboo mites since the only way of killing them is a very toxic process involving bromide. Which is not legal in USA. Had a sealed plastic bag with knife a fork and spoon made from bamboo, 5 years later it was still sealed but all powder with bug casing in it.
They are really soft and will damage easy.
Some of the bonding process gives off toxic chemicals there was a major floor supplier that was sued for cancer causing bamboo flooring.

former president of a chapter of The American Bamboo society

 

[ShaunieG]

Thanks for this! I want to learn more about bamboo counters and this thread gave me hindsight. I was thinking of maybe creating a workboard to protect our kitchen counters and workbench in the shed. Like a detachable counter. Would that be okay? Also, what do you do to maintain them?

 

[pcmeiners]

Regular bambo is hard but not super hard around white oak, sugar maple, sweet birch, ash, 1380 on the Janka scale, Fossilized strand bamboo is uber hard in the >4000 range. that would make a great counter, IF you can cut it.

Janka Scale | Hardwood Flooring Hardness Guide

The Janka Scale is the industry standard wood hardness scale. Learn how bamboo flooring hardness compares to other hardwoods. Then, you can find the hardest bamboo flooring on the market!

www.ambientbp.com

 

[ShaunieG]

Regular bambo is hard but not super hard around white oak, sugar maple, sweet birch, ash, 1380 on the Janka scale, Fossilized strand bamboo is uber hard in the >4000 range. that would make a great counter, IF you can cut it.

Janka Scale | Hardwood Flooring Hardness Guide

The Janka Scale is the industry standard wood hardness scale. Learn how bamboo flooring hardness compares to other hardwoods. Then, you can find the hardest bamboo flooring on the market!

www.ambientbp.com

Would a chainsaw suffice? Or a cutting machine? I was thinking of ordering a big bamboo slab before cutting it to our desired size.

 

[Metal-Marc]

Would a chainsaw suffice? Or a cutting machine? I was thinking of ordering a big bamboo slab before cutting it to our desired size.

You can perform miracles with a chainsaw aka a cutting machine.

edit. If you cut a countertop with a chainsaw, please make a video.

 

[pcmeiners]

Actually if you get a carbide tipped chain you might be able to do it, but this stuff dulls carbide
Kidding aside you need a high count tipped blade circular saw blade to cut this stuff.

 

[csp]

A bamboo slab vs a plywood torsion box? Seems like quite the different uses/applications to use as alternatives.

 

[ShaunieG]

Actually if you get a carbide tipped chain you might be able to do it, but this stuff dulls carbide
Kidding aside you need a high count tipped blade circular saw blade to cut this stuff.

what do you mean this stuff? as in bamboo?

 

[ShaunieG]

You can perform miracles with a chainsaw aka a cutting machine.

edit. If you cut a countertop with a chainsaw, please make a video.

my dad will be the one cutting and Ill just assist him so i won't be able to record it :/

 

[rlwhitetr3b]

what do you mean this stuff? as in bamboo?

I think he means the Fossilized bamboo. We have that as flooring in our great room. It is sold as the hardest flooring made. We had some workers try to cut it with a normal saw blade, that did not go well. LOL

 

[Matt018888]

Bamboo is more of a fiber like grass than traditional hardwood. Bamboo can be less stable in humid conditions. And unfortunately it's only as hard as the resin used to manufacturer it. White oak in my opinion is around the same hardness and much more beautiful.

 

[Daniel Dudley]

I'd rate it a bit tougher than butcher block, if it is decent. I wouldn't hesitate to use it, if it is a relative bargain. All the bamboo composite I have used has been pretty nice product.

 

[pcmeiners]

"White oak in my opinion is around the same hardness and much more beautiful."

Fossilized bamboo is 3-4 times harder than white oak.

 

[csp]

"White oak in my opinion is around the same hardness and much more beautiful."

Fossilized bamboo is 3-4 times harder than white oak.

Just for relevance, is the bamboo countertop from Lowes that the OP is considering Fossilized bamboo?

 

[ShaunieG]

I think he means the Fossilized bamboo. We have that as flooring in our great room. It is sold as the hardest flooring made. We had some workers try to cut it with a normal saw blade, that did not go well. LOL

Sorry, what do you mean by fossilized bamboo? How different is it from regular bamboo?

 

[rlwhitetr3b]

Learning the difference between Standard Bamboo and Fossilized Bamboo Flooring

 

[Forgottonia]

The Professor always used bamboo workbenches.