Building a new workbench need advise

[decableguy2000]

I'm in the process of building a new, heavier workbench. I'm going to use some store bought steel legs and solid core door for a top. Topped off with masonite. What fasteners should I use. Its a pressed wood core.

 

[isb cornbinder]

Your idea for the bench top is a bad one. If you insist on using wood for a top, do yourself a favour and use Baltic birch plywood. Your local Metal Supermarket will cut a piece of sheep steel for the top cover.
https://ezrect.ca/products/workbenches/

 

[Jcrock]

I built several for hobby use. 2x4 or 2x6s, butted edge to edge. If you have time ship lap them. Over that 3/4" ply wood or OSB...glued a screwed. Then 1/4" Masonite over that just screw with 1-1/4" wood screws countersunk. If your over 6' long get some 2x6s on edge underneath for support. This has worked great for me for years.

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[Gotcha640]

If you already have the materials, depends on how much time you want to put in to it.

Edit: steel legs I've seen have some sort of flange to attach to the top, so any screw that the head doesn't go through the hole and isn't going to come out the top should work.

A few pieces of 1x4 around the legs, inside or outside, would stiffen it up a lot. Look at table aprons. Stretchers lower down would add stiffness and a place to build a shelf later.

Masonite could be hot glued at the edges, if you want a metal free (not scratching your projects) surface. Hot glue to be easily cut when ready to replace. Whatever other glue you want if you aren't worried about pulling off to replace, some people stack new over old.

Casters if you're in a tight garage and using for assembly/glue up. If it's just door and legs I assume you aren't mounting a vise or doing heavy work on it.

 

[matt_i]

The first bench I built used 1/2" socket head screws, counterbored into the wood with a 3/4" forstner bit.

Where I differed was to use 3/4" solid T+G maple flooring on top of the solidcore door. So my counterbore was merely a thru hole in the wood. Then I placed a large washer and back-faced the underside of the wood strips to accept the washer which is trapped forevermore.

My Dad made some benches when I was a kid, he drilled thru holes thru the door and marked out the hex heads, and then used a chisel to waste-out the shallow pocket for the hex heads.