Butcher block work bench top?

[mad german]

I have a small work shop that requires a work bench to be set up as needed. I have a chance to get this for free; yes…free.
I’m curious to see what you guys think of for this as a work bench (supported by two saw horses). I’d mount a vice on the corner, or make it removable (not sure yet).
This top is 1.5” thick. I could beef it up with a layer of 3/4” plywood if necessary.
So what do you guys think of this for a work bench top as o described?

Hampton Bay 6 ft. L x 39 in. D Unfinished Hevea Butcher Block Island Countertop in With Standard Edge THD_HBU_0003 - The Home Depot

Set up an eye-catching kitchen centerpiece with this Hampton Bay unfinished hevea butcher block island countertop. Abundant and sustainable, hevea hardwood offers an ecologically friendly and reliably

www.homedepot.com

 

[Jeff Ivers]

You haven't already acquired it? Go for it , before somebody else nabs it!

 

[mad german]

You haven't already acquired it? Go for it , before somebody else nabs it!

My buddy is holding it for me. I’m thinking of getting it, definitely.

 

[RamVet]

My bench and router table have very similar butcher block tops made with the same wood. Plenty stout and no need to add additional material to stiffen it up. Put a good finish (I used polyurethane) and you have a top that works well, looks good and will last a long time.

 

[mad german]

One thing that’s troubling is my buddy says it’s not 1.5” thick like what’s advertised; it’s 1”. That worked for them, but he know I want it for a work bench, and didn’t want me to think it was thicker than it really it.
Would this be a deal killer? I suppose I could always add a layer of birch plywood to it.

 

[MattGarage]

Free is a good price if it's in nice condition. It really depends on how you're going to use it? I take it you won't be beating the snot out of it with fabrication? Hammering on a 6 inch vise? If it's typical use then it should be darn fine and hold up to a 4 or 5 inch vise with medium level hammering/bending/etc. Put it on a nice, stable platform and connect it reliability and it should be a winner. Sawhorses may be fine but you can get better use of space with a nice 2x4 frame.

I'd use boiled linseed oil or similar to protect it.

 

[xanth]

Can't beat the price. We used those butcher blocks as countertops in our pantry, and found them surprisingly soft overall, dented and dinged pretty easily. For free, I'd go for it, but if I had to pay for it, not sure I'd use one for a workbench top.

 

[My Old Tools]

My benches have IKEA beech butcher block tops. They have worked just fine.

 

[HenryAZ]

I suppose I could always add a layer of birch plywood to it.

If you do that, screw the plywood to the BB, only. No glue. Even though the BB is very stable, gluing a piece of plywood to the bottom could cause the BB to bow, or otherwise warp.

 

[beemerphile]

You can add the support layer underneath if you think it is needed. Also, for finish, I like to just rub in some mineral oil two or three times per year.

 

[Zebedeewesty]

When we moved into our house the PO had left a load of stuff in the garage that i assume they couldn't be bothered to take to the tip.
One useful item was a 10ft length of butchers block type worktop, so i repurposed it into a 5ft long workbench top. About 45mm thick (1.5") and has proved solid enough for anything i can throw at it. Its got 6x2 supports under it.

 

[mad german]

Can't beat the price. We used those butcher blocks as countertops in our pantry, and found them surprisingly soft overall, dented and dinged pretty easily. For free, I'd go for it, but if I had to pay for it, not sure I'd use one for a workbench top.

That’s what I’m concerned with, it denting and getting dinged up from being too soft. I don’t think this is an actual hardwood like oak or maple.

 

[beemerphile]

That's just patina. You can have a sacrificial piece of plywood that you lay down when you are going get really brutal on something.

 

[mikedodge]

Should hold up fine for most stuff just don't pound on it if you're worried.
That's pretty much what those Husky bench tool boxes have as tops.

 

[tool_scrounge]

if anyone is buying Ikea butcher block tops, make sure the one you get is flat. I have seen some that are pretty warped.

 

[CraigStu]

I'd go for it for free. I used the 1.5 inch version for my old 1940s metal lathe. Works great. You just have to go w/ 'patina' like beemerphile says. That also makes using mineral oil or linseed oil to coat it. A mat vs gloss finish makes dents etc much less noticeable.

 

[PoorUB]

I have a small work shop that requires a work bench to be set up as needed. I have a chance to get this for free; yes…free.

Depends on how you will be using the bench. If you fix chainsaws and lawn mowers, no. If you do wood working, definitely a yes. Or if you do small hobbyist work, soldering, assembling RC cars or planes, sure.

I have a butcher block top in my shop. It has a chunk of Formica counter top laying over it. I work on small engines and chainsaws. That BB would be soaked with gasoline and engine oil.

 

[Jeff Ivers]

That’s what I’m concerned with, it denting and getting dinged up from being too soft. I don’t think this is an actual hardwood like oak or maple.

Without knowing what usage you plan, it is hard to evaluate your concerns - since you spoke of having it supported by saw horses, that implies light usage. For years, I had two work benches with 3/4" plywood tops and they handled everything I threw at them. Eventually, I moved the two workbenches together and did a 3/4" overlay spanning both benches. Then much later, I added a layer of thin metal over that because I wanted something that spilled paint would not soak into. I love the look of the butcher block and would not hesitate a second longer. If you plan on standing on the middle of the workbench, put a piece of inexpensive 3/4" plywood under the butcher block and use a very few screws from the bottom to prevent slippage.

 

[duneslider]

I have the cheap Ikea tops that are just particle board with a butcher block veneer and they are fine for my purposes, I can pound on them pretty good and they are just fine. I am sure people doing really heavy work would have issues but they have been fine for everything I do.

 

[ZRX61]

Why are we now referring to laminate as butcher-block??

 

[oldmachinenut]

I used a salvaged maple butcher block on my bench. I sanded it and applied 6 or 7 coats of Minwax tung-oil letting it soak in/dry between coats. It turned out really nice, is durable and easy to touch up if ever needed.

 

[PoorUB]

Why are we now referring to laminate as butcher-block??

Where did you see that?

 

[ZRX61]

Where did you see that?

Butcher block has vertical grain.

 

[yhprum]

Maybe have a ply wood base and make the top so you can flip it over if it gets to banged up in service.

 

[PoorUB]

Butcher block has vertical grain.

Ah, I get what you are saying. They have been selling this style and calling it butcher block for years. I am not sure I would call it laminate either. Most places I know of call it edge grain.

 

[mad german]

Well, I looked at the countertop and it was pretty flimsy. It was about 7/8” thick and not very heavy. But….a free commercial wood door popped up on Craigslist. So I grabbed it.
This is a beast! It’s about 75-100 pounds (I’m guessing; it’s a damn heavy door). It’s 7’ x 3’ x 1-3/4” thick. I’ll remove all the hardware, of course.

 

[Torque&Recoil]

Hevea is the botanical name for "rubber tree". 99% of the world's natural rubber comes from this plant. No idea how hard the wood is... My personal workbench is made from a piece of maple bowling alley, which is pretty awesome.

 

[Marvin Berry]

A family member just used these (different sizes, but same counter top) as a "temporary" counter top in their new kitchen.

They're good, solid pieces, and I think they'd make GREAT work bench tops. They oiled theirs, and they look fantastic. Besides, if you beat it up, all you'll need to do is run a sander over it to bring it back to new.

 

[Mike65]

Go grab it, it will make a nice worktable top. I have a wood top on my garage workbench & I love it.

 

[rburke65]

I wouldn’t worry about denting the bench top. For one it’s free…..if 25 years from now replace it

 

[Mrgreen617]

That’s what I’m concerned with, it denting and getting dinged up from being too soft. I don’t think this is an actual hardwood like oak or maple.

Most of them are birch if coming from big box store. Birch oak and maple are the three recommended. Maple being the most dense. Birch second since it’s tighter grain than oak but oak also is very good too

 

[Norcal]

Most of them are birch if coming from big box store. Birch oak and maple are the three recommended. Maple being the most dense. Birch second since it’s tighter grain than oak but oak also is very good too

I concur, bought one from HD, & are birch, wish I had access to a wide belt sander.


I have a couple of tops that are 1 1/8" plywood with 3/8" MDF stapled to it, used a water based polyurethane finish on it, the MDF I got as free 4'X12' sheets that were used to ship aluminum.

 

[nadogail]

Remembering the Butcher Blocks in the Butcher Shops of my youth, I don’t think I would want one those for a workbench in my shop.

Because of the knife and cleaver cuts and the wear from scrubbing with the wire brushes commonly used to remove the blood stains.

 

[jonesg]

That’s what I’m concerned with, it denting and getting dinged up from being too soft. I don’t think this is an actual hardwood like oak or maple.

its not maple, expect it to dent if used to work on.
butcher block is maple, everything else is fake ****.
It'll probably be alright if backed up with good plywood.

 

[Mrgreen617]

I concur, bought one from HD, & are birch, wish I had access to a wide belt sander.


I have a couple of tops that are 1 1/8" plywood with 3/8" MDF stapled to it, used a water based polyurethane finish on it, the MDF I got as free 4'X12' sheets that were used to ship aluminum.

Very nice!! Free is the best way to get anything lol!