Butcherblock Workbench Surface Source?

[floyd]

I want to add a new workbench top for a cabinet/chest I just bought. I've been looking at Maple butcher block tops online. Has anyone ever done this? Where should I look for a local source? I'd like to avoid shippiing. Size I want is 48 x 25, 1 3/4" thick.

Thanks

 

[jakeb]

ikea...if you have one around. They sell kitchen counter tops in all sizes for not all that much.

 

[chammyman]

I was going to say ikea, I have a dining table thats damaged, it was damaged last year. Anyway its like a butcher block, strips of real wood bonded together, I'm getting another box later on today and the dining table is going to become its new work surface, the mrs doesn't know yet

 

[floyd]

Sweet idea! I have an Ikea about 30 minutes from me.

 

[Mike in Ohio]

If you have a place near you that works on semi trailers the floors are the same type of material just not as pretty. You might be able to get longer lengths if you wanted. Used from a place that scraps trailers might be an idea too. Good luck, Mike

 

[jakeb]

yup... $50 When you go also check the scratch and dent first. A lot of times they will have those counter tops with a small mess up, bad corner or something. They also sell nice cabinets and will have those in the scratch and dent as well. I have been thinking of getting some for the garage....

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40057754 - 25" x 49.5

 

[fourfeathers]

If you have a place near you that works on semi trailers the floors are the same type of material just not as pretty. You might be able to get longer lengths if you wanted. Used from a place that scraps trailers might be an idea too. Good luck, Mike

Truck flooring is 1-1/8 to 1-3/8 thick oak in 12" width X whatever length or 5" or 7" wide apitong (avoid for toolbox use, it is water resistant, but splintery as hell). The maple butcher block is much nicer, but the truck flooring is great as a countertop, since it comes in 48-53' lengths and they cut to your wishes. Have not bought any lately, but figure $8 a linear foot for the pressed oak. You will need to seal it to make it real nice.

 

[Stephenw]

Here's my IKEA counter top work bench...

 

[Stuey]

+1 for ikea's countertop blocks.

 

[Floorguy]

Lumber liquidators is also a great place to find butcher block tops. Good prices.

 

[Vinko]

If you have a place near you that works on semi trailers the floors are the same type of material just not as pretty. You might be able to get longer lengths if you wanted. Used from a place that scraps trailers might be an idea too. Good luck, Mike

That can be a good idea as well. Esp. the stuff they use for shipping containers. The stuff for truck beds I found to be over $100+ a sheet. Maybe $150 or so. But really strong stuff.

 

[Bevis]

Lumber liquidators is also a great place to find butcher block tops. Good prices.

hmmm, never thought about that.

 

[sam 8]

I saw a nice 6' butcher block workbench at Sam's for under $200. I think it was $159.00 actually. Metal legs and leveling ft.
I am fighting off buying it, it looks fairly well built.

 

[gbcamp72]

Grizzly has a great selection of Butcher Block tops. try their web site
http://www.grizzly.com/products/category.aspx?key=360100

Glenn

 

[ron in sc]

I've been looking at Maple butcher block tops online. Has anyone ever done this?

They may or may not hold up depending on how you treat them. In the past I've been able to ruin the nice appearance of one in about a week. I finally put metal over the top of my current butcher block table.

 

[kvom]

I built a bench out of a old table given to us as a gift. After a few years of oil, grinding, sawing, etc., it's holding up great although not great looking.

 

[Defender Chassis]

http://stores.ebay.com/Baird-Brothers-Fine-Hardwoods_W0QQssPageNameZstrkQ3amefsxQ3asstQQtZkm

 

[dfndr]

I'm going to use one of the Ikea butcherblock tops. What is best to put on it? Of course, it's a work bench so no high gloss varnish beautiful stuff-but something to seal it and some protection. What do you suggest?

 

[nissan_crawler]

Why not high gloss varnish?

I redo this about once every two years (and it still looks far better after 2 years than most peoples tops).

6 coats of spar varnish, used professionally almost every day. there's not reason it can't look good, too.

If you're not going to make it look good, what's the point in buying the damn thing in the first place? You might was well glue some 2x4's together or screw a couple layers of plywood down.

 

[dfndr]

Nissan Crawler, That is truley beautiful. Just not what I want. I just want something to keep oil from soaking in and that puts a bit of a finish on it. Maybe an oiled finish?

 

[nissan_crawler]

An oiled finish won't stop oil from soaking in. That's like a lake stopping rain. Your options are pretty limited to urethane, or some sort of epoxy/resin, unless I'm severely mistaken.

 

[buening]

Do you have the patience to make your own? I think I will be planning to make my own, but I still need to source some hard maple or similar.

 

[qdvuu]

You might also try a high school or community college shop class. See if you could get the instructor to have a student make one for you as a class project, and also you could make a donation to the school (tax deductible!).

 

[rcleaver]

I saw Norm Abram build one on the New Yankee Workshop. He used end grain maple for the longest lasting and easiest to maintain top.

http://www.newyankee.com/getproduct.php?510

 

[Frank Elson]

I've never been in an Ikea.
Seen a lot of them, but never been in one.
They don't sell tools... ?

 

[ron in sc]

Put metal over the butcherblock, you can abuse the heck out of it and it should last pretty much forever.

[

 

[edboyles]

Today on Craigslist I bought 3 sheets of 1/8" aluminum for $100. The sheets were 3' X 4' to use on top of the benchtop and toolbox.

 

[justinmc]

Put metal over the butcherblock, you can abuse the heck out of it and it should last pretty much forever.

Ron is that just SS sheet? Got some specs on that? Thickness/etc? It almost looks like thin SS sheet that you bent the edges over and then hit with a flap wheel on the surface? Just curious... looks pretty good!

 

[ron in sc]

Ron is that just SS sheet? Got some specs on that? Thickness/etc? It almost looks like thin SS sheet that you bent the edges over and then hit with a flap wheel on the surface? Just curious... looks pretty good!

That workbench top was made from a 4' x 8' sheet of 1/2" 6061 T6 structural aircraft aluminum. It is holding up very well.


Below is a photo of another countertop in my garage it’s 16 gauge stainless steel glued to 1 ½ MDF board, counter is about 66" wide.

Edited:
Did not use a flapper wheel. I use a disc that is used for polishing on my grinder. The discs look like scotch brite pads, but are many many times more abrasive and longer lasting.

 

[chammyman]

I've never been in an Ikea.
Seen a lot of them, but never been in one.
They don't sell tools... ?

they do actually, the homeowners tool kit, it was £3 when i was in the other week