Can I use these for workbench supports?

[MN BIANCHI]

I was able to aquire a number of laundry towers for next to nothing. They are 13-1/2" wide, 24" deep and 37" high. They have three ball bearing drawers. I was thinking about using them back to back for a large island style workbench. I would like to cover them with a wood top perhaps 4' x 8'.
Does anybody know who sells reasonably priced workbench tops? I thought somebody mentioned Ikea? This is what they look like.

 

[Torque1st]

4'X8' sheet of 3/4" plywood, trimmed and covered with your materials of choice???

 

[Rory Bellows]

Those cabinets look pretty nice. Yes, Ikea is supposed to have decent priced butcher block tops. I don't have an Ikea in my area but they have the goods supposedly. You could use plywood or judging by your picture (shop) you could make your own top with biscuits and 2 x 10's or whatever you have. A planer would most likely be needed for show off quality top. Plus lots of time and frustation. If you have an IKea nearby check their first.

 

[Rory Bellows]

Ikea doesn't have 4 x 8' feet tops. You would need two or three of their tops.

 

[7echo]

Laminate 2 sheets of 3/4 ply, this will make a sturdy sub base that will take some beating without flexing too much. Skin the top with a 4 x 8 sheet of masonite. Do not glue the masonite, just screw it down. When it is funky and dirty in 6 weeks or 6 months or whenever you can flip it or toss it. We do that and it is nice to have a new, clean surface when needed. If you want it to look better add some hard wood banding around the edges.

 

[7echo]

Re-reading, I don't think 4 x 8 will work with only a 2' base.

The Ikea butcher blocks are affordable if you don't have to pay to ship, but you want something wider than a standard kitchen cabinet top you will need to biscuit or dowel them together.

 

[Jack Olsen]

I looked into the Ikea tops. They're 1-1/2" thick, 24" deep, and available in different lengths. They don't have maple available, but have Birch, Beech and Oak. If I'm remembering right, the 5' length was $129.

I almost pulled the trigger for an adjustable-height workbench I'm going to build. But then I found a 2" Maple top on ebay that was 30" deep and local to me -- and less than the Ikea top.

And is it just me, or do those cabinets look like computer towers?

 

[7echo]

HA! They do look like towers!

 

[MN BIANCHI]

I looked into the Ikea tops. They're 1-1/2" thick, 24" deep, and available in different lengths. They don't have maple available, but have Birch, Beech and Oak. If I'm remembering right, the 5' length was $129.

I almost pulled the trigger for an adjustable-height workbench I'm going to build. But then I found a 2" Maple top on ebay that was 30" deep and local to me -- and less than the Ikea top.

And is it just me, or do those cabinets look like computer towers?

The cabinets were marketed by Whirlpool and Maytag for use between a washer & dryer. They are 13-1/2" wide and approx 24" deep. They seem to be nice and solid. They normally retail for $250.00 -$300.00. They cost me ONE dollar each.

 

[D.J.]

Man What a Deal! You could always sell them and make enough to buy the workbench of your dreams. Nice look!
________
******* girl Cams

 

[russlaferrera]

My suggestion ids to use a 3/4 sheet of plywood and cover it with strip oak flooring.

 

[38Chevy454]

Laminate 2 sheets of 3/4 ply, this will make a sturdy sub base that will take some beating without flexing too much. Skin the top with a 4 x 8 sheet of masonite. Do not glue the masonite, just screw it down. When it is funky and dirty in 6 weeks or 6 months or whenever you can flip it or toss it. We do that and it is nice to have a new, clean surface when needed. If you want it to look better add some hard wood banding around the edges.

This is my suggestion also. The masonite makes a nice hard work surface. Put several coats of clear finish on the masonite and it will not soak up the oils and fluids you will get on it. Two sheets of 3/4 plywood is going to be nice and solid.

 

[Torque1st]

I suggested the one sheet of 3/4" because I was thinking two sheets of plywood would be overkill. I don't think those towers would take huge impact loads.

 

[7echo]

One other advantage of 2 sheets is it gives you a lot more material to screw to or bolt through.

 

[BWS]

Heres another vote for finishing with masonite.