counter tops

[billcole]

What do you guys use for counter tops in your garage? I want to put a lot floor cabinets around most of my garage with a good work surface. I will be putting in around 80' so I want to make the right choice the first time, But I also don't want to have thousands just in tops. Thanks in advance for you suggestions.

 

[rickairmedic]

Bill my workbench tops are made with a 2X6 frame with 3/4" plywood on top . This is ontop of old metal kitchen cabinets by the way . My eventual plan is to cover most of them with galvanised sheetmetal ( I'm in HVAC ) so that metal is easy for me to get my hands on .


Rick

 

[bazzateer]

Depends what you're going to do on those tops.

For me, I fit kitchen counter tops from the local DIY place around £40-50 for a 4m (13')length, 600mm (2')deep, 60mm (2") thick. At that price you can double up for a really strong top.

 

[thdewey]

Eighty Linear feet of cabinets/benches? Wow that's some serious workspace. Careful not to collect clutter on them.

For me cost was the biggest factor. But I still wanted beefy bench for general woodworking and car maintenance but not restorations. My benches are simple ladder frames bolted to the walls and supported by 2x4s and covered with 3/4" plywood and then 1/8" hardboard for a replicable wear surface.

You could then just put doors on the front of them. I left the shelving open underneath.

 

[kb2tha]

Used solid core doors work for me.

 

[Snowbound]

Doubled up 3/4 MDF works for me. It doesn't splinter like plywood and is cheaper.

I do mostly woodworking, but if I have a mechanical job to do, I lay some cardboard down so I don't stain the MDF.

Only downside is that MDF doesn't like moisture and it will swell up if wet.

 

[Plump]

If you have a Habitat for Humanity or other used materials outlet, you can get solid-core doors for pretty cheap. Super strong and you can finish them anyway you like. I also have found that folding tables tops are great for my bar/garage kitchen area. The laminate tops are super easy to clean (paint, grease, beer, sauce).

 

[Tigwldr]

search your local reclaiming and resell wood places. Around here they call them architectural recyclers. Look for hospital doors. They are solid and extremely heavy duty. I can buy them around here for about 25 bucks each and they are 4 ft wide so You can cut them to size.

 

[Jack Olsen]

I just measured, and I've got just over 52 linear feet of bench tops in my 20x21 garage.

The best surface will depend on what you're using the benches for, of course. Four of mine are wood and five of mine are steel. I don't think I would want to get by with just one type of surface.

What are you going to be doing in the shop?

 

[Killer95Stang]

I used laminate office work surfaces from cubicle spaces. They've held up great and since my wife got them for free, I like them even more..

 

[billcole]

I will be doing about 50% woodworking and about 50% typical car maintenance stuff. I already have a 6' by 3' 3/8" steel welding table and a couple of thick maple tables. I will be building cabinets under the counters because I like a clean look.

 

[e-tek]

MDF for all-purpose benches (16x2'), metal for teardown and welding (4') and solid cored door for paint/chemicals (cheap/replacable) (4')

 

[Falcon67]

I have both MDF, galvanized covered MDF and plywood. I painted the MDF and ply with gray garage floor/porch paint. I have done transmission work on the ply bench without issues and covered one MDF bench with galvanized for that specific work. Makes cleanup of trans fluid a little easier. I put two coats of paint on and have had no issues on either MDF or ply with a variety of chemicals, including water spills, beer, cokes, fuel, carb cleaner, engine oil, machine oil, WD-40, trans fluid, etc. Porch paint shines right up with a swipe of Berryman's on a rag LOL.

For welding, I would like a steel top bench on wheels but don't have time right now or a place for a 2x4 mobile bench. I have used a piece of commercial countertop for welding. It's not too white anymore, but it's held up surprisingly well.