Fancy workbench tops CHEAP!

[Uncle Buck]

Some years ago I worked for a used office equipment store, in the back room we had a hundred or so tops from desks. Many were good, some were damaged. A large number of tops were as much as two inches thick hardwood, oak, walnut etc.. When cleanup time came I hauled a truckload home. Since then I have used and given away many to be used as workbench tops.

All of my shop benches sport a heavy desktop, I have shown them no special treatment so most look rather abused. I do not know if other used office stores keep stacks of old tops like my old employer did or if my store was the exception.

I am sharing this as a tip for those like me who must be creative to create a decent shop. Anyway, if you check around you may find some damaged strong heavy tops free or cheap! I would put the strength of my benchtops up against anything but thick (1/4" or more) steel benches, and best of all, they cost me nothing.

 

[428]

Old desk

If you're talking about the metal desk with heavy wood laminate top, I agree. I took the 1" sq tube legs off, cut some longer 1" tubing to raise it to work bench height and abused it for years.
I finally got a Globe industrial work bench with the heavy top that was longer than the desk but it didn't have drawers. So I took the drawer section off the desk and bolted it under the work bench. The drawers are heavy duty and the right side drawers are usually very deep since it was for files. The middle drawer is wide but thin and three drawers on the left side.
It really made a nice work bench.
I saved the top off the desk to donate to a friends shop. It's a heavy piece and will take some punishment. And they're usuall free since everyone has gone to modular office equipment.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Actually I was speaking of high end, expensive desktops that started life as executive desks many times coming from desks costing several thousand dollars or more! The high end desks usually had/have thick hardwood tops, no steel at all. However, I know the desks of which you speak, and they would provide excellent bench tops as well. Agreed

 

[dodge78]

I grabbed some tops from the university when they refurbished a chemistry lab. They were 4 feet square and about 150 pounds a peice. I grabbed two of them and decided that was enough. I cut them 1 1/2 feet for the back and 2 1/2 for the top. I got some 10 foot pallets with 4x4s to use as legs. I dont think this thing is going to move much.

 

[REFLEXX]

I love Garage Junkies. what a great idea.

I just priced solid doors (30x80)to use for a workbench top. Big $$$ Now I'm gonna visit the office furniture surplus places!



REFLEXX

 

[trovato]

I love Garage Junkies. what a great idea.

I just priced solid doors (30x80)to use for a workbench top. Big $$$ Now I'm gonna visit the office furniture surplus places!



REFLEXX

Problem is you're comparing surplus furniture tops to brand spankin' new perfect solid doors. You have to find a door from the "oops we ordered the wrong one" pile or one that experienced some sort of transportation accident on one side. You get stuff cheapest when it has no value for its original intended purpose.

 

[REFLEXX]

Trovato.

If the desk top has some damage or scratches, it's OK by me. I intend to put a .063" steel top on whatever wood I use for a benchtop. Steel doesn't absorb fluids, and is much harder to damage. If I need a "soft" surface I use 1/8" rubber or that no-slip shelf liner material.

You're right, i hope to find a desk(s) that have been damaged on the sides so i can just rip the tops off.


REFLEXX

 

[JasonK]

I picked up a solid door out of a hospital dumpster while they were remodeling. cut it down to fit my needs. Works great....

 

[Dead Skunk]

I have a home-built bench with 3/4 plywood top covered with used 1/4 inch conveyor belting. Works great and cleans up well with all kinds of **** on it. Only thing I'd do different next time is find a top (per this thread) or double up the plywood. I put double plywood and casters on an old drawing file cabinet to make a mobile work bench.
Warren

 

[dodgecharger-fan]

Another source for doors is the habitat for humanity store.
I'm not how many there are, but if we have one in this town, I can imagine there are many...
They take donated stuff from remodels/surplus/demolition etc and resell it. The proceeds go to fund Habitat projects.

The nice part is that the stuff goes fairly cheap. We needed a door for my dad's shed and scooped a nice solid wood door for $15.

It's a fun place too, because they have bins of stuff that you can sort through - if you're looking for old cabinet hardware, doorknobs, all kinds of stuff.

Oh, and they have full cabinet sets from kitchen renos.. Sometimes they make good shop cabinets and again they are pretty cheap but it really depends on what they have in at the time..