Laminate flooring for bench surface . . .
- Thread starter Fogey
- Start date
alinc100
Well-known member
For not much more,possibly even less you can buy 3/4" solid hardwood flooring and glue/nail to a solid core door blank and have a very rigid benchtop.
Check Craigslist or Lumber Liquidators for remnants/leftovers/open box items.
Check Craigslist or Lumber Liquidators for remnants/leftovers/open box items.
marty_p
Well-known member
Have you considered using bamboo? Do yourself a favor and look up TGJ member Allinon72 and his "Single Car Garage in Indianapolis"
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=122963&highlight=garage+indianapolis
You will find a wealth of info there; just click on pages 8 & 9 to view/read Posts #240 - #256 to see his inexpensive masterpiece!
countrytech
Well-known member
I used laminate flooring that I found cheap at Ollie's. So far it's been holding up fine and I really like it. I left mine just floating on plywood and then routered a piece of real wood for the front edge of the bench so the laminate doesn't slide off.
FarmerPete
Well-known member
I know this was a couple months ago, but I was looking at doing something like that myself. My main concern was liquid getting into the surface. Have you had any issues like that? Maybe a few layers of poly to seal it up?
Zeke
Well-known member
Pete, if you have concerns about liquid, you should step up and get something better. LF will tolerate some spillage, but not too much flooding. I disagree with the statement that all LF is cardbord with a photo surface. It comes in various grades. A close out or left overs from a job might get the LF from not much to free.
Cheap paneling is cardboard with a photo of wood on a vinyl surface. I don't even see that **** for sale anymore.
Cheap paneling is cardboard with a photo of wood on a vinyl surface. I don't even see that **** for sale anymore.
countrytech
Well-known member
I've had some spills on it, but I try to wipe them up right away and it looks fine, but I haven't had any major spills. The only issue is a dull spot from super glue that I can't get off the bench after a spill. (I was able to wipe most of it up, but there's a dull patch there)
My biggest issues are scratches from heavy objects with sharp corners and stupid me drilling into it
I've thought about it, it certainly would be durable and cheap and easy to replace. What I wonder about it is if it isn't too hard? If you drop a small screw or part on the bench, would it go flying?
I have laminate in part of my basement. Really tough flooring, stands up to lots of abuse. Not really sure how it would work on a bench top. Suppose it all depends on what type of work you're doing.
I have laminate in part of my basement. Really tough flooring, stands up to lots of abuse. Not really sure how it would work on a bench top. Suppose it all depends on what type of work you're doing.
The type of options for work bench tops are not going to make a difference for that small screw or part... from butcher blocks, stainless sheet over MDF, MDF, to this LF.... won't make a difference. if that's a concern, get a rubber work mat.
FarmerPete
Well-known member
I was thinking of going with a hardwood. Maybe stranded bamboo. I figured it would have the same issues with liquids as LF though. I don't intend to get water, oil, grease, etc spilled on it. I just know that $!(* happens, and I want to give my bench the best chance possible. I just don't feel I can afford to put stainless on.
ckucia
Well-known member
Don't have any pics, but I just put down squares of vct flooring on my workbench.
Cheapest stuff at Home Depot is $.69/square IIRC.
It's 1/8 thick, so I got a strip of 1/8 aluminum and mounted that to the edge.
So far, it's working pretty well. If I mess up a square, I can scraper it out and put down another.
I put down a hardwood panel as a base since the old plywood benchtop was pretty well gouged up.
I liked it so much, that I put it on the particle board shelves on my shelving units.
Cheapest stuff at Home Depot is $.69/square IIRC.
It's 1/8 thick, so I got a strip of 1/8 aluminum and mounted that to the edge.
So far, it's working pretty well. If I mess up a square, I can scraper it out and put down another.
I put down a hardwood panel as a base since the old plywood benchtop was pretty well gouged up.
I liked it so much, that I put it on the particle board shelves on my shelving units.
whatever you use, just put a couple of coats of polyurethane, spar urethane, or the epoxy coating stuff.... i have LF on my floors... not the expensive kind, the 0.99/sq-ft kind.. and my kids spill stuff on it all the time, my cat tips over his water bowl (when he's pissed at me i think) ... and i've even had the cat piss on the floor and we didn't notice it for a few hours.... all we did was wipe it up, spray some cleaner and wipe again. LF isn't as fragile to liquids as some might think. on the other hand, dropping a sharp knife on the floor does leave marks.... but so would most any surface.
as for a workbench surface, i wouldn't put too much thought into it... get what you can afford. it's a "work" bench... i try to keep mine clean and try not to drop heavy sharp objects on it, but through the years, there are the inevitable dings and scraps and even the spots where brake fluid ate into the clearcoat finish on it... but it still works and is serving me just fine.