Workbench Top??? Recommendations?

[Aeroman]

Fellas, I have a simple wooden workbench that needs a new top. I currently have one of those particle board tops which don't hold up too well when a vice is bolted down. It's about 3/4" - 1" thick. See image (black painted top - stuff is on top of it):




What kind of wood (berch, pine, etc?) would you recommend? Thickness recommendation? The dimensions are 3' x 6', just in case you needed that info. Thanks a bunch!!!

 

[SteveU]

I have a 10' workbench with 4x4 legs, 2x10 top with a 73lb wilton vise on it, doesn't move a bit. I would go with 2x material for the top & add 1/8" or 1/4" hardboard which could be replaced when it gets too beat up. Regular pine 2x material would work fine. If you build one with 4x4 legs & run a 2x8 or 2x10 around the top & 2x6 around the bottom it is very solid but very heavy. Once I got mine built it was all me & a buddy could do to move it into place. Good thing is that it don't budge no matter what you do to it. Could get fancy & build it out of IPE but would need a forklift to move it.

 

[banzaitoyota]

Look at the workbench thread. I made my own top from a bottom layer of plywood/layer of MDF topped with 1/8" Hardboard

 

[peterj]

I built my work bench out of 3/4" birch plywood and was going to do the top out of plywood too until I came across a guy who was doing a demo on a bowling alley in Sanford NC. He gave me all the bowling lanes I could haul off in my truck and trailer that Saturday. We managed three lanes. I used enough to do a 32'x3' work surface. Ended giving the rest to friends. It will take a ton of abuse and to refinish I used a floor sander and polyurathane to refinish.

 

[bmwpower]

If wood, go with maple butcherblock.
Check out grizzly.com or globalindustrial.com for pricing.

 

[Z27]

I posted this once before I think. I went out and bought cheap wood parquet flooring and the appropriate glue. Glued the flooring down and edged with a strip of nice 1X2 brad nailed around the edge to clean up the edge. It probable been there ten years and I use big hammers from time to time. It still looks nice. Just has a coat of floor wax on it. Cost was 20-25 bucks. Light colored wood works best for this.

 

[Deacon]

I have been looking at a high density MDF that s about 1.5" thick. My cabinetmaker uses this material for his work tables. It is smooth to the touch, extremely wear resistant and if you need to, it is much cheaper than plywood or other materials of equal thickness.

Since it is solid you can router and ease the edges or one of my ideas is to make small indented areas for screws/pieces/parts as I work on something. Imagine 4 4x4" squares about 1/2" deep.

Deacon

 

[Stephenw]

Ikea wood counter tops...

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40091673

 

[mulepackin]

I used hand picked 2x4s which I jointed and planed, then face glued them together so my bench is about 3 1/4" thick. Then screwed 1/4" double tempered hardboard down to that. Edged it with 3/4" oak. Have another that is doubled 3/4" industrial part. board, with the same top surface. I intend to edge it with 1/8" x 2" angle iron.

 

[daddylama]

Ikea wood counter tops...

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40091673

that's what i use... they hold up very well to tons of abuse... and are priced right!

 

[Jononon]

that's what i use... they hold up very well to tons of abuse... and are priced right!

Seconded. Well worth asking if they have any dings or scratches. I paid £30 ($60) for a length, that wasn't fit for some fussy person's kitchen, which lists at £110

 

[andyj]

We have used 18mm 3/4" birch ply, fixed to frame from underside. corners to front of bench had the corners chamfered by running planner along them. Feels very strong but is supported at 600mm centres from bemch framing.

Will finish with 3 coats of polyurathene varnish..
like the idea of Steve U about throw away hardboard cover to top

 

[tigmusky]

I like whats free. commercial doors wood or metal. hardwood flooring makes a cool top. heres a pic of my reloading room i made a hardwood floor bench a door top and another hardwood bench. good luck daye

 

[Coach James]

My main workbench is made fom 2x4's and 2x6's. The top is 2x6's. All pine. Nice and heavy. Has worked well.

Coach

 

[grillmasterp]

solid core wood doors

 

[mhoffm911]

While I am not a mechanic, I have often thought about using a irregular sized kitchen countertop (laminated). You can buy these cheap at some of the bargain stores. Something like that would work for my needs, since I am not going to be doing any heavy wrenching on it.

 

[Freejack]

If you have a Lumber Liquidators nearby, they regularly offer maple countertops for a reasonable price.

Jake

 

[brad d]

I do too much welding/grinding/hammer'n for wood tops... i use 1/4" thick mild steel.

 

[kbs2244]

Once you have the structural side done, think about a throw away top layer.
I like white tops to be able to see and find things.
My bench top is a combo of 2x6 and 2x4 laid flat and the top surface is a piece of white Marlite bathroom paneling. It stands up to all the oils, gas, and stuff except acetone.
When it does get too scratched up, I just replace it.
Since the bench top is less then the 4x8 foot size the panels come in, I can get the damaged sheets at the local HD for about $2.00
How long it will last will depend on the kind of work you do and how much of it. My current one has been there 4 years with normal DIY home mechanical and auto work.
I got the idea from the local DC motor repair shop. All his work benches are done this way. He replaces them all every Holiday shut down, even if they really don’t need it. Kind of an extra gift to the guys.
A new, clean, white place to work.

 

[5wndwcpe]

Once you have the structural side done, think about a throw away top layer.
I like white tops to be able to see and find things.
My bench top is a combo of 2x6 and 2x4 laid flat and the top surface is a piece of white Marlite bathroom paneling. It stands up to all the oils, gas, and stuff except acetone.
When it does get too scratched up, I just replace it.
Since the bench top is less then the 4x8 foot size the panels come in, I can get the damaged sheets at the local HD for about $2.00
How long it will last will depend on the kind of work you do and how much of it. My current one has been there 4 years with normal DIY home mechanical and auto work.
I got the idea from the local DC motor repair shop. All his work benches are done this way. He replaces them all every Holiday shut down, even if they really don’t need it. Kind of an extra gift to the guys.
A new, clean, white place to work.

Got any pics ?

 

[joa65]

I used Laminate flooring over 2x8's. The bench is about 16 feet long and the cost was very low. I completed it about 4 years ago and it is holding up really well. My original thought was that the top would be cheap and easy to replace...I haven't needed to replace it though. I edged it with aluminum. It is very tough. Clean up is easy too.

 

[WolverineCoatings]

I've got several things that I have used:

1" Melamine board... Very Hard... Very durable. I made a table for my radial arm saw with that and 2x6s...

I've also got several benches made with standard kitchen countertop... That works pretty good as well...

My best looking bench was made with 4x4s, plywood top... 2x6s... stained... and then I decopauged the top... The decopauge provides a flat surface and it repairable...

We don't normally make the decopauge, but if any of you want some we could throw some together in a few minutes for cheap...

 

[Vicegrip]

I will second the melamine. it is good stuff and inexpensive to boot. I used to have all my work benches covered with 3/4 melamine. Only got rid of them when going to steel or stainless steel tops. Stands up to all kinds of abuse including many solvents.

 

[Dead Skunk]

One or two layers of 3/4 plywood,depending on the end use, and then cover it with a piece of smooth top conveyor belting. I've had the same piece of conveyor belt on mine for at least 12 years. The stuff's nearly indestructible and is easily wiped clean with some solvent or gasoline.
Warren

 

[v8garage]

My best looking bench was made with 4x4s, plywood top... 2x6s... stained... and then I decopauged the top... The decopauge provides a flat surface and it repairable...

We don't normally make the decopauge, but if any of you want some we could throw some together in a few minutes for cheap...[/QUOTE]

What exactly do you mean? Pics?

 

[kbs2244]

Sorry; 5wndwcpe.
But that work bench is about 1200 miles from me right now.
So I can't take any PICS.
Except for my top idea, it is not very unusual.
Just think of any of the ones shown here with a white top.

 

[JOHNMAN]

My tops had been 3/4" plywood for the last 14 years. About a year ago, I decided to finish the tops with 10GA stainless. I am just getting around to putting them on.

I bought the material and had it bent up over a year ago (prices have gone up significantly since then, and I couldn't afford them today).

Here is a couple pictures of the first bench that I did. The bench is 16ft long and about 24" deep.

I have a few other benches to complete. I like them.

 

[Uncle Buck]

My tops had been 3/4" plywood for the last 14 years. About a year ago, I decided to finish the tops with 10GA stainless. I am just getting around to putting them on.

I bought the material and had it bent up over a year ago (prices have gone up significantly since then, and I couldn't afford them today).

Here is a couple pictures of the first bench that I did. The bench is 16ft long and about 24" deep.

I have a few other benches to complete. I like them.

I like the way your benches look too, as well as your old window fan! I have an old monster that looks almost identical in my shop window!

 

[JOHNMAN]

I like the way your benches look too, as well as your old window fan! I have an old monster that looks almost identical in my shop window!

You didn't mention the mess all over the floor. HA!

This is the first time that the bench has been clean since it was built.

I'm trying to keep them more clear from junk now.

On New Years Day, I installed (2) more tops. I have the final (2) tops to install on my last 16' bench and I will be done.

 

[JOHNMAN]

Here are the other (2) tops installed on New Years Day.

My resolution is to keep my garage cleaner, and do more work out there ..........

 

[Uncle Buck]

Here are the other (2) tops installed on New Years Day.

My resolution is to keep my garage cleaner, and do more work out there ..........

Now that you have shown the lathe share the gory details such as what brand, how well tooled etc.... just the facts!

 

[JOHNMAN]

Now that you have shown the lathe share the gory details such as what brand, how well tooled etc.... just the facts!

It is an old LOGAN. It has an inch based lead screw and cuts good inch-based threads. I have cut some keyways with it as well.

I'm no machinist.

This was given to me (free) by my boss who never opened the crate (he got it from his father many years ago when he passed away).

That's nearly all the facts that I know.

What part of Kansas? I'm just a bit north of KC.

 

[sethbriancollins]

decoupage ... thats a good idea..
i was looking for somthing cool to cover my tool cabinets with..
i can see it now....

...

 

[g17jimmy]

A guy I know just hooked me up with elevator doors for workbench tops. These things are heavy duty!

 

[Uncle Buck]

A guy I know just hooked me up with elevator doors for workbench tops. These things are heavy duty!

You ain't just a woofin there!

 

[Kruz]

Lots of great ideas here...thank all.

Has anyone had experience with DuraTop?
http://www.glgaragesystems.com/duratop-workbench-24d.htm

 

[WH0DAMAN]

solid core wood doors

2nd on this. I picked up a couple of them for $30.00 each from a used building material store. Make sure they are solid core though. Awesome bench tops.

 

[WH0DAMAN]

Here is a link to the workbench I made with the doors.

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=9386

 

[brad d]

mine are 1/4" mild steel.. but i do a lot of welding and grinding

 

[jake00]

I used hardwood flooring on all 3 of mine