What's makes the best Workbench Top?

[CO Hummer]

MDF or Plywood?

As I finish my new garage setup - I'm finally building the 12" and 6" workbenches. I have base cabinets, but I need to put on a bench top. I'm thinking about a 3/4" plywood, covered by 3/4" MDF. Whaddya think?

[SnakeH2]

What type of work will be done on your bench?

Assuming you will protect it...what will you seal it with?

[RubHer Yellow Ducky]

MDF or Plywood?

As I finish my new garage setup - I'm finally building the 12" and 6" workbenches. I have base cabinets, but I need to put on a bench top. I'm thinking about a 3/4" plywood, covered by 3/4" MDF. Whaddya think?

Use plywood and screw it down...

Plywood is more forgiving then MDF and with it being screwed down you can replace it easy as needed

[CO Hummer]

I'd recommend post form countertops from Home Depot.

What is that? I walked around Home Depot last night and don't see what you're talking about. Are you talking about the pre-finished (laminated) countertops? The problem there is that they are all multicolored and pretty dark which make finding screws and small stuff difficult.

[BKLYNH2]

3/4" plywood then put 3/16" "eucaboard" that's what the brand is at home depot. Its a mdf board sealed on one side. Its a good surface for alot of types of projects and if it gets to messed up you can pull it off and get a new sheet for very little.

[CO Hummer]

What type of work will be done on your bench?

Assuming you will protect it...what will you seal it with?

I'll do all sorts of things on it, not a necessarily a specific purpose.

If it's plywood I will stain and poly it. If it's MDF, not sure.

[Adam in CO]

MDF or Plywood?

As I finish my new garage setup - I'm finally building the 12" and 6" workbenches. I have base cabinets, but I need to put on a bench top. I'm thinking about a 3/4" plywood, covered by 3/4" MDF. Whaddya think?

For teh metalworking you've been interested in recently, I would think a steel top would be better. Don't you tink?

[SnakeH2]

I'll do all sorts of things on it, not a necessarily a specific purpose.

If it's plywood I will stain and poly it. If it's MDF, not sure.

That's what I did and it worked great. Sanded between many coats and it was very smoth and real easy for clean up.

[timgco]

stain and poly is the way to go. Also get some aluminum trim for the front and sides. THe edges of the bench seem to get dinged up and/or splintered...esp. if you're throwing heavier metal or other things on it.

[ssgharkness020147]

Do you know of anywhere that you could get some old bowling alley planks? If you want a tough bench top, alley planks are where its at.

[Hunner]

Stainless steel!

[timgco]

I can;t believe you overlooked a crypto benchtop.

[CO Hummer]

For teh metalworking you've been interested in recently, I would think a steel top would be better. Don't you tink?

I already built two movable, 1/4 thick top, metal work tables. This is primarily for everything else.

[CO Hummer]

I can;t believe you overlooked a crypto benchtop.

Good point.

However, I do have a welcome mat that is 100% crypto. It's great for scraping your dirty boots on.

[CO Hummer]

Do you know of anywhere that you could get some old bowling alley planks? If you want a tough bench top, alley planks are where its at.

I haven't heard that one before. I have heard of guys using regular hardwood flooring that was left over from installs.

[bparker]

I wouldnt use MDF at all. It falls apart with the slighest bit of moisture from a cold beverage sweat in a short amount of time.

I would go in and buy a gray kitchen counter top cut to the size you need. It will be strong, attractive and water/moisture resistant.

[CO Hummer]

I would go in and buy a gray kitchen counter top cut to the size you need. It will be strong, attractive and water/moisture resistant.

I'm thinking that's what I'm gonna do.

[BKLYNH2]

For crying out loud it's almost 2:00pm already. Make a decision, you could have had it in already, bolted that singer sewing machine to it, and made yourself some panties. :giggling:

[bparker]

roflmfao :clapping:

For crying out loud it's almost 2:00pm already. Make a decision, you could have had it in already, bolted that singer sewing machine to it, and made yourself some panties. :giggling:

[KenP]

MDF or Plywood?

As I finish my new garage setup - I'm finally building the 12" and 6" workbenches. As small as they are, I don't think it matters what you use.:dancingbanana:

I used a prefab counter top from HD. It's got a light grey to white background with colored speckles. It sits on stock white cabinets and is 6' long.:giggling:

[KenP]

Don't forget to buy the end pieces that will finish the counter off. They iron on and then you have to use a trim router to finish it up.

Oh, and don't forget to get the pieces of wood that elevate the counter up, otherwise you won't be able to open the drawers.

[CO Hummer]

For crying out loud it's almost 2:00pm already. Make a decision, you could have had it in already, bolted that singer sewing machine to it, and made yourself some panties. :giggling:

I don't wear panties when I'm in the garage.

[CO Hummer]

Don't forget to buy the end pieces that will finish the counter off. They iron on and then you have to use a trim router to finish it up.

I saw those. That's a waste of money. They are like $16 each.

[BigPoppa1411]

what about the counter top they use in high school lab? That stuff is hard as freaking steel and can take lots of heat and is chemical resistant too.

[DennisAJC]

Plywood over time will warp and bend.

Unprotected MDF will bubble and deform if you spill stuff like thinners on it.

The counter idea sounds good.

Home Depot has that Duracoat that you apply on old counters to make it look like fake marble. 2 part epoxy system. Maybe that will work?

But a nice work bench must have a nice felt fabric or thin industrial carpet on top.

[RubHer Yellow Ducky]

what about the counter top they use in high school lab? That stuff is hard as freaking steel and can take lots of heat and is chemical resistant too.

Very EXPENSIVE, I use to sell it...

[RubHer Yellow Ducky]

Plywood over time will warp and bend.

Unprotected MDF will bubble and deform if you spill stuff like thinners on it.

The counter idea sounds good.

Home Depot has that Duracoat that you apply on old counters to make it look like fake marble. 2 part epoxy system. Maybe that will work?

But a nice work bench must have a nice felt fabric or thin industrial carpet on top.

Only Canadimex plywood warps...

[RubHer Yellow Ducky]

If your "SHOP" is for woodworking, home repairs, non-welding home hobbies plywood is the best...

It allows for screwdrivers, drill bits, chisels, saw blades etc to hit the surface and not do damage to the tool and again as said earlier if the surface starts to look chitty just replace it without spending a fortune.

Do you want the counter to be practical or are you looking for a rich mans ego trip. Its one thing to have pretty kitchen counters that you can sanitise and another to have a shop look like a shop...

[ssgharkness020147]

They are the strongest work bench's I have ever seen. What you do is take the planks the lay them out upright (so the side of the plank is laying up), and then glue/bolt them together. If I did not have work benches from 50+ years ago that have tops on them as tough as nails, alley planks are what I would use.



I haven't heard that one before. I have heard of guys using regular hardwood flooring that was left over from installs.

[DennisAJC]

Only Canadimex plywood warps...
Where do you think 80% of your toothpaste and 60% of your wood come from?:D

[RubHer Yellow Ducky]

Where do you think 80% of your toothpaste and 60% of your wood come from?:D

CHINA !!!

[DennisAJC]

CHINA !!!

And I thought you had basic education.


CANADA.:clapping::OWNED:

[CO Hummer]

Where do you think 80% of your toothpaste and 60% of your wood come from?:D

Messsico!!

[DennisAJC]

Messsico!!

:clapping:


CANADA.:p

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18841928/


But enough about RYD and his fantastic world of wisdom. This is about your table.:jump:

[lennyrebel]

If your "SHOP" is for woodworking, home repairs, non-welding home hobbies plywood is the best...

It allows for screwdrivers, drill bits, chisels, saw blades etc to hit the surface and not do damage to the tool and again as said earlier if the surface starts to look chitty just replace it without spending a fortune.

Do you want the counter to be practical or are you looking for a rich mans ego trip. Its one thing to have pretty kitchen counters that you can sanitise and another to have a shop look like a shop...
HE'S right start with 3/4 plywood and after a few years another 1/4 inch layer and so on. The last time I used 1/4 oak and I always used aluminum edge moldg. Super job and cheap to renew and replace.Regards The Rebel

[DRTYFN]

For teh metalworking you've been interested in recently, I would think a steel top would be better. Don't you tink?

Stainless>all

[RubHer Yellow Ducky]

HE'S right start with 3/4 plywood and after a few years another 1/4 inch layer and so on. The last time I used 1/4 oak and I always used aluminum edge moldg. Super job and cheap to renew and replace.Regards The Rebel

i'm always right...

[CO Hummer]

Stainless>all

Nuh uh. Stainless tops look nice for a while, but they dent too easily.

[SnakeH2]

Chicks dig plywood....

[wpage]

Exterior glue ply 5/8. After it gets nasty add 3/8 toppers... always one side good.

[h2co-pilot]

Chicks dig plywood....

:iagree: :giggling:

[H2 rocks me]

We use maple tops in our machine shop. If they look too bad, just sand them down


http://www.benchdepot.com/NWS/index91d9.html?id=bb-top

[RubHer Yellow Ducky]

:iagree: :giggling:

your vote doesn't count...

YOU "DO" Darth Vader

[ssgharkness020147]

Stainless=expensive.



Stainless>all

[CO Hummer]

We use maple tops in our machine shop. If they look too bad, just sand them down


http://www.benchdepot.com/NWS/index91d9.html?id=bb-top

I looked at butcher block at Lumber Liquidators. It would be $400 just for the larger bench! :eek:

[KenP]

Stainless=expensive.But it's still the best.

[CO Hummer]

But it's still the best.

No way. It looks like crap when you get it full of little dings from the legs of your sewing machine.

[BKLYNH2]

Hey CO check this out!!!
http://woodworker.com/cgi-bin/FULLPRES.exe?PARTNUM=136-295&DF=136-295#136-295

[CO Hummer]

Hey CO check this out!!!
http://woodworker.com/cgi-bin/FULLPRES.exe?PARTNUM=136-295&DF=136-295#136-295

Thank, but I already have the base cabinets. Just need the top.

[h2co-pilot]

CO, here is a link to a thread on this:

http://www.groupsrv.com/hobby/post-28101.html

The MDF, wood and other stuff is all mentioned, there is something bad about having the material too hard- ie: not giving to strikes and vibrations or some crap- I really don't care, I don't think anyone cares, I don't even think your "new" garage is real. The situation is so Snuffleluppagus.

Just hurry up with the decision and the damn pictures.:rant::D

[RubHer Yellow Ducky]

CO, here is a link to a thread on this:

http://www.groupsrv.com/hobby/post-28101.html

The MDF, wood and other stuff is all mentioned, there is something bad about having the material too hard- ie: not giving to strikes and vibrations or some crap- I really don't care, I don't think anyone cares, I don't even think your "new" garage is real. The situation is so Snuffleluppagus.

Just hurry up with the decision and the damn pictures.:rant::D

I said that on page 1...

[BKLYNH2]

I really don't care, I don't think anyone cares, I don't even think your "new" garage is real. The situation is so Snuffleluppagus.

Just hurry up with the decision and the damn pictures.:rant::D
x100 HA HA HA!
Right on CP!
:perfect10s:

[SnakeH2]

I said that on page 1...

Give the duck a prize

[RubHer Yellow Ducky]

Give the duck a prize

6'6", 38D-23-36, Natural Red Head, Rich...

[DennisAJC]

CO, here is a link to a thread on this:

http://www.groupsrv.com/hobby/post-28101.html

The MDF, wood and other stuff is all mentioned, there is something bad about having the material too hard- ie: not giving to strikes and vibrations or some crap- I really don't care, I don't think anyone cares, I don't even think your "new" garage is real. The situation is so Snuffleluppagus.

Just hurry up with the decision and the damn pictures.:rant::D


:clapping:

[timgco]

CO, here is a link to a thread on this:

The situation is so Snuffleluppagus.

Just hurry up with the decision and the damn pictures.:rant::D

Don't be so harsh on the little sewing machine work bench building man!:giggling:

....or we may get to see his "other" side. Oscar the grouch!
:shhh:

Alan's garge is real!!!! I've seen it in person. His wife had the whole idea in teh first place. There is a COHUMMER cell block in the back of the 4th bay where she keeps him when he's bad. It's like a little sweat shop back there. This is where he sews up little dresses, hats, and curtains. He does a really fine job, I just wish teh conditions where a little better for him. :OWNED:

[DennisAJC]

Alan's garage is FAKE!!!!