What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

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?

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

What type of work will be done on your bench?

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

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

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

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

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.

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

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.

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

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.

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

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

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

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

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

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.

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

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.

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

Stainless steel!

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

I can;t believe you overlooked a crypto benchtop.

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

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

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

Good point.

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

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

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

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

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.

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

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

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

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:

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

roflmfao :clapping:

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

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:

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

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.

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

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

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

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

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

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.

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

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.

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

Very EXPENSIVE, I use to sell it...

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

Only Canadimex plywood warps...

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

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...

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

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.

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

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

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

CHINA !!!

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

And I thought you had basic education.


CANADA.:clapping::OWNED:

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

Messsico!!

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

: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:

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

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

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

Stainless>all

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

i'm always right...

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

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

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

Chicks dig plywood....

Re: What's makes the best Workbench Top?
 

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