Question - workbenchs

[jlaird]

The top of my work bench is two feet wide and 12 feet long it is 1/2 inch partical board and 1/2 inch plywood on top of that.

The questions is what is a good top for a workbench for home use. Carpet, Alum.??????????? Or should I mix and match surfaces for differing projects.

 

[Jim_Gruber]

Jack,

Solid Core old wooden door.
Absolutely fabulous. Varnished. Looks bad take the sander to it and revarnish.

 

[Silverghost]

Jack, I second what Jim said. Scout out some yard/garage sales, etc. Also look at second hand places - used stainless counter tops, doors, etc. I am always on look out when passing alleys here in Chicago. Find lots of good stuff if you're alert and can't beat the price!

 

[Trevor Jessie]

My dad used to have a bench made from an old bowling alley lane. It was brilliant.

 

[weewillie]

mine is 3 2x10's

 

[tony barnhill]

Mine are 3/4" plywood.

 

[jlaird]

Is it prudent to put a sealer on the plywood. Yes?

 

[tony barnhill]

Why? IF the workbench is used its gonna get dirty & the sealer will get pitted & cracked.

 

[jlaird]

Heh, that's why it has plywood over the partical board, it was nasty.

 

[Jim_Gruber]

Yeah but the way Jack's Garage looks I can see him out there now with the orbital sander and laying down a couple of coats of gloss spar varnish every few years. Hey the other thought is that Oak Butcher Block Countertops are available in a variety of sizes. When I priced cost per sq ft was not that out of line. Can come in a variety of thicknesses, length and width.

 

[Hap Waldrop]

Jack I put sheetmetal over mine, I've put aluminum sheet on them before too, but I prefer steel sheetmetal I like a metal top, it's the only true work surface that will last, you beat and bang on it and will ask for more. You should be able to go to your local sheetmetal fab shop, give them you demsions, get a 90 bend upwards on the backside of about 6" or so for a backspalsh if you will, and about 2-3" dwonward on the front to give you nice protected front edge. You'll love it, and never get a splinter on it

Don't worry about steel sheetmetal rusing, wipe it down with WD40 or similar, and if you work on it, you'll never have to worry about it rusting, one of my stell sheetmetial top work benches I built about 20 years ago, and it still looks great, well other than being cluttered.

 

[jlaird]

That's a great idea, will look into that.

 

[Silverghost]

Used restaurant equipment places will often have stainless steel counter tops.

 

[Brian_James]

I made mine out of 20 2x4's on edge put together with screws and liquid nails. The plan, three years ago, was to use an electric plainer to get a nice smooth surface. That was put on hold when I decided that I did not want to spend the money on the plainer. A few weeks ago I was at Lowe's looking at a plainer on the clearance table marked down to $60 from $120 when a manager came by and marked it down to $17.50. Going to have to clean the shop so I can finish it up now.

Brian

 

[PC]

My dad used to have a bench made from an old bowling alley lane. It was brilliant.

I second that.

Had a cabinetmaker buddy who used to buy new bowling lane flooring to make heavy-duty countertops. They were a lot cheaper than solid wood counters from his normal sources and were way more rugged.


PC.

 

[spritenut]

All mine are double 3/4 plywood with light colored formica on them.
Clean up anything with lacquer thinner or windex and you can find that tiny screw on the light color.
Of course I work with a counter top guy and when I did my upstairs shop, I got what ever he had laying around, Almond, not too bad.
I also just have him stop over every couple of years and re-laminate them with whatever he needs to get rid of.

 

[58Custom]

I used some laminate countertop, a discounted section from the local builder's store. Works great and cleans up easy. The slight rise at the edge hepls keep spills under control. Resistant to the most noxious cleaners that I use.

 

[jlaird]

Oh, I like that Tom. Guess I best start looking around.

 

[Hap Waldrop]

I have a bench in the engine assembly room that uses laminate counter top, workd nice, but all the tough work is done before i get into there, I still prefer my metal top benches for heavy duty work. Here's one of my wooden, metal top benhes, I used for my head and rod machinery, this thing is a hoss, that dang valve grinder take two men on a good day to pick it up.

 

[Hap Waldrop]

Here's a shot of the laminate counter top in the engine assembly room.