Thread: Workbench top

My first workbench was 2 pieces of normal bunnings18mm ply with a piece of hardboard as the top layer. Worked sweet.

Plywood"s fine as a workbench top.It"s only drawback I have found is it doesn't really supply a laser straight top but hey does that matter

Originally Posted by botesmj1

My first workbench was 2 pieces of normal bunnings18mm ply with a piece of hardboard as the top layer. Worked sweet.

Found a photo of what I meant

I'd go for 32mm MDF (or 2x 16/18mm) over ply, it's flatter and smoother

Formply or melamine will also work

Solid core door.....Bunnings.

Heavy, flat, hardwearing. Used these on my first benches, and 15 years later still going strong.

All the above will do as will particle board flooring. 2 x 18mm and a hardboard top layer that you change out when It gets all chewed up. The bunnings ply these days is unlikely to be flat.
Regards
John

Great thread. I am planning my first "workbench" while waiting to get a shed sorted. I plan on something basic for my first one with the future endevour of a laminated top a LONG way away.

Couple of ideas here better than my first thoughts I am kind of mucking around with an old pallet wood bench my father in law put together years ago. I am modifying it piecemeal as I figure out what I want. Hopefully then I can apply those to future benches etc etc.

Thanks botesmj1. That's pretty much along the lines of what I'm going for. Out of interest, what is the vice you have there and how does it mount?

Also, did you use wood screws for your base or joints?

I was thinking of just going wood screws with 2 x 4s and 4 x 4s (for legs)

Originally Posted by duncada

Thanks botesmj1. That's pretty much along the lines of what I'm going for. Out of interest, what is the vice you have there and how does it mount?

Also, did you use wood screws for your base or joints?

I was thinking of just going wood screws with 2 x 4s and 4 x 4s (for legs)

That was a record 52 or 53. It's their standard bottom mount woodworking vice. You should be able to still buy them new or heaps of 2nd hand ones around.

The frame was screwed together with pocket holes using the Kreg pocket hole jig. No issues with just a few screws as long as you have the middle or bottom shelve screwed in to make the whole structure nice and sturdy.

Originally Posted by duncada

Thanks botesmj1. That's pretty much along the lines of what I'm going for. Out of interest, what is the vice you have there and how does it mount?

Also, did you use wood screws for your base or joints?

I was thinking of just going wood screws with 2 x 4s and 4 x 4s (for legs)

By the way, if you have a tablesaw, make the workbench a few mm shorter than the height of the table saw. That way it makes for a convenient out feed table at the same time.

Lots of opinions here - but the key issue is what you want to do on the bench. If you are just starting out, this will probably be the first of a series of benches as you work out what works best for you.
I started off with plywood bench tops, but once I got into hand tool joinery, I found I needed more mass. The second bench I built had thicker top laminated from construction grade pine. It was better, but not big enough. I am very happy with the third attempt. Bench one lasted a year, bench two 18 months and bench three is rising five.
I have had a little bit of experience with form ply as a top (my Men's Shed has two benches with form ply). I find it far too slippery for almost everything I want to do. I think it would be great for many purposes, but not to my taste at all.

Bruce

For a cheap solid surface, 4 half sheets of 18 mm mdf laminated together is hard to beat. It isn't pretty (or tidy) but it's flat and heavy. A few coats of linseed oil and turps stop water going in and the rounded off top edges don't crumble like square mdf.

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+ for form ply or yellow tongue flooring finished with an appropriate varnish or floor seal product.

For those who find form ply too slippery, a rubber sheet from Clark rubber solves this as well a protecting the surface and provides a good surface which avoids damage to your project.