Need a cheap workbench top

For many years I have had a workbench with a radiata pine frame and the top conists of a couple of particleboard sheets. As I've got more into hand tools especially planing I've discovered that the particleboard has sagged and is not level. I'm now thinking of replacing just the bench top as the bottom frame is fairly solid. I have a bit of construction grade radiata pine around which I could thickness to say an inch and a half and then laminate and then flatten after it is attached. Am I wasting my time with pine, ie is it too soft, will bench dogs hold? Has anyone had success with a pine top?
I will install some sort of tail vise as well so that needs to be taken into calculation.
Haven't seen this done before but as I have a number of smaller pieces of pine I was thinking of running them across the bench rather than parallel with the long edges, I could be way off with all this so please let me know before I get started.

I have three benches made from radiata gluts laminated together. They have served surprisingly well over 10 years so far. Most of my work is in Aust cedar, so benchdogs etc are not used at high tension due to the soft nature of the cedar. Even the chops in my vises are soft cedar.

Thanks, Rusty. By the way how think are your pine slats?

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Originally Posted by Tiger

Thanks, Rusty. By the way how think are your pine slats?

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That should read how thick are the pine slats on your benches?

The gluts start out at 70x35 I dress them to 65x30 so the bench is 30mm thick. I reverse the end grain in each stick when glueing up and they have stayed very flat. The top is coach screwed to the cross rails at each end with three screws per rail. The centre screw at each end is tight holed and the two outer screws are through slotted holes in the rail to allow for expansion and contraction of the top.

Hi Tiger,
The way to do an elcheapo top, is to go to a Glass Shop, & they usually throw out this almost Dressed Timber, in a kind of Pine.
As you say, yes, Laminate it. If you weren't happy with the finished top, you could get some Masonite, & lay on the top.
Most Schools & TAFES do that. You could also have the Top lower in the centre, being a well, so the Tools don't roll off.
That's my 2 cents worth.

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Originally Posted by Tiger

Haven't seen this done before but as I have a number of smaller pieces of pine I was thinking of running them across the bench rather than parallel with the long edges, I could be way off with all this so please let me know before I get started.

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don't do this
If you do you will be relying on the glue bond for the strength of your bench
If the sticks are not long enough, as long as you stagger the joints and cut them square, the glue lam will be pretty strong enough