194 Re: What's the best benchtop material?
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This article is from the Woodworking FAQ Collection 5, by multiple authors.
194 Re: What's the best benchtop material?
From: John McLellan <j-mac@ix.netcom.com> 27 Apr 1995
The best is a relative question. I use 3/4 plywood covered with
1/4" Masonite tacked or spot glued down.When the top get to messed
up I just take off the old Masonite and replace it with a new piece.
From: Rick Schuman <rrsumn@yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 29 Jul 2007 07:59:03 -0700 (PDT)
First, figure out what you want to make. Then, decide whether or not
you actually need a bench. Build a bench to meet the need. If
another need arises, modify the first bench or build a second bench.
I have three so far. a good starter bench can be made from a 1 3/4"
solid core door blank with attached trestles attached. (this is
actually the last bench I built) Mine has a nice shelf for storage and
I had it anchored to the wall for a time. You could also use a
kitchen cabinet base.
From: Kerry Maletsky <kmaletsky@aol.com> 2 May 1995
While both maple and yellow pine have deficiencies, especially when
cut into 1x3 strips, there is a source of such woods that makes
them very attractive for workbenches.
It turns out that bowling alleys are made of maple (first third,
for really lousy bowlers like myself that loft the ball a bit too
much) and yellow pine for the last two thirds. They are 1.5"-2"
thick and the individual pieces of wood are about 1" wide. The
lanes have a finite life and are replaced after awhile.Talk it up
around your favorite lane to find someone who does that sort of
thing and try to buy a used one. When I was working in NJ at AT&T,
the woodworking club there bought the entire lot of alleys.
I got an 8' section of maple. It took a bit of work to make it
usable, since they tend to get a bit bowed in the middle and are
oiled/finished rather heavily. I basically took it apart and rebuilt
it with new straight supports, sanded it and then oiled it. It
weighs a few hundred pounds, is as solid as a rock, and only cost
me about $50.
If nothing else, it's a great conversation piece...
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