Opinions about working surface on workbench

[1967coronet]

some place on there you will want some steel for heating , welding , banging and clanging

 

[bm02tj]

My work bench is mis fit form ply 1 3/8 thick high density plywood with 10 gauge steel covering
you can beat and drop on it with no denting

 

[Brandy]

Mine is a 2' x 4' rolling cabinet that's 36" high that I got from a kitchen and bath store. It was a display cabinet for faucets. It is solid formica top with panels that you can lift out that have 6"x8" compartments under them. there are doors under each end with storage and a 6" space that is as big as the top under the top and the compartments. if I really get to pounding on something heavy I have a well worn slab of solid maple from a old school room door that I lay over it. Works well and rolls out of the way in my small garage.

 

[Hemirunner]

Mine is a piece of this...

https://krrb.com/posts/23114-reclaimed-bowling-alley-lane-wood-table-counter

 

[dvw]

I have a buddy who does heating ducts. He made me galvanized coverings for my plywood bench top. He bent the edges on their brake for a finished appearance, even made a 6" back splash. It's been on there 10 years now. Works pretty well. Cheap and easy to wipe off. I also have a 6' foot steel bench for welding and a 6' butcher block wood bench for heavy pounding and forming.
Doug

 

[tallhair]

You guys should post up pics of the stuff you are talking about ... I'll post mine soon

Nothing special but I think it's cool and it was reused out of my brothers garage .. I wish it were longer, deeper, taller. It has a steel top



all the holes were to attach an old style grinder

This is what it looked like before it was cleaned up and painted. Apparently I didn't take a good pic before cleaning and painting it

 

[BumperJack]

If you can locate a quarry or concrete plant locally the rubber conveyer belt makes a supper top. Easy to clean. Won't damage anything you throw on it.

 

[HT413]

If you can locate a quarry or concrete plant locally the rubber conveyer belt makes a supper top. Easy to clean. Won't damage anything you throw on it.

Huh, oh I bet that'd be indestructible.

 

[mopar 3 B]

Unfortunately I have outgrown my work shop and my weather permitting work bench is the flat bed on a D350 dually 9'6" x 7'-6" of steel supports and 2x8 with a Peabody 2000 lbs. Solid steel lift gate on the back where the heavy beating usually occurs. Only draw back is it is weather permitting and by dark it has to be cleaned off and parts and peaces stored where ever a place can be found.

 

[mosquito13]

i went to habitat for humanity and got two solid wood doors glued screwed those together then a sheet of 3/4 roughply and screwed and glued it to the doors and finish with 3/4 ply screwed and glued. lots of cheap poly on it. like a brick .... can bang stuff with a 2lb and stuff on the bench doesn't move.

 

[BumperJack]

Yes, very tough. Just don't get po'd and hit it with a ball peen. Peen marks on the forehead take a while to go away.

 

[miller]

Wow! Hard to believe this thread is still hanging on.

If it ever warms up a little, I've got 2 4'x8' sheets of masonite to cut length-wise, that will top my bench, and the back.
Just want something I can wipe the blood off easily!

A loose 1/4" thick plate of aluminum to bang on, if needed. Got to get all my motor parts off first. And loose beer cans!

 

[Sonny Black]

my wood bench has 6X6 legs & some sheet metal on top = about 1/2 of it....
and a shelf under, also makes for a good brace...:eusa_think:


right now I have so much stuff on it.!!!I need to reorganize, but no time or I am too tired.. :icon_neutral:

 

[Gramp5]

work bench top

I used some rubber conveyor belt works great ,belting comes in different widths and lengths it cleans easy and looks good .

- - - Updated - - -

I used conveyor belting and it works great, it comes in different widths and any length you want. It cleans up good and looks nice.

 

[dvw]

I have several benches. 3x6 steel top, 3x6 thick wood top. Then down the left side of my shop next to the man door there is a 2"x 24' old counter thrown out during a local mall update. My buddy covered it with tin used to make heating ducts. We glued it to the top, bent the front edge down and built a back splash. Cheap and works well.
Doug

 

[glassman]

When I built my bench, I used 2 X 12s for the top. Then covered it with 3/4" plywood. I then took the measurement to my local heating and AC shop and had them make me a top cover using 14 gauge galvanized metal. I had them bend a 1" lip on the front and both ends for added protection for the top. It has been on there for over 20 years and still looks good when ever I clean it off enough to see it.

I have to agree with this method of building a tough work surface. I built one just like it in 1978 and still using it. It has been in 3 garages and we are still doing heads and transmissions on it today. No dents and it wipes up clean enough for our various garage parties.

 

[miller]

Finally going to get some work done on mine. All needed is to move off all the parts.

Wind up two layers of 3/4" plywood, topped with the black masonite, and 2' high backsplash, all 15' long. Should give me plenty of room. Under will be five cabinets with doors, a stack of drawers, and a bookcase for my manuals.
Once it's done, I'll shoot a pic. Be kinda nice to see some light...even some sunlight!

 

[66Satellite47]

You'd probably like a combination of some length of steel surface, mine is 1/8" steel over 2x4 framing with 2x2 angle on the front edge and some length of wood surface, I've used both 2x8's for one and the other used good quality marine 3/4 plywood.

Oooops, just noticed this was an old post.

 

[moparwacko]

How about an "out of the box" thought.......I built the majority of my bench with traditional framing-2x4's with 2 layers of marine plywood with space for shelves underneath, 16' long if I remember right. My carb rebuild section however is made out of - now don't laugh--- one of those commercial bathroom stall dividers. Told ya out of the box. I found it ideal, it's 1 inch thick solid, and stands up to every chemical I've sprayed or spilled on it. It's also a light gray color- good for locating small parts , etc. rebuilt my 833 on it also. Cleans up well too. Also got some kitchen cabinets from a local remodelers for zero$$
one thought tho-- it's never big enough, the bench or the garage
30x32 too small!!!
lol

 

[HT413]

How about an "out of the box" thought....... one of those commercial bathroom stall dividers. Told ya out of the box. I found it ideal, it's 1 inch thick solid, and stands up to every chemical I've sprayed or spilled on it. It's also a light gray color- good for locating small parts , etc. rebuilt my 833 on it also. Cleans up well too.

I think that's genius. My garage is in its final stages of construction and I'm definitely going to go with one of these ideas.