Suggestions for shed workbench top

[mangocrazy]

Like it says, really. I have a shed that is part old brick wash-house (late 19th century) and part two brick houses knocked together to form a cosy but useable space. The ex-wash house houses the motorbike, some shelving and a parts washer and the knocked together houses will be a small workspace. I'm intending to build a fitted workbench (i.e. bolted to 3 walls) along the longest wall (just over 1.7 metres long), and am wondering what to use as a workbench top. The bench will have a 4" vice bolted to it and (once I've finished renovating it) a Mercury Startrite pillar drill.

I'm thinking that the easiest solution would be a post-formed laminate worktop off cut, but would be very interested to hear any other suggestions.

 

[Screwdriver]

Laminate worktops are horrible to work on. They are too hard, chip easily and are slippery. My favourite top for general bikeshop work is plywood followed by steel. Ideally, you have both.

 

[gaz1]

scaffold boards are a good substitute for a worktop

 

[stuvy]

Same here scaff boards are cheap and durable

 

[mangocrazy]

Laminate worktops are horrible to work on. They are too hard, chip easily and are slippery. My favourite top for general bikeshop work is plywood followed by steel. Ideally, you have both.

Hmmm - double thickness 18mm or 22mm birch ply would be a decent surface. Could cover part of it with steel for a welding area.

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

2x9 (or whatever size works best for your depth) topped with ply for a smooth finish.

Or scaf boards topped with ply.

 

[mangocrazy]

scaffold boards are a good substitute for a worktop

The only problem I'd see with that would be uneveness where the boards butted up. Cheap and strong though.

 

[brightspark]

The only problem I'd see with that would be uneveness where the boards butted up. Cheap and strong though.

top it off with some thin stainless steel sheet

 

[dcocks]

I have one bench with 6mm steel plate on 1 side a ply on the other, works well

 

[eLuSiVeMiTe]

Overkill but always have a surplus of decent timber and was planning on sitting a rong fu mill drill on it

 

[mangocrazy]

Just searched on ebay for scaffold boards, and new boards (38mm X 225mm X 1800mm) are a fiver each in Doncaster. Sounds about right. Top that off with some decent ply and we're good to go, I think.

 

[8ob]

Just searched on ebay for scaffold boards, and new boards (38mm X 225mm X 1800mm) are a fiver each in Doncaster. Sounds about right. Top that off with some decent ply and we're good to go, I think.

HD lino makes for a good worktop covering, easy wipedown and you wont be chasing your work about the bench.

Bob

 

[mangocrazy]

HD lino makes for a good worktop covering, easy wipedown and you wont be chasing your work about the bench.

Bob

I've always worked on the principle that old engine oil is a preservative and beetle repellent, but take your point about lino...

 

[Wallace]

Choice depends in part what you will be working with, any spillages that may occur and your working practices. Laminate kitchen work tops are cheap, often free and good for ease of cleaning but they’re not much good for welding on. Steel isn’t much good for electrical work and bare wood absorbs oil and attracts dirt so not great as a clean assembly area.

 

[bigegg]

in addition to other suggestions: chipboard flooring, as used for industrial mezzanine floors.
it's basically 38mm laminate worktop, without the laminate.

 

[Screwdriver]

Overkill but always have a surplus of decent timber and was planning on sitting a rong fu mill drill on it


View attachment 165129 View attachment 165130

Nothing too strong ever broke.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I have a double layer, glued and screwed together, workbench top made from moisture resistant flooring chipboard. Intention, when I get roundtuit, is to clad this with galv sheet.

 

[Seadog]

Scaffold board. But make sue it's dry before planing.

 

[Rig Pig]

I've got kitchen worktop on my benches as it was free! It's ok as long as you fit reinforcement under the vice and a benefit is it's wipe clean.

 

[winchman]

We have a local bloke who has the off cuts of resin impregnated ply used for truck trailer floors, cheap and very good, I then cover it with an off cut of industrial vinyl flooring and used second hand ally angle around the edge