Top for a workbench

[Mick Annick]

If it’s for clean work, why not a piece of short pile carpet

It’s what I have on my “only clean work bench”

You posh git with your shag pile worktop

 

[James1979]

You posh git with your shag pile worktop

It’s Axminster

Another vote for sacrificial ply. If you have a timber / builders merchant nearby, they often have what they call “cover sheets” which you can scrounge or swap for biscuits

They’re thin ply but good quality, to protect whatever the product is underneath.

I have them on my little bench in the clean bit I use for assembly / engines / whatever’s so the parts don’t get bruised on a steel top.

Edit - my dad had one that had hard rubber sheeting on it which suited his purpose. Small engines and the like.

Not sure what rubber but he’d have got it from work but I remember it was very hard but quite grippy. I think. It was a while back now

 

[Sean]

1.5mm steel for engine building takes a bit of abuse wipes down with brake cleaner for a really clean surface. If thats not needed then hardboard smooth side up, sealed with varnish and replaced every so often.

 

[nickk]

Keep interchangeability,slide and clamp your alternative top on as and when.

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

Mine are all old kitchen worktops...i find with wood oil stains a bit annoying...kitchen tops are wipe clean.

 

[Barking Mat]

In a workshop for me it's generally steel.

At work, our work bench is wood, but it's got a bit of steel along the front, for work.

Then we have two tables, one dirty, made of wood, for generally mechanics, and one clean, for wall and ceiling coverings made of faux leatherette, next to the sewing machine.

Horses for courses.

 

[Dev]

I’ve a roll of brown paper the same width as my bench and use that as a table cloth. draw on it, get paint on it, roll it up and throw away when it gets too messy.

 

[8ob]

If its for mechanical work you cant beat a commercial HD lino over ply for a bench top. It wipes down, very hard wearing and you wont have to chase assemblies around the bench. I bought mine as remnants from a local carpet shop.

Bob

 

[redlig]

If its for mechanical work you cant beat a commercial HD lino over ply for a bench top. It wipes down, very hard wearing and you wont have to chase assemblies around the bench. I bought mine as remnants from a local carpet shop.

Bob

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No names no pack drill but some folk prefer old news papers.

 

[brightspark]

I've formica on my benches, it wipes clean which I think is the main advantage over plywood.

ive got a stout workbench from a butches shop that has a Formica top. its tough and cleans down easy even with grinding dust and oil on it

 

[Turbo]

Another vote for laminate kitchen worktop, the 700mm stuff should fit your bench. If you chat to kitchen fitters you'll usually get a bit of 2nd hand stuff or an offcut or end of line new stuff.

Whatever you do don't get the light grey/silver/brown dappled stuff - its impossible to find screws on it from things you are stripping!

Its also heat resistant, handy if you do any soldering.

 

[addjunkie]

Another vote for laminate kitchen worktop, the 700mm stuff should fit your bench. If you chat to kitchen fitters you'll usually get a bit of 2nd hand stuff or an offcut or end of line new stuff.

Whatever you do don't get the light grey/silver/brown dappled stuff - its impossible to find screws on it from things you are stripping!

Its also heat resistant, handy if you do any soldering.

Normal kitchen work top is a bit narrow back to front. If your going this way breakfast bar top cut down to say 800 deep. Extra depth makes all the difference!

 

[Pigeon_Droppings2]

I got my kitchen offcuts for free...then I built the bench to fit the top. I don't have a lot of space so works for me.

Wood top would be nice if you've got the space to have separate benches for different tasks I reckon.

 

[RWD3M]

PS: Your mark 3 looks seriously covered in dust there.....

Ah, you spotted that then!

It is a work in progress that I will admit, should have been finished by now. I really will get back on it soon, promise!

 

[RWD3M]

Some great suggestions and ideas here and Im very grateful for them all.

I did look into Formica, it is available in 8' x 4 sheets' (that work bench is 2400 x 950) but by 'eck, it's pricey! So I think I'm going to look into industrial lino or sacrificail ply. Oh, and thanks for the tips regarding colour!

I'm fortunate enough to have two work benches and the dirty stuff will be confined to the other one.

 

[Turbo]

Another option is an old fire door, very strong & sturdy but limited to 32" wide. If you're lucky you can get one with laminate facing - I have acquired 2 to replace the top on my 'dirty' workbench.

I'm fortunate enough to have two work benches and the dirty stuff will be confined to the other one.

I made a 'clean' workbench from worktop for electrical work but it does get used for 'dirty' work when the other bench is in use. The beauty of worktop is that its easy to clean again.

 

[Morris]

Another vote for kitchen worktop. I bought some cheap stuff from a local DIY place. I don't have a large workbench as it's an invitation to clutter, so it wasn't expensive.

 

[Morrisman]

You posh git with your shag pile worktop

The carpets cheap enough, but getting the guys out to fit it cost a fortune.

 

[Blobber]

Look around for guys doing mezzanine floors, they use 38/40mm thick boards which are normally denser than kitchen worktops, you can normally get decent sized off cuts for nowt, a coat of varnish/sealer to finish them off

 

[Turbo]

My main workbench is 3@ wide & tbh its too wide. I tend to set things at the back if the bench, intending to put them away later. That later never happens & the stuff builds up until I'm left with a narrow workspace at the front. A narrower bench would force you to keep it tidy all the time.