What is the best finishing material for a workbench?

Tim Inman: For a shop workbench, I would put on a thinned coat of polyurethane varnish. Not much will stick to poly, and you will certainly have spilled glue, oil, nondescript goo, and other things on the bench over the years. The poly will let you clean up pretty well. A good coat of wax is another option.

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What should I cover my workbench with?

Leftover scraps of laminate flooring make a great workbench surface. Laminate is tough and easy to clean—dried glue or paint scrapes right off. If you fasten the laminate with small nails, you can easily pry it off and replace it every few years.

Is MDF good for a workbench top?

Using what you have at hand you can make any number of different workbenches of various styles and configurations. At the most basic a single thickness of MDF can work as a top for now, with the plan being to beef it up later, and possibly add a sacrificial hardboard surface as well.

How thick should a workbench top be?

The thickness of your bench top needs to be about 75mm. That’s 3” in imperial. I would say that the bench top needs to be a minimum of 63mm or 2 ½” thick if you have stock already or that’s a size you can find.

Can you put new laminate over old laminate countertops?

Q: Can I install plastic laminate over a countertop that’s already covered with existing laminate material? A: Yes, but the existing surface must be even and smooth. Repair any gouges or loose edges and make sure the existing laminate is glued firmly.

What wood should I use for a workbench top?

Hickory and hard maple are both standout hardwoods for this purpose. Both are very tough and are unlikely to crack unless put under a lot of pressure. They’re also quite heavy, meaning that you won’t have much trouble making sure that your bench is heavy enough not to move around.

What type of plywood is best for Workbench top?

MDF is smoother which is good for moving heavy objects around easier. Also doesn’t splinter like plywood.

Plywood is great if you get a bit messy with glue and solvents. Its cheap and easy to replace and you can use the old piece for templates or jigs.

Hardboard (or HDF) usually has a coating that makes it a better work surface.

How to make a workbench with a plywood top?

Building the Workbench Top. Start by cutting all your pieces to the size you want your workbench top to be.

Using Screws. Important note. Don’t use too many screws to attach the layers together!

Finishing the Workbench Top. With the workbench top assembled,it can be attached to whatever base or stand you are using.

How thick should a laminated woodworking bench top be?

7mm Laminate. Sure,you might be able to find an excellent deal on it but we would not recommend buying it.

8mm Laminate. Manufacturers make much higher quality products in the 8mm range.

8mm vs 10mm Laminate. Although 2mm doesn’t sound like much,it works out to 25% which is a significant difference.

10mm vs 12mm Laminate.

How to install a laminate benchtop?

Mark up where the sections of the bench will be joined together. Lay the bench sections in place on top of the cabinets.

Make the holes for the benchtop joiners. Use the Forstner bit to drill holes in the underside of the benchtop.

Prepare the cabinet attachments for the benchtop.

Join the bench sections together.