Workbench Top Material

[Scott Gibbons]

I am going to go with either MDF or Particleboard 4 layers laminated with a final 1/4 replaceable layer of hardy board for my workbench top. The over all dimensions will be 40x96. I have read conflicting information between which would be a better product. To fasten to the top to my steel legs, I will countersink bolts that will be hidden by the hardy board. So this leaves me with 2 questions

1. MDF or Particleboard
2. What kind of glue should I use for lamination


Thanks!

[Jerome Hanby]

I would go with MDF. Maybe use the Titebond laminate glue (the light brown stuff). Think that would give you more open time and very similar bonding to TB-II or TB-III

[Scott Gibbons]

Thanks Jerome!

[John Thompson]

+1 on MDF...

[Scott Gibbons]

MDF if is, off to lowes in the AM! thanks guys

[Scott Gibbons]

I picked up 5 sheets, 4 for the top and 1 for a box/stringer and 1 gallon of the brown titebond. Man that MDF is heavy

[Larry Nall]

Did you mean hardboard for the replaceable top or Hardie Board? Big difference.

[Scott Gibbons]

I think i mean Hardie Board. The stuff is dark brown and about 1/4 thick

[Paul Atkins]

Oh, Masonite! I thought Hardie board was concrete. Maybe ask the Hardy boys. Hardy Har Har. Boy, is it late or what?

[Tony Bilello]

MDF was a wise choice. It is easier on you and the tools. To me, dust is much easier top deal with than sharp chips, besides the MDF is way way stronger.

[ROY DICK]

Build the apron up 1/4" and drop the masonite in. If you need to replace it latter, lift it up and drop in a new one.

Roy

[Scott Gibbons]

Yes masonite thats the stuff.

[Lee Koepke]

I also wiped down a thin coat of paste wax on my masonite, keeps it smooth and clean looking!

[Wayne Hendrix]

Build the apron up 1/4" and drop the masonite in. If you need to replace it latter, lift it up and drop in a new one.

Roy
I agree that's what mine is set up to do except its two layers of plywood not MDF.

[Lex Boegen]

Hardboard (typical brand = Masonite) is a good choice. You can also get "tempered hardboard" which is moisture-resistant. I've seen 4x8 sheets of tempered hardboard at the BORG which has a smooth top layer with a white finish on it. It literally is only a couple of dollars more than standard hardboard, and I think the white finish would make cleaning up glue spills, etc. a lot easier. You could also use a dry erase marker on it for quick notes--it would in effect be a large whiteboard.

[Scott Gibbons]

Ok I have to ask, I keep seeing this tossed around... What is "The BORG"?

I have never seen the white top, but that would be great!

[Lex Boegen]

Ok I have to ask, I keep seeing this tossed around... What is "The BORG"?

I have never seen the white top, but that would be great!

BORG = Big Orange Retail Giant (aka Home Depot, Lowes, etc.)

[joe milana]

If utilized, how do bench dog holes hold up in MDF?

[Scott Gibbons]

BORG = Big Orange Retail Giant (aka Home Depot, Lowes, etc.)

LOL thank you Lex. Here I thought I was missing some new wood working store.

[ken gibbs]

Hardie Board or Hardie Plank is concrete. I strongly advise making sure it is not Hardie Plank/concrete. I built my new shop out of Hardie panels. Great stuff but not for bench tops.

[Scott Gibbons]

I am going to use masonite, I hope i can find the white topped stuff locally. All I have found so far is brown.

[Jerome Hanby]

I picked up 5 sheets, 4 for the top and 1 for a box/stringer and 1 gallon of the brown titebond. Man that MDF is heavy

Man, you are not lying! A sheet of MDF is about the limit of my sheet good manipulation ability.

[Scott Gibbons]

I was beat by the time I got all five of them into the garage. Not only are they heavy, but I was trying to be careful not to damage the sheets.

[Louis Brandt]

What thickness MDF? I don't think that you mentioned that.

[Scott Gibbons]

thickenss is 3/4"

[Mike Weaver]

I am going to use masonite, I hope i can find the white topped stuff locally. All I have found so far is brown.I don't think you'll find white masonite. The white faced is melamine as far as I know - it's a thin veneered particleboard and inferior for a benchtop, IMHO.

BTW, if you drill a finger-sized hole up through your 3/4" thick layers in one corner of your bench, but NOT through your masonite top, you can poke your finger up through the MDF layers to pop off the sacrificial top when it's tine to replace it. :D

Good Luck & post pics.
-Mike

[Mike Davin]

I used MDF for my bench and a few coats of floor poly. Works great. Every few years I hit it with my ROS rough it up and reapply the poly.

[Dale Sandford]

+1 on the poly. I used polyurethane and a little wax on my MDF table saw outfeed table.

If you're using wood glue to laminate sheets of MDF the glue penetrates better if you very lightly sand the face of the MDF.

-- Dale

[Russ Filtz]

LOL thank you Lex. Here I thought I was missing some new wood working store.

Not a Star Trek fan I take it? The BORG were a cybernetic race that tried to assimilate everyone they met into a hive-mind like existence. So any large, soulless entity that threatens to suck you in and never let you (or your money) go is a "BORG"! I like that thought better than the official one, keeps you on your guard when in such places.

[Scott Gibbons]

+1 on the poly. I used polyurethane and a little wax on my MDF table saw outfeed table.

If you're using wood glue to laminate sheets of MDF the glue penetrates better if you very lightly sand the face of the MDF.

-- Dale

Thanks Dale,
I was wondering if I should rought it up a bit

[Brian Williamson]

I have a very similar bench to the one you are considering. It's 3 layers of 3/4" MDF with a skin of Masonite. I used TB1 for gluing the MDF and used contact cement to attach the Masonite skin. I wax the Masonite periodically to keep stuff from sticking to it. I also drilled 3/4" holes on a 6" grid over the entire surface.

The base is made of hemlock 4x4's for the legs and feet and 2x4's for the stretchers and aprons. I pinned it all together with ipe pins and tusks.

The MDF is very heavy and has held up well for the 7+ years I have had the bench. The whole thing weighs a TON and is stable, which is great for all the hand planing I do.

I think you'll be happy with your choice.

[Greg Portland]

Man that MDF is heavyIf you ever have to get 1"+ Appleply then bring a (big) friend. One item that I like using when buying or moving sheet goods is the Gorilla Gripper. Other panel lift options work but I like the portability of the Gripper. It is expensive but it works well on 1/2"-1"+ material. For thinner sheets just pick the stuff up :-).