Not long moved into a new house and more importantly new garage! As funds are somewhat tight Im just knocking up a quick workbench out of industrial dexion racking (before the wallpapering table karks it!) to see me through until I can find the time and funds to mig up a bench in meaty box section. What do people recommend as a material for the work top, it’s about 8ft by 2ft, and I will end up using it on the final bench.

Kitchen work top (might find on in a skip if your lucky)..

[Edited on 25/11/09 by Bluemoon]

Sheet of 3/4" ply, cut lengthways and use both layers!

Hugh

A 2nd vote for kitchen worktop. Got mine for free, and it works a treat!

Ask B&Q for any offcuts they have floating around, or look on Freecycle....

If you want a 'hard' surface then kitchen worktop is good. If you are going to be doing any hammer work on it you might be better off with mdf. I personally prefer mdf for a car-related workbench.

In either case, getting two pieces and fixing them back to back is good, increase the weight and helps to keep them flat if you get the natural curves that most sheet materials have to oppose each other

Or a wooden top or kitched worktop, with a thin sheet of steel on top.

I used the ex dining room table until i broke it

I used four 6"x2" structural joists lengthways side by side (24" deep worktop) and then a piece of MDF on top to provide the surface. I think I might add a steel surface on top of that to make it a bit more durable. My frame is also made from a combination of 6x2 and 4x2 beams tied together with triangulation etc.

Very heavy and very strong!

Get a thin piece of hardboard or steel on top of whatever you decide upon... that way once its covered in oil, paint, cack and full of holes you can bin it and start again

I prefer to use a cheap firedoor. It's thick and solid, and cheaper than a worktop.

Then cover with hardboard for a working surface.

Another vote for kitchen worktop, we redid our kitchen recently and so i got mine for free.