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How to renovate workbench top?

Hello everyone

I’ve been given a kitchen workbench but the top is water damaged. I want to replace this with a sturdy worktop to use as a workbench in the garage. My questions are

What is the best material to use for the bench top?
Does Bunnings cut the material to shape and size?

Thanks in advance for any advice

Celt

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Nailbag

Hi @celt

I have always been a fan of yellow-tongue flooring as a very affordable and durable workshop benchtop. It comes in a range of manageable sizes too. Though you're unlikely to get it cut exactly as required by Bunnings, if your on a budget, its easily cut with a sharp hand-saw.

Nailbag

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EricL

Hello @celt

Thanks for sharing your question about your workbench. I propose looking at either the Specrite 2200 x 600 x 26mm Timber Multi Use Pine Panel or the 2440 x 1220mm 18mm Plywood Hardwood Marine AA Grade. These would make excellent work benches as they have reasonable toughness and can be repaired if burned or filled if cut accidentally.

I've placed a proposed cutting pattern for the Multi use pine panel just to give you an idea of how it can be cut and joined together. Please note that the store saw will not do precision cuts. You'll need to cut this in your home which is good, as you can verify the size to the cabinetry before you cut it.

Let me call on our experienced members @Dave-1, @Nailbag, @TedBear and @JoeAzza for their recommendations.

If you need further assistance, please let us know.

Eric

workbench 1.png

Nailbag

Hi @celt

Nailbag

Dave-1

Good Evening @celt

I actually like the type of timber top that @EricL has suggested 🙂 I have used it in my Laundry retrofit and have another in my spare room on top of cupboards pretty much like the ones in your pic, Its just temporary until I get around to a proper bench.... Says me from 4ish years ago..

I would go for square cuts to make life easy and @EricL 's cut diagram works well for easy cuts.

I also agree with @Nailbag 's suggestion, yellow tongue flooring can be sturdy and fit for purpose. It depends on the the type of look you like, Id also factor in potential drill holes, file marks and various paint spashes 🙂

Dave

TedBear

Hi @celt the suggestions made so far all make sense, but I am wondering what sort of activities you are going to use the workbench for, given that it based around a kitchen cabinet.

If it is only light work and maybe doing messy things and drilling holes, etc, I suggest just using thick Melamine board and screwing it down such that you can replace it easily when it gets too damaged. That way you can get on with the work that you want to do without needing to be worrying about harming the bench top. If you want to do heavier work, then maybe a kitchen cabinet isn't the best support for it and you'd be better to build a strong base from scratch and fit it with the stronger top as already suggested by others.

It's just another option...

JoeAzza

Hello @celt , I have just been to Bunnings and purchased the timber panel, it’s the same timber, Rubberwood, that is used on the Pinnacle mobile work bench, so I’m assuming it’s hardwearing

https://www.bunnings.com.au/practa-2200-x-600-x-25mm-rubberwood-timber-benchtop_p0149588

celt

Hi EricL

Thanks for your advice and thanks also to the other contributors. The timber is being delivered tomorrow.

celt

Nailbag

I Have an older different version of this workbench @JoeAzza and can confirm the benchtop is very durable.

Nailbag

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