Worktop Material

[timbim]

I'm looking to replace the surface on the workbench in my garage. It's currently fairly manky MDF, about 7mm thick, 700mm deep and several meters long. What's the best sort of material to use? The bench is currently built on some old kitchen units, but I'm planning on strengthening it with some 2x4 to give me some decent points to mount a vice.

 

[footprints]

Hi timbin,
What I have done for garage work tops is to use hardboard finished in a few coats of varnish.

It's amazing just how tough it is! Just fix it with hardboard pins and if after a few years it needs replacing just prise it off and fit a new bit, dead cheap too.

My worktops have all been either timber or chipboard about 15 - 20 mm thick so normal copper plated hardboard pins are fine, only problem might be your 7mm mdf is a little thin. Might be worth gluing a sheet of thin ply or other board to the existing to thicken it up unless you want a bed of nails on the reverse side!

Regards,
footprints

 

[timbim]

I was planning on replacing the MDF entirely, so it looks like a decent slab of then covered with hardboard is the way to go. Thanks for the tip.