Anybody got some work bench plans

JU

For my workbench, I covered it with a layer of 3/8" plywood, then topped it with 3/4" MDF (medium density fiberboard). I figure the MDF is cheap enough that I can always replace the top if it gets beat up. The bench isn't as stiff as I'd like: I should have used 1/2" or 5/8" ply instead of 3/8", but I had a lot of 3/8" I needed to use up.

Your bench sounds a little on the small side. I made mine 16 feet long and about 32" deep. (I can just reach the pegboard behind the bench.

If you're going to mount a vise, plan to have some reinforcement for the vise.

Another thought: Since it's only 2 feet deep, you could top it with 3/4" Melamine shelving. I think a 2x8' sheet is about 20 bucks at Home Depot or Pontiac Plywood.

You need to decide how high you want the bench. This will depend on how tall you are and what sort of work you are doing. You don't want to be always reaching up to work.

The 1/2 inch plywood is not thick enough. I vote with the solid core door. Note that some solid core doors have the core made out of glued together sawdust which I don't think is strong enough and too heavy. Look for a solid wood core(made from glued up lumber scraps. Find a used building material place like a Habitat for Humanity store. New doors cost big bucks. Use the 1/8 masonite as a replaceable wear surface. Paint surface white so dropped parts can be found more easily. I have been known to spend more time looking for dropped parts than working.

Tie the legs together close to the bottom with stringers. Put shelf on stringers to hold tool chest or whatever.

KEH