From: Jim Weir


I'm about to start building the "furniture" for the hangar. After a lifetime
of
building "manly" workbenches out of DF 4x4s milled to take 2x4 crossmembers,
and
having the concomitant rot and deterioration of wood, I'm considering making
the
framing out of 1¼ PVC Schedule 40 pipe and fittings. The problem is what to
use
for the bench tops and shelving underneath.

So far, all my "heavy duty" workbenches have been made out of 3/4" plywood
with
a 2" doubler plate along the front and back, and my electronic workbenches
have
been either solid core or hollow core doors with an appropriate varnish or
Deft
coating on them.

However, since I'm going to a new method of framing, I'd like thoughts on
what
you have used as workbench/shelving materials. The benches will be about 2'
wide and 6' long. Yes, I know, solid moulded Teflon would be best, but quick
and cheap is high on the list of attributes I'm looking for.

Thoughts appreciated.

Jim

As for the top a removable surface is nice. My bench has 2 layers of 1/2"
plywood glued together (it was free) and a layer of masonite screwed on on top.
If the surface gets damaged or wears I can easily remove and replace it. If I
were using it only for electronics I'd just lay a sheet of linoleum or similar
using no screws or glue. The frame of my bench is rabitted to accept the top so
the linoleum would not slide off if I used it. You can just lift it out to
replace it.

Dan, U. S. Air Force, retired