Cheap Countertops for workshop?

rucka356
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rucka356
Edited Date/Time 10/15/2020 6:19pm
Any recommendations for a cheap counter top that won't absorb fluids? Got a nice set of kitchen cabinets free off someone that was remodeling their kitchen. Trying to figure out what i can put on that is cheap but do the job. i will probably put a vise and possibly a bench grinder on it as well
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reded
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reded 10/13/2020 8:15pm
10/13/2020 8:15pm
Home Depot sells butcher block tops in a shitload of sizes. I just built my wife a new kitchen island and used one, they’re well built.
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crowe660
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crowe660 10/14/2020 3:04am
10/14/2020 3:04am
reded wrote:
Home Depot sells butcher block tops in a shitload of sizes. I just built my wife a new kitchen island and used one, they’re well built.
Try menards too. I bought a couple slabs of Butcher block and menards and it was crazy cheap.
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OldPro277
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OldPro277 10/14/2020 9:53am
10/14/2020 9:53am
Consider this-- I have built several work tops from 2x4 frames with a thick plyscore top (3/4") and contact cemented down a thin gauge aluminum sheet. I have a metal supply company nearby that cuts the aluminum to the exact size once you have your wooden base top installed. I just finished a 30' wide by 9 feet bench for my finished bike "storage garage" and have approx $ 20 in 2x4's , $ 45 in the plyscore, and maybe $ 85 in the aluminum. $ 150 ish total. Build the 2x4 frame as you would a floor. I use cross joists every 12" and they are super strong .

The upside is that the aluminum is impervious to liquids, cleans up super easy and even looks trick as hell !!
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rongi#401
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rongi#401 10/15/2020 12:04am
10/15/2020 12:04am
OldPro277 wrote:
Consider this-- I have built several work tops from 2x4 frames with a thick plyscore top (3/4") and contact cemented down a thin gauge aluminum sheet...
Consider this-- I have built several work tops from 2x4 frames with a thick plyscore top (3/4") and contact cemented down a thin gauge aluminum sheet. I have a metal supply company nearby that cuts the aluminum to the exact size once you have your wooden base top installed. I just finished a 30' wide by 9 feet bench for my finished bike "storage garage" and have approx $ 20 in 2x4's , $ 45 in the plyscore, and maybe $ 85 in the aluminum. $ 150 ish total. Build the 2x4 frame as you would a floor. I use cross joists every 12" and they are super strong .

The upside is that the aluminum is impervious to liquids, cleans up super easy and even looks trick as hell !!
Pictures

The Shop

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OldPro277
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OldPro277 10/15/2020 6:55am
10/15/2020 6:55am
rongi#401 wrote:
Pictures
Thanks for asking, taking these pics this morning made me realize that I have way too many projects going on and things are a bit messy, lol. Anyway, I built 3 small ones, one for my drill press, one for dual bench grinders, one for a heavy duty vise. A 7' long 3 tiered one for parts storage ,etc, a bigger 9' long for the other garage. Even built my V-nose trailer cabinet the same way. Missing in the pics are my main one in the "build shop" and the 6 footer for my small bench lathe.






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crowe660
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crowe660 10/15/2020 9:33am
10/15/2020 9:33am
Duuuuude, those are beautiful.
OldPro277
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OldPro277 10/15/2020 2:39pm
10/15/2020 2:39pm
crowe660 wrote:
Duuuuude, those are beautiful.
Thanks-- they look a lot more expensive than they were to make
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SEEMEFIRST
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SEEMEFIRST 10/15/2020 5:26pm
10/15/2020 5:26pm
crowe660 wrote:
Duuuuude, those are beautiful.
OldPro277 wrote:
Thanks-- they look a lot more expensive than they were to make
Nice benches, 277.
What gauge AL. did you use?

When you said "thin" I kind of cringed, but it looks like it's doing the job!
OldPro277
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OldPro277 10/15/2020 6:19pm
10/15/2020 6:19pm
I've used both 16ga and 18ga. (.040" / .050". ) Half-Hard Aluminum. You definitely need to have the metal supply house cut it to size with their industrial size shear. You can't cut it smooth with a jig saw or circular saw. My supplier cuts the sheets at no additional cost so it's a no brainer.
And yes, they've been holding up quite well,and I'm pretty hard them all. I did the first one this way about 4 years ago and it looks as good as the most recent one. If/when you scratch one up, or get paint or glue on one , just do the WD40/Scotch brite routine and it looks new again.
SEEMEFIRST
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SEEMEFIRST 10/15/2020 7:07pm
10/15/2020 7:07pm
OldPro277 wrote:
I've used both 16ga and 18ga. (.040" / .050". ) Half-Hard Aluminum. You definitely need to have the metal supply house cut it to size with...
I've used both 16ga and 18ga. (.040" / .050". ) Half-Hard Aluminum. You definitely need to have the metal supply house cut it to size with their industrial size shear. You can't cut it smooth with a jig saw or circular saw. My supplier cuts the sheets at no additional cost so it's a no brainer.
And yes, they've been holding up quite well,and I'm pretty hard them all. I did the first one this way about 4 years ago and it looks as good as the most recent one. If/when you scratch one up, or get paint or glue on one , just do the WD40/Scotch brite routine and it looks new again.
Cool, man. Nicely done.

I admittedly kinda missed the plyscore part at first, and thought, "damn, really? 12" centers, thin aluminum clad?"

Reading is fundamental as they say.
Homey55
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Homey55 10/16/2020 6:57am
10/16/2020 6:57am
You can build tops just like OldPro277 but use 1/8" Masonite instead of aluminum. The Masonite is cheap, easy to replace, somewhat water resistant and soft.

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