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Workbench Top - Have Money.... but Not Time

2K views 10 replies 10 participants last post by  BigBadBen 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I've made my base structure for my new workbench. It's a hybrid design from lots of pictures and stories from this great site! I'm looking forward to sharing this project with LJ once complete.

However, I'm at a cross roads. My original plan is for a new 2.25" x 72" x 36" maple top from Global Industries for about $450 shipped to my house in North New Jersey. But my dilemma is I've built the base structure from left over lumber from my shop and reclaimed framing lumber from a neighbors house who's adding an wing. I have yet to purchase anything from the local store. I've planed, joined, sanded and glued to manufacture my own structural lumber. I feel that I should re-use a workbench top from some other source.

I really don't have the time to manufacture my own top. I've been scouring the web and Craigs List for garage sales or estate sales or closed businesses. There's even an add for old bowling alley material in Brooklyn.

So I'm looking for some advice on where I might be able to obtain material I could repurpose into a workbench top.

Thanks.
 
#3 ·
Workbench Top - Have Money…. but Not Time

Three things need to be in alignment before things happen and they are Time, Money & Energy. You usually only have two of the three… and very rearly all three.

Teenagers normally have Time and Energy but no Money!
Younger Adults normally have Energy and Money but no time!
Older Adults Normaly have Time & Money but no Energy!

:)

Sorry had to post that…. lol
 
#5 ·
My workbench top is a 1 3/4" wood door with a piece of plywood laminated to the top. It's probably not perfectly flat, but it gets the job done and it was cheap.

I worked for a general contractor for 2 years and the stuff we threw away was outrageous. See if you can find buildings that are getting demolished, and ask the supervisor if you can snoop around a little. All they want to do is get all that junk out of the building, so you would be doing them a favor.

Good luck.
 
#10 ·
Why not make the top from framing lumber? If you can find an old building with 2×10 or 2×12 joists or rafters, you'd get some pretty good lumber for a top. Rip them down to whatever thickness you want, then glue up a big slab. You could use brand new dimensional lumber, too.
 
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