Replies

1. 
   kudzupatch | Dec 26, 2020 01:14pm | #1

   It is none of my business how people spend their money but it always seems odd for woodworkers to buy something he can build. If you are pro, sure. But me, I would build it.

   I built mine out of SYP and have been really happy with it. Several years old now and has held up very well. I ripped up 2x12's to get better quality wood than the smaller sizes. I was leaning toward maple but after reading a little about people using pine I decided to go that way and no regrets.

   Building your own lets you place square dog holes where you want. I had my vice so I laid out the spacing to suit that. I am not a fan of round dog holes except for hold fasts.

   The only hard thing about it was flattening the top. I know a lot more about hand planes and how to sharpen them, so it would be lot easier if I ever build another.

1. 
   user-4958409 | Dec 26, 2020 01:39pm | #2

   Thanks for the response,
   One of the issues I am considering is the discomfort of buying something I can build. I am in Western Canada and SYP (I assume this is Southern Yellow Pine) is not readily available at an acceptable price, therefore I will probably go with Hard Maple shipped from Eastern Canada. I have a 12" Jointer / Planer combo machine and will probably make the top in 12" wide sections and then join them to make 36" wide top.

1. 
   kudzupatch | Dec 27, 2020 10:01am | #12

   Makes sense. Here maple would be expensive to use and hard to find.

   One thing I did is I made my top 30" side instead of 36". Mine is a joiners bench and I work from all sides. It is not against a wall so I can walk around it. Someone suggested 36" was a to wide to easily reach across and so I mocked it up and decided that 30" was a better choice (for me). Been really happy with that choice too.

2. 
   gulfstar | Dec 26, 2020 02:10pm | #3

   I built my workbench in 1980 from 3 maple slabs that were 12 inches wide and 4 inches thick found in a lumber yard in the Ottawa region. The two top slabs sit on top and are bolted to trestle type legs and there is a 1/4 “ gap between them so they can move with the seasonal changes without concerns. The third slab was cut in 4 X 4 and used to build the legs.

3. 
   lordulrich | Dec 26, 2020 04:52pm | #4

   Quality is probably no different. Cost is going to be dependent on location. I built my bench using 2x4 lumber but I very well might buy the top when I replace it/add another bench. I've seen the tops for less than the board foot price for stock, then there are off cuts and machining waste....

4. 
   ray2357 | Dec 26, 2020 06:49pm | #5

   I recently bought a top to replace one I'd made a while ago. For me, the choice was what to spend my limited woodworking time on. I chose learning how to make splined miters.

5. 
   jfsksa | Dec 26, 2020 09:51pm | #6

   Consider how you will use the bench. I do some chopping and dovetails and have marked my bench a lot. It is SYP and I don't care. I think I'd feel differently if it was hard maple.

6. 
   user-7274013 | Dec 26, 2020 10:28pm | #7

   I built my bench out of 2x12 Douglas fir, than ripped it down to make a 4” top. The top has worked out great at a fraction of the cost of maple.

7. 
   barshfield | Dec 27, 2020 01:50am | #8

   I was considering using a section of salvaged bowling alley for a workbench top. I thought it would work well. That is, until I heard there’s an abundance of metal embedded in bowling alley woods. Ugh.

1. 
   DRBWWing | Dec 27, 2020 05:50pm | #15

   Don’t let that stop you totally. Bowling lanes are nailed together, not glued. You can take the slats apart, remove the nails and glue back together, drill anywhere you like.

   Flatten it, ring it with an apron and you’ve got a nice bench.

   
8. 
   john_c2 | Dec 27, 2020 05:09am | #9

   It's a workbench top. Is price your most important consideration? Price pre-made tops compared to one you can make yourself, and the answer is simple math.

   Do you want to have a top you made yourself? It will take a bit of time and bunch of work. Or do you just want the top done, and get to work using it?

   Most woods are fine for bench tops. Maple is great, and I have it on one bench. Ash. I have a Douglas fir top on one bench that is wonderful. I can't get southern yellow pine here, but if it was available cheap I'd have used it. Ash is pretty cheap many places now, and makes good tops. The only thing I wouldn't use is a really soft wood, like eastern white pine.

9. 
   tendonitise | Dec 27, 2020 08:39am | #10

   Ash top from a single tree book matched, The trees are dying off from the Emerald Ash Borer here in Ohio.

   
10. 
    revbob | Dec 27, 2020 08:57am | #11

    Since you live in the western part of the country try looking at fine grain fir. It's got the heft and strength needed for a top. Made mine four years ago from 2 x 4's from a home center and it performs great. Just pick them for grain pattern and no knots and you'll never regret it. It has the weight of maple and is hard and stable.

11. 
    larson | Dec 27, 2020 10:31am | #13

    I live in Western Canada as well. I bought the maple from this place in B.C.https://www.westwindhardwood.com/. I'm sure the freight would be much cheaper from there than Eastern Canada

1. 
   user-4958409 | Dec 27, 2020 11:29am | #14

   Thank you Larson,
   I am very impressed with the website and will explore this supplier further. We are always looking for an excuse to visit Vancouver Island from our location in Gibsons.

12. 
    stantheman | Dec 28, 2020 11:18am | #16

    Contrary thoughts. Consider the time involved, not just the money. If you've got no other projects going on, no other activities, or consider it to be recreational, go ahead and have fun. But for me, it would take several hours of shop time to do this (about a weeks worth), which I'd rather use working on other things.

13. 
    tugboattrav | Jan 02, 2021 04:56am | #17

    This article might be helpful...

    https://www.finewoodworking.com/project-guides/shop-projects/build-a-simple-and-stout-workbench

14. 
    Joey22 | Jan 05, 2021 05:17pm | #18

    I've been using one by Powermatic for $40. It is a well-known brand. Working fine with my Delta midi lathe. I ordered it from amazon. I'll leave a link below
    https://www.amazon.com/POWERTEC-MT4006-Workbench-Bamboo-Top/dp/B075JZ1N3T/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=workbench+tops&qid=1609883060&sr=8-7 .