Is it possible to use either decking material like Ipe or flooring wood for a workbench top? I am in the process of having my house remodeled and my contractor will probable have left over wood from the floors and the backyard deck. Can this be placed on top of a plywood top and an appropriate base to make a workbench?
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Replies
It's certainly possible, if the corners are not beveled. If you have stock with bevelled corners left over, you could just rip them off with the tongues and grooves and glue it up conventionally. Ipe should make a fine bench. My father had a bench for 45 years with a top made from maple floor boards.
DR
I had a bench made with left over pieces of cherry strip flooring. I applied it like flooring - nailed through the tongues into a salvage solid core (OSB?) door. I edged the whole bench in 3/4 x 2" oak. After cleaning and flattening the top with a hand plane I made dog holes in the middle of the strips to avoid any nails. I never had a problem with the pieces staying flush. It was a great bench.
Thanks for the info.
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