Build Your Own Arcade Controls Forum
Main => Woodworking => Topic started by: Charlie97L on June 02, 2016, 08:55:56 am
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Hey guys looking for suggestions for a surface covering for my workbench for general electronics work.
I've got a hi temp esd mat for pcb/soldering, but I do do other stuff and would like some advice!
If this is better in another forum please move it!
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I always just use plywood. Cheap, easy to replace, takes a serious beating, nonconductive.
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My workbenches are almost always made out of either 1inch MDF or 3/4inch Birch Plywood with multiple coats of tung oil on top.
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I toss a sheet 3/16" hardboard on my bench top. It's super cheap and easy to replace.
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I toss a sheet 3/16" hardboard on my bench top. It's super cheap and easy to replace.
Same here.
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How smooth is that? My main issue here is i'm getting splinters from the top, it's terrible plywood, and i'm not sure it'll get much better, even if I sand it.
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Hardboard generally has one side that is course and one side that is glossy smooth. Obviously, put the smooth side up.
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Thanks! That sounds perfect.
Do you guys screw it down?
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I got a 2'x6' piece of hardboard cut at Home Depot, screwed it down to my workbench and it's fan-tastic. Thanks for the recommendation!
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Follow up question, I went into the garage today to see the top had bowed. Did i not use enough screws or did I need to let it acclimate before screwing it down?
Thanks!
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The stuff absorbs moisture pretty easily, so that's probably why. I stick mine down with an extremely light glue application. Enough to hold it down, but little enough that I can peel it off to replace. You should be good if you pull the screws, let it ease, then re-screw.
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I did it PBJ-style and found a piece of Formica countertop in great condition somebody tossed in the alley when they did a remodel. I just laid it on top of my bench and I'm good to go.
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LOL, I went with super cheap OSB for one bench and Free 2x6 top on the other...I use a disposable sheet of scrap plywood if I need a smooth surface.
I've also used the lid to one of my storage tubs for when I do electronics work, it catches all the screws I drop.
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I used 3/4" particle board and then hit it with 5 passes of clear polyurethane. it kind of left like a 1/8" thick epoxy type base end to end. Love it. Durable, usable, non-conductive.
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Melamine for my electronics bench and "clean table" that I do picture framing and other things that a dirty or gouged work surface wouldn't be good for.
For the messy or potentially damaging stuff, I have MDF with a sacrificial layer of project board (hardboard) on top.
Someday I want to build one of those obscenely level woodworking tables.
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Someday I want to build one of those obscenely level woodworking tables.
Yes, the ones that look like they are comprised of over 500 individual pieces of wood, Yes Yes.