Best wood for bartop (besides MDF)

[DaOld Man]

Im sure this has been discussed before, but in your opinion, what is the best wood to use for a bartop build, besides MDF?
Im thinking of rounding the edges with a router instead of using t molding.

[jloudgood]

For a smaller machine like a bartop, especially with some custom router work, I bet hardboard (HDF) would hold up and not break the bank too badly.  You may even be able to go thinner than the walls of most machines with the same rigidity. 

[Le Chuck]

If you're willing to coat with some high build primer (pintura based) then you can do it out of regular particle board or plywood.  Then primer will need to be sanded back to give you that good painting surface but tis a cheap and light way to get that nice finish.

No sense in using solids or even hardwoods - although you might be able to find shelf stock pine at a good price, 4' x 12"  at a decent price... still get a 1/4 sheet of a composite and then spray on the filler for that piano finish if that's your thing. 

People that see my R2 are convinced it's plastic or metal when the legs and a lot of body pieces are actually mdf - it's all in the surface treatment. 

[ebarlow99]

3/4 birch for sides
1/2 birch for the rest

no mdf, particle board  or melamine (IMO)

[HaRuMaN]

3/4" for a bartop is some serious overkill.  I've worked with 1/2" birch, it's plenty sturdy. 

[ebarlow99]

don't think so......but again my opinion..... 3/4 sides are sweet and look better!

for melamine then yes 1/2

[kahlid74]

Birch is good, Sanded Ply is good as well.  I would use either for this and some good sanding and it would look prime!