wrote in message
ups.com...
Hi, I'm a total newbie and trying to set up a first workshop on
a
budget. I'm building a workbench and came across a relatively
low cost
birch countertop that Ikea sells and thought of using it as an
initial
top for my workbench. I know that its not ideal given some of
the great
examples I've read about here on the rec and in The Workbench
Book.
But, I'd like to use it until I can afford a better set-up. The
construction method I'm using would allow replacement of the
top at a
later date. My other option is to use a double thickness of
3/4
plywood.

Any thoughts on the suitablity of this birch material as a
bench top?
If so, what would you recommend for finishing it? Thanks in
advance for
any suggestions to this somewhat confused newbie.

Here's is a link to the item which is solid birch, 1 1/8 thick
and
available up to 69 1/4 length X 25 5/8:
http://tinyurl.com/n46ml


Thanks!
Pete


I used something similar for my bench. I picked up the returns
and scratch 'n' dents of the formica countertops at the local
yard and pieced them together into one long bench surface. The
surface lasts a long time, drill holes in the backsplash and you
have easy pencil/small tool holders, and a space behind the
backsplash makes a good storage place for glue bottles and the
like. Plus, they have a lip in the front that keeps things from
rolling off. I had to destroy portions of it for my vises, etc.,
but it's still a good deal. Easy to clean and keep looking good,
too.

Pop