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I want to replace the top of my workbench and i was wondering if 2 pcs. of 3/4 mdf would stand up to the abuse that it will be exposed to, how strong is mdf for mounting a bench vise to it and if holes for bench dogs or hold down clamps would hold up for any length of time.

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It great stuff becuase it is so perfectly flat. However, you must seal it. It did not do it and every drop of water will cause huge raised bumps.
thanks , i never thought about reinforcing the holes and i was planning to edge it in either maple or oak, thanks again

James Waller said:
On the Woodsmith Shop tv show they built a workbench that had MDF as a top. They use solid wood as a frame around the edges, had a vise in the side of the bench and I think they had holes for bench dogs. They may have made the holes bigger and then drop some kind of hard tube (metal or plastic) to insert into the holes.
thanks i was planning on giving it several coats of poly

Johnny said:
It great stuff becuase it is so perfectly flat. However, you must seal it. It did not do it and every drop of water will cause huge raised bumps.
Food for thought!! Use plywood for strength and laminate a thin sheet of hard board on top of plywood to give you the smooth surface you need.
I used MDF for my workbench top and its held up well, As the others have said make sure that you seal it. Every now and then I give my bench surface a wipe over with some wax , It makes it so easy to clean up any glue drips, etc that end up onto the surface.
Years ago I made 2 3'x8' work benches for my transmission repair shop. Mounted a vise on the end of one and a transmission holding fixture one end of the other. I used a 3/4" particle board top covered by a 1/4" masonite glued on. I did all kinds of work on these things and never had any kind of problem with them.
Hello Ray, i'd laminate a sheet of 3/4 ply and 3/4 MDF together with a hardwood edging around the outside. i'd have the MDF facing up and finish it with several coats of Yacht varnish.

thetoolnut.
I think the best bench I ever built was 3/4 plywood, topped with 3/4 particle board, topped and edged with 1/4" tempered masonite over a 2x4 frame on 12" centers with 4x4 legs. Covered that with 3 coats spar urethane. I'm fairly certain no MDF bench could have handled the abuse I gave that thing.

I pretty much did what you said but only upside down I put a sheet of 3/4 birch over 3/4 mdf I posted pictures and so far it has been a blessing..putting things together on a flat surface instead of taking cutoff plywood and laying on the old bench to try to have a flat surface
John Schaben said:
I think the best bench I ever built was 3/4 plywood, topped with 3/4 particle board, topped and edged with 1/4" tempered masonite over a 2x4 frame on 12" centers with 4x4 legs. Covered that with 3 coats spar urethane. I'm fairly certain no MDF bench could have handled the abuse I gave that thing.
Well I'm one of thsos people who thanks ply wood all the way but I have two work benchs one is 1/2" and blue and the other is grey and 3/4" but it's nice to live neer a cabnet shop too and it is easy to keep clean and it is safe for finish sanding.

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