I'm building a workbench and i am planning on using four layers of 3/4 mdf or four layers of 3/4 plywood as my top, but i am wondering as to how mdf/plywood will hold up as a work surface, or should i top the mdf with a layer of 1/4 in. hardboard to protect it!. My first “real” woodworking bench was made with a framework of home-center 2x lumber and a doubled-up top made of 3/4-in. mdf (see below). i put a banding of 3/4-in. poplar all around its edges to hide them and improve durability (see top photo).. Rock-solid plywood bench. the design i created has a base of laminated sections of plywood and a top of plywood and medium-density fiberboard (mdf). to protect the soft edge of the mdf top, i screwed a solid wood edging around the entire benchtop, leaving a gap for the vise. drill holes for benchdogs (if desired), and you are done..
Do not build this bench with mdf if you need the top to remain flat. i screwed and glued my mdf top, and added a 5/8 birch ply on top of that, and it still sagged 1/8" to 1/4" on the ends over the course of 6 months.. According to the "getting started in woodworking" video, you can build this bench with only a few basic tools - a drill, a circular saw, and a hand-held router. if you're going to use mdf for a workbench top, design it so that it has a sacrificial hardboard layer both on top and on bottom.. Choosing the best type of wood for your workbench top depends on both your budget and on the type of work you plan to do, not to mention your own aesthetic preference. each type of wood has its own peculiarities which will be explored below in order to allow you to make the most informed decision possible..
