I'm one that uses formed kitchen counter tops for work benches. The
counter top is tough, and anything that spills on it can be easily wiped
off. Make sure that you get the counter top that does not have the
"lip" on the edge - you want the kind that is flat to the edge. Seconds
work fine, but for my last one, I bought the counter top on sale at Home
Depot for cheap.
I've made my work benches cantilevered off the wall. I run a board
horizontally along the wall, lag screwed into the framing. Another
board runs along the bottom of the wall to act as a support for mounting
the "legs". Then I make triangular "legs/tops" - the bottom resting on
the bottom support on the wall, the top/horizontal part resting on the
upper board on the wall with the "triangle" protruding at a right angle
from the wall. I lay some 3/4 inch plywood on the top boards protruding
from the wall and screw it down. The counter top goes over the plywood,
and is screwed down from below (1 1/4 inch to 1 1/2 inch wood screws).
The whole structure is strong (I've climbed on top with a buddy and
jumped up and down and it stays steady), and has the advantage of a
clear floor below it for cleaning and sweeping. I've even added a shelf
on the leg portions for extra storage.
Tim Mullen
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