Marine ply

[NiceCupOfTea]

HOW MUCH!!!!???

I'm building a garage bench at the moment, 2"x2" framework and the plan was to top with 12mm marine ply.

Just checked out the prices at my local timber merchant - 60 quid a sheet! OK, it's 18mm and too wide (but not long enough in the other direction, but bloody hell!

Would normal ply work instead? Any other alternatives. I could practically buy granite worktops for that! In fact, maybe I should look at old kitchen worktops?

[B17NNS]

Why have you specified marine ply?

Loads of other stuff you could use. MDF or OSB would be cheaper, perhaps cover with sheet aluminium.

[B19GRR]

Yes, normal ply should do you fine. IIRC Marine ply is just normal ply with added anti-fungal or similar, it'll still rot away if left out.

Cheers,
Rob

[robinhood21]

Structural Spruce Plywood should do the job @ £26.51 from Wickes.

Jesus! Hit the quote for this post to see the size of the URL.

[NiceCupOfTea]

Thanks guys, I just assumed marine ply would be more hardwearing - at that price I can replace the normal play 5 times before it costs more!!

[Simpo Two]

Marine ply is waterproof, ie does not delaminate in damp conditions. No need for it in a garage.

I'm now the custodian of two workbenches my late father made - the top is 6"x2" planks with hardboard on top and an oak edging. When the hardboard gets too manky, you can replace it.

[rich0411]

Why not go in to your local builders merchants like Howdens, Magnet Trade, Selco or any others that stock kitchens and worktops etc and see if they have any damaged kitchen worktops they want too get rid of for f.o.c. or for a bit of beer money?

If not just normal ply would be fine!

[NiceCupOfTea]

Thanks guys, you have inspired me!

[Simpo Two]

Depending on what you want to do, formica could be a bit slippy. I much prefer wood, and you can hammer stuff into it if you need to.

[Huntsman]

Marine ply to BS1088 has no voids in the layers as well as the better water resistance.

Not what you need for this.

I'd say either a steel top or a formica kitchen worktop.

Something tough and wipecleanable.

[dnb]

You can get ply that is glued with the same glue as marine ply but is not guaranteed to be void free. This is good enough for a lot of applications.

[The Black Flash]

Don't think I'd want ply for a bench top anyway. I've gone with MDF with a couple of coats of polyurethane varnish on the top. Cheap & practical.

[Beardy10]

Marine ply is wonderful stuff the guy that built our kitchen made all the cabinets and shelves out of it so if there are any leaks etc it doesn't deform. Looks great too.

[dilbert]

You'll want more than MDF for a bench top.
Go for shuttering ply. That's what I always use. Top it off with hardboard.
Fence posts make great legs for benches.

It's cheap, strong, and you can replace the hardboard for almost nothing when it wears out.

Edited by dilbert on Tuesday 13th April 23:53

[stainless_steve]

DIY shop,30mm thick worktop was £30 for 2m length,sorted.

[sparkythecat]

Beardy10 said:

Marine ply is wonderful stuff the guy that built our kitchen made all the cabinets and shelves out of it so if there are any leaks etc it doesn't deform. Looks great too.

Was he called Noah?

[NiceCupOfTea]

Right, so:

old worktop,
normal ply/shuttering ply/MDF covered with alu/hardboard or polyeurethane lacquer

[Simpo Two]

I'd want more than just ply and hardboard as a top - it'll bounce up and down if you start hammering things.

Think massive - like the fencepost idea for legs. I can climb onto mine and it doesn't budge a micron.

[Dupont666]

sparkythecat said:

Beardy10 said:

Marine ply is wonderful stuff the guy that built our kitchen made all the cabinets and shelves out of it so if there are any leaks etc it doesn't deform. Looks great too.

Was he called Noah?

I have it in my wetroom... though its covered with tanking and tiling and waterproof grout... so the thing should be waterproof then if water gets through to it.

[Simpo Two]

I have a plywood firegrate.

One visitor seemed quite surprised until I told him it was purely for show!