I want to build a bigger workbench than the one I have now, and in my basement are several old doors (flat hollow-core doors, no panels or windows or anything) left by the previous owner. My idea was to take off the doorknobs and mount the door on a frame made of 2*4s; I'm figuring the door will be flat and stable. Any reason not to do this?
3
-
We need more details. What kind of workbench? The term is used for anything from sewing projects through jewellery work to woodworking. Even if we assume woodworking, the exact nature of the work you will do on it is critical — if the intended use is essentially as an assembly surface versus hand-tool woodworking, for planing and chopping mortises etc.– GraphusMay 28, 2020 at 9:41
-
As an aside, you can expect the doors to be flat-ish, but not dead flat.– Aloysius DefenestrateMay 28, 2020 at 13:51
-
I'm not too sure how well a door would handle as a worktop bench, but I remember reading that a large company during it's start-up years used to make employees desks using doors as it was cheaper and still did the job. I think it was Walmart from memory but I might be wrong there...– joaboJun 13, 2020 at 17:30
Add a comment
|
2 Answers
Hollow-core doors would not make a very good workbench top. The surface layer is very thin, either 1/8" material like a soft skin Masonite material. Very easy to drive your fist through it. Would not take hammer blows, pounding, etc.
I did purchase two hollow-core doors to lay on portable saw horses. I can lay plywood on the doors and use the gap between the two doors as the opening for the saw blade. This provide full support for the plywood sheet on both side of the cut. Doors are light, easy to set up and put away.
-
1While your description of the surface is right on the money (usually 1/8" hardwood 3-ply I believe), it's not that weak, and can for example take being stripped off the door for repurposing. And hollow-core doors can make for a decent workbench.... depending on what the bench is for. Could be fine for the power-tool-only dude.– GraphusMay 28, 2020 at 9:45
The only reason to not do this is that the surface skin may not significant amounts of abuse before it's too torn up to be usable.
If you need a bench top that can take some abuse, the door will work as an excellent base for your bench top. Frame it in 2x4 (you may need a center rib, too - that will be best determined through experience), then add a top layer of 1/2" or 3/4" plywood or OSB (depending on budget and desires). Screw this layer down through the edges of the door (where there's solid wood) and into the 2x4 below. Ensure you counter sink your screw heads to you don't hit them with tools (especially plane blades).
The ply/OSB will take the abuse while the door itself will ensure you've got a nice flat surface. The screws will allow you to easily replace the work surface in the future if this one gets too chewed up for your liking.
