Melamine or MDF for build table top?

jcochran · Post by **jcochran** » March 4, 2008, 10:56 pm

I'm about to put together my build table this weekend, when I stopped into Home Depot to check out their stock. They have sheets of both MDF and Melamine ($4 more expensive for the latter) in 8x4 @ 3/4 thick. The melamine board looked and felt a whole lot more durable, but I can't say for sure.

Do you guys have an opinion on if it's better to use a melamine top over MDF?

feets · Post by **feets** » March 4, 2008, 11:48 pm

The melamine board will withstand liquids (read: car chemicals and morning coffee) better than the MDF. It will also clean easier.

tomtom · Post by **tomtom** » March 5, 2008, 12:36 am

I'd go for the melamine simply for that liquid resistance. Only downside I can see is that I dont think the surface will mark easily with a pencil...if you dont mind using a fine tipped sharpie thats not a problem, but I know I'm one of those people that make dozens of extraneous marks on stuff that i want to erase later. Actually, now that i think of it, I wonder if dry-erase markers would work on it?

rust_bucket · Post by **rust_bucket** » March 5, 2008, 1:15 am

I don't know about y'all, but my build table is covered in weld spatter and other miscelaneous burn marks. I'd hate to be breathing in burning melamine on each weld...

I did my workbench out of melamine and I wish I hadn't. It scorches and stains a lot easier than you think.

I'd go for the MDF.

elewayne · Post by **elewayne** » March 5, 2008, 1:57 am

The melomine will be hard to mark on and the marks won't want to stay put. It might also flame up during welding. It's also very slick and hard to clamp things up to without them wanting to move.
I'd go MDF
Wayne :wink:

Stein · Post by **Stein** » March 5, 2008, 9:56 am

Heck, I went with OSB. Two sheets of 3/4" glued and screwed together every 6". About the same cost as one sheet of MDF. Very stable and flat. Two coats of flat primer on it and pencil marks show up great. Plus, after the build is done, I'm going to cut in into two 2'x8', top them with nice 1/4" ply and make work benches out of them as solid as they are.

Post by **dhempy** » March 5, 2008, 10:11 am

I agree...melamine doesn't sound like a weld-friendly surface.

MDF makes an excellent build table...I recommend it. If you're building a McSorley +442, it's got an added bonus, in that a 4x8 is actually 97" inches long, not the 96 you'd expect. This is good, since the frame is 97" long.

More table comments in my build log...search for "97" on this page: http://locostusa.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2741 . There's another shot on Page 2.

-dave

erturbo · Post by **erturbo** » March 5, 2008, 12:02 pm

If you wanna be GREEN about it, MDF would be the way to go.

I understand it's made up of recycled byproducts from other wood milling processes. So if you're building a hybrid Locost (is that an oxymoron?), you can reduce your impact on the rainforests, or whatever. :lol:

It's also cheap, though I don't know how much Melamine costs...

jcochran · Post by **jcochran** » March 5, 2008, 12:16 pm

Thanks for the advice guys. I think I'll be going out on Saturday and picking myself up a sheet of MDF to build the table.

<unrelated sidenote> We just bought a Chrysler minivan and I'm amazed at how much crap a person can cram into it! It'll actually take the 8x4 sheet if I stand it up on it's side.

erturbo · Post by **erturbo** » March 5, 2008, 12:21 pm

I thought they advertised that it would take 4x8 sheets laying flat on the floor?

mookie · Post by **mookie** » March 5, 2008, 12:39 pm

erturbo wrote:I thought they advertised that it would take 4x8 sheets laying flat on the floor?

I have a 98 Grand Caravan so I'm a member on a couple of Chrysler forums. I can't remember when, but when they did one of their body style updates, the 4x8 floor went out the window so it used to be the case, but not anymore. There was a huge stink about it from the forum membership.

I've never tried putting a 4x8 in my van so I don't know where my van fits into the timeline.

erturbo · Post by **erturbo** » March 5, 2008, 12:51 pm

Here's how I had to do it.

erturbo · Post by **erturbo** » March 5, 2008, 12:52 pm

Oh yeah, and if I had to do it again, I'd use steel studs instead of 2x4's.

feets · Post by **feets** » March 5, 2008, 3:01 pm

If you're going to use wood for legs, I'd strongly suggest that you add diagonal bracing from the legs to the table top. Be sure to use multiple screws at each connection to make it as sturdy as possible.
Wood will end up moving all over the place.

Locost_Johnh · Post by **Locost_Johnh** » March 5, 2008, 4:36 pm

I used MDF just laid out over several 2x6 boards laid over saw horses. My garage floor was uneven, but by squeezing the saw horse legs together, I could level it out. Only thing I would change is to go over the MDF with a coat of latex white primer first. It would make the pencil marks easier to read.

John

LocostUSA.com

Melamine or MDF for build table top?

Melamine or MDF for build table top?

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