Posted: 8/7/2012 9:13:30 AM EDT
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Afternoon all. Just a quick question. I've almost finished an additional bench that will use two layers of MDF as the bench top. This is the same as the other benches I've made but, while I'm quite happy overall with it, I notice they like to ring out when you whack them or run tools on them. After prepping the first layer earlier I was looking around the workshop when I noticed some underlay we had left over from fitting the laminate floors downstairs. If I sandwiched some of this between the two MDF layers, would it provide any noticeable benefit in terms of deadening vibrations or am I just inventing more work and hassle with no real payback? It's the cheap foam stuff, not the fibreboard. Your input is, as always, welcomed. |
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Quoted: A better solution might be something like Dynamat... I might be using Dynamat in a different application but for this project it costs more than the rest of the bench  I was thinking of using what I had spare. I think I might give the underlay a go if it's not going to cause any specific problems. |
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In the UK, man you guys can get anything over there. Get some iroku or other hard/cheap wood. I lived in suffolk and there is a guy down there that had phenominal stuff, 12"24" beams of oak, pear slabs you could die for. from what I have seen, there are better choices YMMV |
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Quoted: In the UK, man you guys can get anything over there. Get some iroku or other hard/cheap wood. I lived in suffolk and there is a guy down there that had phenominal stuff, 12"24" beams of oak, pear slabs you could die for. from what I have seen, there are better choices YMMV Oh there are lots of very good options but I'm basing it on what is painfully cheap, easily available and what I can easily carry up some twisty confined stairs to my attic. Cheap MDF fits the bill very well and I can get it cut to entirely reasonable tolerances when I buy it which saves me a world of bother "Real" wood is used to reinforce places that will see more action (ie where the press will be mounted) |
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Workbench top needs to be solid if you're going to whack anything on it. Anything that will dampen the vibration will also act as a shock absorber. Each blow will thus be lessened against what ever you are whacking.
Not a big fan of using MDF as a workbench top. I've done it before and didn't like it. Best to go with two layers of 3/4" plywood topped with a replaceable 1/4" layer of hardboard. Like this 
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| I have a mat on mine as a work surface to pound on. It's about 3/8-1/2" thick hard grey rubber with a thin harder rubber on top used in gym floors. This was jobsite scraps from years ago but I'd like to find a source to get more. Most of what i see is soft and looks like gas and stuff would melt it. |