Solid core door for bench top?

[Sydwaiz]

Any of you using a solid core door for a benchtop for reloading? I welded my bench together yesterday and was planning on using one of these for the top as they seem thick enough and strong enough. I'll be bolting a rockchucker and a Hornady .50 bmg press to it. I've used doors for benchtops at work for years now with no problems but have never tried bolting a press to one. I don't want to spend the money on a commercial bench top and feel that plywood is too thin.

Thx

 

[Eldon]

I would think a solid core door would work well for you. I use a piece of 1 inch thick plywood I got from a packing crate for free (the best kind of supply!) and it has worked well for years. I would suggest that you put a 1 by 4 or some such along the sides and back to keep things from rolling off the bench. It can be a pain to have to pull the bench out to retrieve that small piece that just rolled off the back of the bench!

Eldon

 

[echo3mike]

If you have access to one, you're good to go, (esp if it's free!).

In all fairness, I've got a 550B mounted to a plywood-topped table, w/2X4 bracing underneath. Solid as a rock.

FWIW,
S.

 

[boo586]

A whole hearted YES!!

My work bench doubles as my reloading bench and the top is made from a solid core door taken during a school renovation. The door is almost 1.75 inches thick.

The door will be more than strong enough.

Boo586

 

[Sydwaiz]

Thats what I thought. Thanks guys. It should be perfect for my steel framed bench then! 2" square tubing 1/8th" wall, all welded together and getting bolted to the floor. And if there is ever a major earthquake, I have some place to hide! No Democrats allowed! Oh wait, my wife can come in!

 

[Valkman]

Long ago I simply nailed a 2x4 to the wall as a support, then laid out a solid-core door with 4x4 legs in the front. Simple, and I could jump up and down on it! It should handle whatever you want to mount on it.

 

[Sheldon]

That's what I did and it works fine. I mounted my door to the top of a roll-away.

 

[stans]

That is so simple! Why didn't I think of it? My bench is a custom built affair. Two sheets of 1/2" plywood, glued and screwed together, screwed to a frame made of 2"x4"'s, with 2"x4" legs, feet, and braces. My bench is designed so that the legs and feet are held to the frame with carriage bolts so they can be removed when I move the bench. My bench is plenty sturdy, especially when 50 pounds of ballast is added to the feet directly beneath the press. This sucker ain't goin' anywhere!

 

[Bronson7]

Yep, got one to. I.5 inch screwd to the top of an old steel steel desk. Works great.
Bronson7