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Thickness question

debraclean

Hello,

I'm finally ready to assemble my first workbench! I plan to use pallet wood for the top and laminate it, but I'm wondering if 1.5” thickness will be sufficient. I'm aiming for dimensions of 42x36. I want the bench to be quite durable, and I'll have a heavy-duty shelf underneath for storage and support. It's also important for me to have a vice mounted on the side. Any advice would be greatly appreciated—thanks!

RFGuy

I really wouldn't recommend pallet wood for anything. To comply with regulation ISPM15, all pallets in the United States must either be heat treated or fumigated with methyl bromide to keep pests (bugs) out of them. You can find more info at the link below. Using pallet wood, or even working with it in your shop could be hazardous to your health. I built a similar workbench size at my old house and it worked well. I used 2 layers of 3/4" plywood so 1.5" total top thickness. At that size and with beefy legs and rails underneath it, it will be VERY sturdy...at least mine was, i.e. no noticeable deflection of the top and it withstood a good bit of abuse.

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-imports/wood-packaging-material

debraclean

I really wouldn't recommend pallet wood for anything. To comply with regulation ISPM15, all pallets in the United States must either be heat treated or fumigated with methyl bromide to keep pests (bugs) out of them. You can find more info at the link below. Using pallet wood, or even working with it in your shop could be hazardous to your health. I built a similar workbench size at my old house and it worked well. I used 2 layers of 3/4" plywood so 1.5" total top thickness. At that size and with beefy legs and rails underneath it, it will be VERY sturdy...at least mine was, i.e. no noticeable deflection of the top and it withstood a good bit of abuse.

https://www.aphis.usda.gov/plant-imports/wood-packaging-material

Thanks for your suggestion.

JPG

My workbench top consists of 2x4 laid on edge. So 3 1/2 inch.(+ 1/8" masonite)

RFGuy

debraclean wrote
Thanks for your suggestion.

It may be too late to know or check this if the pallet has been cut, milled, sanded, etc., but if the pallet you used had the "HT" mark on it (see link below) then there is a good chance that it is safe and hopefully hasn't been impregnated with methyl bromide or some other pesticide. I really wish that YT'ers and other social media would stop suggesting pallet wood as a source of free lumber, or at least they should point out the potential risks of using it. Anyway, I hope this helps. Another thought is to just put some masonite on top of it as JPG did with his workbench. My main concern is for any woodworker to NOT inhale the sawdust that contains methyl bromide or any other toxic wood treatments.

https://www.palletone.com/heated-treated-pallet-stamp/

MikeG

In my experience, domestic pallets are not treated for pests. Only pallets used for international shipping are treated. I worked in a shipping company and we had to buy heat treated pallets when we shipped internationally. I have had to build custom domestic pallets and they were not treated. Custom international pallets that we built used heat treated wood and or manmade decking materials. I don't like the quality of the wood used in domestic pallets. It is the worst wood I have ever seen. I would only use it for pallets.

RFGuy

MikeG wrote In my experience, domestic pallets are not treated for pests. Only pallets used for international shipping are treated. I worked in a shipping company and we had to buy heat treated pallets when we shipped internationally. I have had to build custom domestic pallets and they were not treated. Custom international pallets that we built used heat treated wood and or manmade decking materials. I don't like the quality of the wood used in domestic pallets. It is the worst wood I have ever seen. I would only use it for pallets.

Thanks! Good to know. Sometimes I see pallets stacked and sitting outside here at some companies in their parking lots. I also wonder if any of them ever choose to spray them with pesticide as a post activity, i.e. while being used - waiting for their next use. I have no proof of this, but just a curiosity. That is why I stated the ISPM regulation, but didn't know how/when it applied. I agree with you on the quality of pallets. As a consumer, I am rare in that I have had several pallet shipments to my home via freight over the years. Most of the pallets were quite abused and I just disposed of them. One was remarkably better than the rest so I saved it and made it into a storage shelf suspended from my garage ceiling. It has the heat treated stamp on it, similar to the pic I showed up above. Now, this wasn't an international shipment, so perhaps international pallets get re-purposed sometimes for domestic shipping? IF so, kind of gets back to my point of being careful on using pallet wood for anything unless you know whether it is good or not and what treatment(s) it has had, if any.

JoeSark

Debra, I don't know what type of projects you are working on, but after building several workbenches, I have found that I don't like a workbench shorter than 60" or wider than 26". Depending on your projects, though, there are no set dimensions for a "perfect workbench" as far as thickness goes, 1 1/2" seems fine unless you are doing a lot of hand tool work. Then you may want more mass. I will echo the others on the quality of most pallet wood. I have used it successfully, but only after having it sitting in the shop for a couple of months before milling it.

dusty

Is it of interest: The OPs IP is "London, England". Doubtful that there will be any follow on discussion from the OP.

jsburger

dusty wrote Is it of interest: The OPs IP is "London, England". Doubtful that there will be any follow on discussion from the OP.

Well he has posted twice to this thread. VPN software is cheap, reliable and easy to use. Many people are using it now. Your IP can be any where in the world. If you look at my IP it will say Atlanta even though I am in Utah. It could just as easily be outside the US.

Matanuska

debraclean wrote
I'm finally ready to assemble my first workbench! I plan to use pallet wood for the top and laminate it, but I'm wondering if 1.5” thickness will be sufficient.

My workbench was my first project when I bought my Shopsmith at an Anchorage mall in 1985. The top is two layers of 3/4” plywood overlain with a 1/4” plywood sheet. The idea was that I could replace the 1/4” sheet when it was worn out. 40 years later I still have the original top. I’ve come to appreciate the various nicks, gouges, and paint stains that have accumulated over the years. The 1 1/2” thickness is quite sturdy and gives good support for the bench dog holes I’ve added to the top and vise. If you look closely at the front rail you can see some extra holes - I made the mistake of not initially mounting the vise flush to table edge. After cutting a few boards with a handsaw I relocated the vise to a better location!