Plywood vs MDF workbench top - which one actually held up longer for you?

I built my first workbench 2 years ago using 3/4 inch plywood for the top. It was cheap and easy, but after 6 months it started to warp in the middle from humidity in my garage. So I ripped it off and replaced it with MDF. That was 18 months ago and it's still dead flat, even after a leaking can of oil sat on it for a week. The MDF soaks up spills like crazy though, so I had to seal it with three coats of polyurethane. Has anyone else found plywood to be a total dud for workbench tops or did I just buy the wrong grade?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_karen1d ago

Oh wow, your plywood turned into a potato chip? That's rough. Mine started bowing so bad I could have used it as a skateboard ramp for my cats. I swear, I must have bought the wrong plywood grade too because mine warped faster than a cheap cutting board. At least you got smart with the MDF and polyurethane. I tried sealing my new top with just one coat of matte varnish and it looked like I painted it with a blindfold on. You did good with three coats, that's the way to go. Guess I'm just not patient enough for the whole sealing process.

hernandez.morgan1d ago

Maybe it's just me but my plywood workbench top turned into a potato chip after one humid summer, so I feel your pain. The MDF with a good poly seal is probably the way to go, though I can't talk since my seal job looks like a toddler did it with a crayon. Build another bench just for the oil spills and you're golden.