New Work Bench, Top Suggestions? Options

[jfort]

I am going to make a new work bench this winter. Maybe 30" by 16'. 4 by 4's. drawers and a shelf across the bottom. A vise. I am just your typical once-in-while car project and home project type guy.

Don't know what to do for the top. I see places make butcher block. I put formica-type stuff on top of 3/4" plywood one time. I've though about a sheet of metal, but something tells me not to do that.

Suggestions? Any other suggestion about a work bench would be appreciated, too. For example, I've thought about getting 2 or 3 half-sized metal shop drawer thinks, bolting them together and putting a work bench top on that. What do you think?

[charliew]

I picked up a good metal bench with a top shelf from work. I keep it wiped down about once a year with ospho and it gets a little oil on it some times so it's really easy to keep unrusted. I also have a diy 16 ft x 30 inch bench out of 2x4s with 2x6s on top cpvered with masonite. That bench has cabinets across the complete top. it is just shy of 8 ft so I can move it if I ever want to. It's now in it's third shop. I also have a diy out of drops, a 2x4 ft welding table from 1/4 plate. Needless to say to use any of them I have to clean off a space.

We have a goodwill store that is called restore in waco, tx. that sells all sorts of construction materials from comcrete blocks, edging, pavers, ans so on to used doors and cabinets and shelves. I am waiting till they sell the large shelving like they use in home depot or lowes to make a really big three shelf place in my shop to put all my big stuff up. The motors can go under it on the floor and stuff like fg parts and upholstery on top. I have way too much stuff so all my friends say.