I'm looking to build a sturdy desk or workbench that can hold two 3D printers, which weigh about 80-90 lbs combined. I'm browsing Lowes online and I'm a bit uncertain about what type of wood would be the best choice for the top. Any recommendations?
4 Answers
I’d recommend using 3/4" birch plywood. Just make sure it has proper support underneath to handle the weight. If you want a nice finish, you could add a thin maple strip on the edge or some iron-on edge banding to hide the raw edges.
You could go with a plywood top and put a sheet of masonite on top of that. When the masonite gets dirty or worn, you can just replace it easily.
Are your printers FDM or resin? That can influence your decision based on mess and clean-up. I’ve got an FDM printer and a couple of resin ones on a workbench, and I've used a pre-made Formica countertop instead of wood. The rest of my workbench is made from birch plywood, and it works great!
I have two FDM printers: an Ender 3 and I'm expecting a new Centauri Carbon soon. I'm aiming for around 6 feet in length for the bench since I'm limited on space in my room.
How about a sheet of 4x8 melamine as a top? It’s moisture resistant, so it won’t soak up spills, making clean-up a breeze. It’s also durable and stays flat without needing sanding. If you attach it to a plywood base, you get the strength of the plywood but can easily swap out the melamine when it gets stained or worn down. I've had great results with this approach for various projects!
Thanks for the tip!