I have an idea for a work table....please let me know what you think about flatness.

The idea is 1/2" MDF sandwiched between two hollow core doors. This would be glued and clamped i suppose. Then take this structure and sandwich between 1/2" MDF sheets. glued and clamped. Lay this down on top of a flat base for a work surface. I would probably put a hardwood edge around the entire thing. The thickness of the whole thing will be nice for using a woodworkers benchvise on the end and side.


MDF
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DOOR
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MDF
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DOOR
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MDF
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-Rocko

Good grief! Why not just one hollow door?

Tom
Man WAS meant to fly. That's why we have credit cards.

Because I want somehting thick enough for vise's and pipe clamps. It will serve a dual roll. Airplanes and general woodworking. So I need it to be thick, heavy, and FLAT.

-Rocko

My recomendation is to build a heavy bench from 2x4's. Use 2x8's for the top. That will easily support a vise and heavy use with hammers, etc. For modeling, just lay a hollow door on top. It will be plenty flat.

All that sandwiching is a waste of time and material. I use an old glass door when I want an extremely flat/smooth surface.

Tom

Man WAS meant to fly. That's why we have credit cards.

Heck for all that work and expense just look a little farther and get a solid wood door.

Better yet, go to your local Home Improvement store and see what they have. You can get some really nice Thick, Flat wooden table tops.

All is good. I found a good table top.

I stopped out to the local Menards to see what they had for scratch and dent. I ended up getting a perfectly good mint condition steel door with steel ribs for $5. They wanted to get rid of it real bad. I guess it had been laying around for a long time. These things are usually over $200.

-Rocko

Hey, I never thought of a steel door for a work surface. It'd be plenty flat and you could use magnets and magnetic jigs to build with. Sounds like a good idea to me...

Sounds like an excellent deal you got! I live less than a mile from Home Depot and Lowes (right across from each other) and am going to head over and take a look today. People keep asking me what metal to use for their board with the magnetic building system I discuss on my site. So far I haven't had a lot in the way of specific suggestions other than to go to a local metal dealer and see what they have.

My concern with your door is how well supported is it between the ribs? If it bows in then that's a problem. You may have to cut some sticks to create more ribs in the unsupported areas if needed. All in all sounds great. I love the size too. Are you planning to make the fixtures?

Most metal doors are gonna be pretty damn tough. I've installed a few that we're a tad flimsy but if memory serves this was because of a window in it, which yours doesn't have.
Another option would be your local commercial building contractor. They may have a good used one sittin around that you might snag up for next to nothing.
About all the commercial doors are steel with a styro core.

Any of these doors are only gonna be as flat as the stand ya build for them though.
Any surface wood or steel wil eventually warp to the shape of it's supports so keep this flat and you'll be fine.

If you wanna drive to Ohio I have 2 out back that I'll give ya for free.

Well, I was going to drive up to Ohio today, but something came up. Next opportunity won't be for a few years. I'll check in and see if you still have them, thanks.

I just got back from Lowes. Cheapest steel door they had is $104.00. It's solid core - the guy told me that it is polyrethane filled. Don't know what that means, but it seemed pretty solid. No damaged doors, but it seemed like it would be a good building surface.

We're takin a vacation next month to Debary. Want me to bring em along?

To where??? Ummmm.... sure.