I was gifted a workbench several years ago and really appreciated it. I no longer had to clamp things to my outfeed table and use it for a bench. However the bench I was given was about as straight and flat as the back of a horse, no chance of getting it straight or flat. I thought about gluing up a maple top but by the time I got it ready to put on the bench I would probably be too old to do anymore woodworking. Buying a maple island top and beefing it up looked like a much better option. While checking that out I ran across some birch tops at a better price. Any pros, cons or other thoughts would be much appreciated.
I had read that birch was prone to splitting in dry weather. The winters in southern Ohio aren’t savere but it gets down to the low teens. I work from April to late November and air condition in hot weather. The other three months it’s my wifes garage and not heated. Thanks to all in advance.
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I wouldn't worry about it splitting. Maple is a little harder than birch, and all things being equal I would go with maple. But if the birch is a better price, it will work fine.
I would go with better pricing as the driver.
I built a bench base and put a 1 1/2 inch thick birch laminated top (Woodcraft Holiday sale item a few years ago, got excellent price on it) on it and it has served me well. I will say that the birch top is out of flat in one corner pretty significantly. At the time, I had thought I might build a top someday to replace it as the base is built stout enough to handle a much thicker top. As it turns out, earlier this week I got a maple 2 1/4 inch thick top from Grizzly (I’m located where I picked it up from their MO showroom). Maple is a bit heavier than birch as well, so that’s a consideration with the extra weight being a plus. I know I will be happier with the maple and would advise to go with something thicker than 1 1/2 inches from the outset.
I would totally go with maple, you just can’t beat it for durability
Go with whatever works for you. People are too precious about their bench tops at times. The key is to use something that won't be a bear to flatten or something that will stay flat. Lots of people have great success with mdf tops. laminate a few 3/4 sheets together and you've got yourself a stable, heavy, and flat top. That said, I do have a maple top on mine.
Birch will be fine, maple would be fine, ash would be fine, pine would be fine, mdf would be fine, plywood would be fine. The only thing i'd really enncourage is that whatever you use is at least close to 2" thick. (minimum 1 1/2")
MDF or plywood might make a good work table, but they do not make good Workbenches. Especially MDF. There are just too many things that you can't do, such as use holdfast. Dog holes get too deformed pretty quick in MDF. It's just not worth the small cost savings.
I went with southern yellow pine for mine. It's cheap and makes a rock solid top. I also don't have to be too finicky about protecting the top from chisel marks and other nicks like I would with a maple top. One article recommended using 2x12s and cutting them down to the desired thickness to laminate together. 2x12s have fewer knots than 2x4s and you can arrange your cuts to make sure one edge of each board will be knot-free. Make the top 3" or more thick and it will stand up to all you throw at it.
Be sure to cut your pieces over size since a 3" board cut out of a 2x12 might warp due to internal stress in the fibers. Then let the boards settle in your shop for a few days and trim to final dimensions.
Thanks to all for a lot of great comments. I would love to go with maple and Grizzly has a good price right now but when I add $100 for freight it makes it almost $200 more than I can get a birch top for locally. I checked them out yesterday and my straight edge laid very flat to it in all directions. Happy woodworking and thanks again. I really valued your thoughts.