OK. I'm about to start gathering wood and parts for a new workbench. I've decided to buy a top rather than build one, as it will save me a bit of time. Here are my choices: I can go to my local Sam's Club and purchase a 24" x 72" x 1.75" workbench with steel legs (later to be replaced by a traditional set of wooden ones) that I can use immediately for $200:
http://www.samsclub.com/sams/shop/pr...od1490086#desc
problem is that the edges are all rounded, so I will need to cut them in order to square them up so that I can mount vises. I'll also need to attach a skirt for mounting the vises and may look into adding a tool trough. The width may stay the same by the time I cut off the rounded edges and add the skirts. Seems like a lot of added work.
On the other hand I can get this from Grizzly for $169 plus shipping (with another $20 off this week only!):
http://www.grizzly.com/catalog/2011/Christmas/46
It's 30" x 72" x 1.75" I will need to add a "skirt" for the vise mounting adding more inches to the width. I do like the 30" width, though. Problems: will it start to get too wide for a workbench and I can't use it immediately.
Any opinions?