Question about building a workbench that actually stays flat

I built a workbench last month in my garage in Austin using 2x4s and a sheet of 3/4 inch plywood like a dozen youtube videos showed. After about two weeks it developed a noticeable dip right in the middle where I clamp stuff down. I am wondering if I should have used MDF instead or if I just needed more cross bracing underneath. Has anyone else dealt with a sagging bench top and found a fix that held up over time?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_hannah14d ago

and honestly I couldn't believe it when I read your post cause thats almost exactly what happened to me with my first bench. @emma_smith nailed it about the wood not being dry though, I didn't even think of that at the time. I used the same 2x4 and plywood setup and after a month it looked like a hammock in the middle. The fix that actually worked for me was adding two more cross braces running the long way under the plywood, like extra support beams spaced evenly. But really the biggest difference came when I switched to MDF for the top layer, its way denser and doesn't sag as bad as regular plywood. Just make sure you seal it good with some polyurethane or itll soak up moisture and warp.

emma_smith14d ago

You mentioned the sag after two weeks, so maybe the wood wasn't fully dry when you built.