IKEA Worktops for Router Table?

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paulrockliffe

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Anyone used one?

I have a top that is 2 inch think pieces of MDF, with an 18mm piece of melamine faced MDF on top. The to surface is cheap rubbish and slightly inconsistent thicknesses, so I can't adjust my plates to be dead level on all sides.

Need to replace the top surface. I know the usual methods is to but a roll of stuff to glue onto the top, but last time I looked I couldn't find the sheets for less than £100, which is far too much cash! I also want to be able to easily match the top to some other work benches, so a ready made top would be ideal. Noticed the IKEA stuff is pretty cheap, but no idea if it's flat enough?

Cheers!
 
If the picture below is the kind of IKEA top you mean, this is my experience.

6 years ago I equipped two kitchens with counters carrying these tops. When new, they quite flat, I just lightly sanded them and applied IKEA's Behandla brand oil as prescribed in the cans, then after that once every year at the start of the season.

These tops are laminated, not solid wood, as you may perhaps notice in the picture. Presently, they feel as if each board of the laminate has develped a small cup, which may be felt by hand or even seen with tangential lighting. You can feel every joint, and as there are tens of boards in each top, the end result is a bit disconcerting.

This does not in any way disturb the intended use of the tops, I just don't feel comfortable about it, so am thinking of planing them flat and going through the full oil treatment again next Spring. Thinking of it, this may even be a good excuse to buy a jackplane! :wink:

This cupping, or whatever has happened to the tops, may, or then again may not, be a consequence of my having oiled only the upper (external) surface of the tops, after the counters were assembled. It would have been rather difficult to oil the inner surface of the tops once the counters were assembled. It might possibly not have happened if the tops had been oiled before being assembled, but that would mean having the kitchens only half-finished for three months or so.

I had once thought of using a top of these for a workbench, but gave up on that idea upon seeing this development.

Please note this is just my experience with these tops, I don't in any way mean to say they will not be of use for you.

G.
 

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Thanks, that's useful. I was thinking more along these lines:

http://www.ikea.com/gb/en/catalog/products/40291342/

Which I presume are a chipboard core. I've lived in a house that had them and think they'll be OK for what I want in terms of the top surface finish, but is it accurate enough? Obviously I never checked them for exact flatness!

I suppose I could pop over to Ikea with my digital calipers and a straight edge...
 
Yes, you're right. According to their on-line catalogue for this product:

"Product description:
Particleboard, High-pressure melamine laminate, Reinforced polypropylene plastic"

I don't know how the surface covering would stand to hard use, though. Probably not that slippery, too.

G.
 
"2.8cm thickness"

Possibly a bit thin if you're going to recess track in it, but otherwise ought to be fine. If you are putting track in, you can get 1.2m (doubled-up) for 50 quid), which isn't too bad.

My first (toy) router table was from B+Q, and that had melamine facing on MDF. It got damp and swelled up at the edges, thus rendering it fairly useless. So it would be wise to thoroughly seal the insert plate recess.
 
That's just an example, I think they go thicker, but I'll bear in mind the thickness for tracks. If it's properly attached to the 2" of MDF I've already got I'd think it would be OK.

Happy with the surface finish, just want to make sure it's going to be a constant thickness.

I've only been building this table for a year now, so no rush!
 
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