Bart, I thought about using masonite but opted to stick with the plans because I have a roll around cabinet that doubles as a table saw extension and glue up surface that is also MDF. I finished the tops with three coats of poly and a good coat of Johnsons paste wax, and the roll around looks almost as good as my new bench top, and it is about 10 years old. I just put on another coat of wax every now and then.
Glenn, my plans call for a four inch gap between the top of the cabinets and the bottom of the bench top, so you can pop up any dogs that get stuck. This bench is a little more stout. I would guess that it weighs over 300 pounds without the cabinet. Your bench looks great.
Larry, it’s still a little tight. I moved the drill press out of the way for the photo, but I’m getting there with the addition of the wall cabinets and a few other roll arounds. I really have Jay envy. I was kinda counting on winning that $600 million lottery so I could build a real shop, but I guess I’ll have to wait until next time and just look at Jay’s pictures and dream.