"What do you have against two pieces of MDF tacked together?"
Nothing at all. But, I can purchase an old door for under ten bucks and have a 1 5/8 - 1 7/8 thick benchtop filled with MDF or solid wood all finished before the glue dries on a laminate that might well require two full sheets of MDF that will need to be covered top, bottom and edges (moisture issues) after that lay-up is dry.
Following that thread, it is apparent that workbenches come in all shapes and sizes and folks use a variety of materials to create the bench they need at the time.
The original post suggested a slab from IKEA at close to a hundred bucks after shipping, more with taxes. I simply joined in to offer an alternative. Not sure, by the way, why you would "pound on your benchtop" instead of hitting the workpiece, but splinter city is most unlikely and easily repairable.
By definition a solid core door is just that. The reason the surplus >
> outlets were suggested is that there you are likely to find the doors that
> > are solid wood as well as those employing an MDF (or similar) solid core
> > and most reasonable prices. Indeed, you are likely to find wood core and
> > MDF core doors priced about the same in many surplus stores. > There is,
> of course the problem of the veneer. ***** Pound on it a few times, and
> splinter city. ***** What do you have against two pieces of MDF tacked
> together? If you use a door, use some tempered masonite for a disposable
> top. Shellac it well to shed glue drips.