Countertop alternatives?

[Artificer]

Unless you're building an ultra lightweight trailer, I think you're right about cost and weight. $10 and 20lbs that you can drop in vs. more $$, and you have to build whatever surface you use.

I'm fond of plywood with a laminated surface that gets a hardwood edge. Inexpensive (NOT as cheap as your CT, though), strong, and you don't need as much support for it. If you have a router with a flush cutting bit, the laminating process isn't that hard either. You can get smaller pieces of the laminate fairly cheaply as well.

Since you will not save that much weight with other options, it makes sense to just use the laminated counter top you have.

Michael

[jhanlon]

I might add here that if you have a local Habitat for Humanity Restore, they have counter tops at ridiculously low prices. I got a nice 4 foot piece for $5. I also got 30 yards of 54 inch wide commercial wall covering for $10, and 3 bundles of laminate flooring in really light ash for $5/box. Plus the money goes to my favorite charity.

john

[dh]

To answer the question on where I'm getting the 2nds, its a place called Hood's in Blytheville AR. They deal mostly in liquidation/factory 2nd type building materials. Need an avacado toilet, head to Hood's Some stuff is decent, some is laughable.

[StandUpGuy]

Thanks for that. I shall look for my local home salvage, including Habitat.

[dh]

I tried the Habitat in Memphis, its in the hood. They wouldn't even let me in, had to talk through an intercom. Barrs in the windows, barbed wire on top of the chain link fence. Said they stopped the re-store cause they kept getting robbed.

Sad what the world's come too.