Lets talk about workbench top materials?

[NC Rick]

for machine shop use and assembly or most anything (including reloading) I'd chose maple hardwood with a polyurethane coat. I don't drill into or pound hammers directly on my benches. For heavy oily stuff, steel wins. If I'm taking apart a heavy engine or machine part usually the steel wins. I do not like plywood as a bench top. Much better if it has a layer of tempered hardboard on top.