why are woodworkers choosing black laminate over white?

[Omashu]

I've always used white Formica for my assembly table, it lets me draw plans or sketch angles right on the surface with pencil or marker. One time, I even built a stool off a full-scale sketch and it worked great! So I'm wondering, why do so many folks go with black laminate instead?

 

[j0hn-th0ugh]

Black laminate is often chosen for visual contrast and to reduce glare under bright shop lighting. It hides dust, scratches and glue stains better than white, which can look dirty fast. Some woodworkers also prefer the darker surface for photographing projects or filming builds. Are you working under LEDs or natural light in your shop?

 

[Woodparadise]

I think there are pros and cons to both sides, but at the end of the day I think it boils down to personal preference. You can sit down and talk to a person who praises the black and both of you will have excellent arguments, but you'll both think you're right.

 

[Omashu]

Black laminate is often chosen for visual contrast and to reduce glare under bright shop lighting. It hides dust, scratches and glue stains better than white, which can look dirty fast. Some woodworkers also prefer the darker surface for photographing projects or filming builds. Are you working under LEDs or natural light in your shop?

I've got bright LEDs in my shop, so glare might be an issue with white. I like the sketching feature though, I might test black laminate on a smaller surface first.

 

[Omashu]

I think there are pros and cons to both sides, but at the end of the day I think it boils down to personal preference. You can sit down and talk to a person who praises the black and both of you will have excellent arguments, but you'll both think you're right.

True, it really does come down to what works best for each person. I'll probably stick with white for now since I use it for sketching directly on the table