How about bowling alley wood for a lathe bench top? I was

[artist les]

personally i would consider a butcherblock counter at 2 foot by six foot constructed of maple i would cut to size and 2 coat top and bottom and all edges with a sealer for moisture fast and inexpensive and beautiful

 

[Larry$]

and beautiful

But you would hesitate to use it like a benchtop should be used!
I made a hickory top for my H-Frt roll around and have babied it excessively.
For less expensive consider a rubber wood top.

 

[woodchucker]

But you would hesitate to use it like a benchtop should be used!
I made a hickory top for my H-Frt roll around and have babied it excessively.
For less expensive consider a rubber wood top.

rubber wood top? meaning a glued up top (ply, mdf or bamboo)????

I originally felt the same about my maple top on my maple / beech wood working bench that I made. But eventually I realized S**t happens. I started cutting on it, made a mistake and put my router down on it before it completely shut down.. once it's scarred, you get comfortable with treating it like a work top and not like a fashion model.

 

[kbsmith]

My lathe/mill combo sits on a bowling ally bench. Been there for 25 years, no complaints. It is well oiled by now...

 

[artist les]

that made you a great bench it gets seasoned automaticly lol