Thread: Workbenches - How heavy is heavy enough?

James,

I'm not too sure how heavy my bench is either, but it takes two of us just to lift the top with a real struggle (2 vices attached). The base doesn't match it for weight, but it's quite sturdy.

I built is all out of 4 x 2 Vic ash. (The top is probably 90mm deep!) I can tell you, it all adds up.

It's a freestanding unit and I can assure you the heavier the better - assuming you have a place reserved for it.

Ironwood? Now that sounds even heavier than mine, depending on your design.

I'd go for the heavier option. You'll only built it the once and as you say, will last a lifetime.

Jefferson

mine i made with a pine top and ironbark legs but it started to walk so i dynabolted it to the floor.
PROBLEM SOLVED

My bench is on the smaller side of average, made of Karri and Jarrah, and definitely not a heavy weight. It takes all the pounding and planing I throw at it because it is well braced and bolted to a wall. You do not need a heavy bench for rigidity, per se. So it all depends on whether you are going free-standing or not.

If this is your first bench I would advise that you do not get too obsessed - live and learn, get experience, and over the years you will build a few as your ideas/needs mature.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Hi jisk

Im with Derek...its does'nt need to be be heavy to be rigid and take a pounding. My bench is also not a real heavy weight...I rekon it would be at a guess around 100kg (made from vic ash and jarrah). Even at that weight I found it slid around on the floor.....so I attached a couple of cleats to the floor as shown in the link below

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...chmentid=34161

Even though it is free standing, the bugger now doesnt move unless I want it too.

cheers
BD

60kg seems a just a little on the light side,
anything from 100kg up should be fine.

It's a workbench - use pine and keep your fancy timber for projects.

im with echnidna use pine dont waste your time with h/w after all its just a bloomin work bench. and if it moves around do what i did with my lathe bench and hang a couple of besabricks underneth.

Originally Posted by weisyboy

im with echnidna use pine dont waste your time with h/w after all its just a bloomin work bench. and if it moves around do what i did with my lathe bench and hang a couple of besabricks underneth.

If that's your attitude why not just buy a piece of imported crap.

A bench is a VERY personal thing like undies

Many years ago I was introduced to & worked with (as a TA) a master marine cabinet maker who did his time at Sparkman & Stephens. He told me the philosophy he was taught was to build a bench like it was the most important piece of furniture you will ever own. It shows others the quality of your work & inspires you to the very best on every thing that crosses the bench. He also said a quality bench will evolve over decades with numerous adjustments & several rebuilds (when adjustments aren't enough)

It's taken me almost 10 years to develop the design of the bench I will build, but I have 90% of the timber & all of the hardware & is a foreseeable future project.

Same thing as the old tradition of craftsman building a beautiful tool chest or cabinet to house their tools and display their skills to potential customers.

I say build the best bench you can with the best materials you can afford

cheers
BD

So Major, where's your masterpiece? In Silver Ash, wasn't it? I need pics, and for gawds sake put some dust on it will ya.

My bench weighs somewhere over the 100 kg mark. I cannot move the bugger. It is a free standing one built out of 4x4 Tallow wood. The leg sets weigh in at 23kg each, The top is a definite two man, swearing, grunting cursing, promising unlimited beer lift. So far two coats of Danish oil, built a cupboard and utilised some rescued dovetailed drawers to add further weight.

Best thoughts I can give you is take your time, accumulate everything you can think off first and slowly make it. It only took me some three years after deciding to make the thumper, thru getting the right wood, vises of Fleabay, bit's & pieces from garage sales/council cleanups to actually designing the thing, let alone building it. It is a journey thru the entire gamut of woodwork . . .

Whatever timber you choose, if you use 4 X 2 reckon its going to be heave enough anyway.

You know the best thing about this forum is the variety of ideas.

Sometimes, the majority go with you, other times not.

But you do get a sense of what others are doing.

I do agree with two sentiments:

1. The bench shows off your skills or lack thereof. My current bench is Mark II and I'm already thinking of Mark III.

2. You shouldn't waste good timber. I originally had redgum in mind, but sanity prevailed and I went with Vic ash.

I'll send some pics over the next couple of days of mine and see what you all reckon.

Jefferson

My bench see here https://www.woodworkforums.com/f40/on-to-greater-things-51594 must weigh around 150kg and it did move if I really pushed on it. My concrete floor is extremely smooth though. I solved the problem by glueing a 70 x 70mm piece of leather (cut side down) under each leg, it does not move now.

Im in the process of building mine...6 mt long (ive got the room so why not) & im using nothing but dumped pine. I get it for free out of a big bin nearby & all diff sizes...they recon the more i take the cheaper it is for their rubbish collection. Im just really into recycling & i will scavenge any wood that i know is no longer wanted.

The trick (for me anyway) is how its put together. Lots of screws...cross bracing & secured to the back wall.