Thread: Affordable Workbench Timber in Brissie

Wow, 654 views and no one can give me a recommendation on which timbers to use?

Most of the eucalpyts are cheap enough. I don't know what you mean by machine well. Ironbark is cheap dense strong as steel but you will want carbide tools to work it. I use a bit of bluegum just because I've got it laying around. Spotted gum seems popular aswell.

Remember Autralian hardwoods are amongst the hardest and densest in the world,so any of the eucalypts are going to be tough if you are used to oak and pine.

If you have a power plane you could probably buy untreated fencing stock and dress it yourself. Or ring around timber yards and see if they have anything laying around they want to move on at a good price. You can also get pallets off gumtree for free if you are willing to denail them and dress...

If you want more easily worked timber hoop pine would be a good choice. Cypress splits and I don't think it takes glue and finishes as well as some others.

2c..

Built my bench out of "hardwood" from Bunnies. 195 x 45mm planks of redish/brown hardwood, very heavy and dense. Timber was rough sawn but straight and relatively easy to work . Am happy with the results.
Geoff

Hi Phil,

My work bench is made from Vic Ash which is a pretty common medium density hardwood and easy to mill.

Matthews timber sells it around $15 per meter last time I looked but you should be able to pick up construction grade (not as clean - with some knots and some sapwood) for much cheaper. Checkout Bowens or Gumtree.

Tas Oak is pretty much similar mixed species hardwood.

Sweet thanks for the replies guys, gave me an idea of what to look for.

I used 75mm redgum 'sleepers'

Took a few months to stabilise, weighs a ton (well a lot anyway)

I can hammer in the middle of the ~1500 span with almost no bounce.



Russ

If you're not in a hurry I'd recommend going to a salvage yard and picking up some reclaimed lumber. In Perth the local salvage yard has lengths of Jarrah cheaper than the cost of pine at the local Bunnings.

Just make sure it doesn't contain loads of moisture or nails and you're good to go.