Thread: Is this okay for a bench top?

It will probably be ok. The trick is keeping them flat while you glue, because you have effectively engineered a laminated product and whatever undulations, curves and waves you include will be there for ever.

Woodworkers use planks because imperfections can be planed off in the final finishing. You do need a flat surface to glue up on and clamps or devices to exert pressure in the middle as well as the outside.

I made some wardrobe doors recently out of two sheets of MDF glued together. It was the same problem for me.

Regards
Paul

Another thought. You could also put a thin (5/6mm) sheet of ply on the top as a sacrificial surface. If it is carefully screwed down you just hoist it when it becomes too damaged and replace it with another sheet

Regards
Paul.

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

It will probably be ok. The trick is keeping them flat while you glue, because you have effectively engineered a laminated product and whatever undulations, curves and waves you include will be there for ever.

Woodworkers use planks because imperfections can be planed off in the final finishing. You do need a flat surface to glue up on and clamps or devices to exert pressure in the middle as well as the outside.
Regards
Paul

I was thinking (maybe it's considered sacrilege) that I would use my nail gun with "T" nails to fix the sheets together. I was going to do it in two parts, not try to put all 3 sheets together in one go.

You would absolutely have to do a two stage job, no mater how you laminated the sheets.

I would be ver wary of the nail gun approach on the top layer, Too much chance of sharp edges- eg. chisels- coming into contact with the metal heads.

You could certainly do the bottom two sheets with the nail gun. work from the middle out to help eliminate lumps and bumps.

Originally Posted by artme

You could certainly do the bottom two sheets withthe nail gun. work from the middle out to help eliminate lumps and bumps.

Thanks, what sort of nail spacing would you recommend.

Mike you maight find this link to the forums helpful:

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f213/p...nch-top-86776/

Regards
Paul

Hello Mike,
My bench is a few years old now and made in a similar way to yours ,it is working well. A throw away top layer is a good idea as is placing extra timber under the top to aid fitting of your vices. I glued (Maxbond) and screwed ( chipboard screws) mine, there is no sign of movement.
Regards, Bill

Instead of nailing, why don't you glue/screw, then remove the screws once the glue has dried. Screws act as a temp clamp, if you use a sacrificial top then the screw holes won't be obtrusive.

Originally Posted by Mychael

I know it's not as good as solid timber but it's only for light duty work.
I was thinking of 3 sheets of 900 x 600 x 12mm exterior 5 ply. I was going to get 3 sheets and bond them together then mount them on a frame.
I don't like MDF or chipboard so thought ply would be a better way to go.

Mike

Mike
36mm of laminated ply will be as good or better than solid timber of the same thickness.
However, the challenge will be gluing the sheets together so there is NO bow or twist.
A successfull glue up requires a dead flat surface to reference from -- but if you have one you can use 20kg bags of sand placed on top as "clamps" .

a better low cost option is probably laminated beams -- I can't think of the Aussie trade name -- because these can be flattened after assembly

Originally Posted by Bushmiller

Mike you maight find this link to the forums helpful:

https://www.woodworkforums.com/f213/p...nch-top-86776/

Regards
Paul

Thanks Paul.

Thanks everyone for your input.
I was going to use the kitchen bench as my flat reference and was planning on placing some cross pieces of timber underneath for extra support.
I have now obtained the ply, I went through the pile as carefully as I could and selected 3 sheets that appear to all be very flat.

Any suggestions for the adheshive I should use?

Mike

Mike
I'd use good old aquahere -- you can spread it with a paint roller and it's plenty strong enough

don't put beams under your glue up just lay some grease proof paper on th kitchen bench top to stop the panel becoming stuck to the bench

Sorry should have been more clear. I'll add cross pieces to my frame build.
I like aquahere so glad you think it's ok. Easy to apply and easy cleanup.

If you can get access to a joiner's shop that has a door press , and the use of it over a weekend , go for it .
Use aliphatic glue , lots of it , and laminate all three layers at once.