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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Shanghai
    Posts
    102

    Default What kind of table would be suitable for use as a work bench?

    Hi,

    I've decided that I'd like to do most of my woodworking at home, as my club's workshop is a 3 hour round trip from my flat.

    My idea is to get a wooden table from IKEA and attach a vice to the top of it.

    I was wondering if anyone could give me some tips as to how heavy and big the table would need to be? Also, what size vice would be best?

    I plan to use the bench for planing, chopping mortises, sawing etc. The biggest items I'll be making are probably laundry box sized boxes.

    Any help would be great )

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Shanghai
    Posts
    102

    Default

    Oh, just found this vise on the Lee Valley website. Maybe I coul just attach this to my dining room table instead (when the girlfriend's out of course

    In-Line Vise - Lee Valley Tools

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2006
    Location
    Perth
    Posts
    27,756

    Default

    Most Ikea tables would not be able to cope with the sideways forces that woodworking generates without significant strengthening.

    What about two of these adjustable FINNVARD Trestle with shelf - IKEA and solid core door?
    That way you get adjustable height as well.

    However for that much money you could buy a fair amount of salvaged timber and make yourself a very nice bench

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    back in Alberta for a while
    Age
    68
    Posts
    12,006

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Russell Cook View Post
    Hi,

    I've decided that I'd like to do most of my woodworking at home, as my club's workshop is a 3 hour round trip from my flat.

    My idea is to get a wooden table from IKEA and attach a vice to the top of it.

    I was wondering if anyone could give me some tips as to how heavy and big the table would need to be? Also, what size vice would be best?

    I plan to use the bench for planing, chopping mortises, sawing etc. The biggest items I'll be making are probably laundry box sized boxes.

    Any help would be great )
    from time to time I've looked at the Ikea stuff to see if it could be converted to a workbench
    I think a couple of the IKEA solid laminated bench tops and thick enough to work as a top

    for a base I'd be looking at something like the GROLAND kitchen island or the Varde base cabinet, reinforced with a sheet of ply at the back to prevent racking. Look in the seconds/return area for a bargain.
    The trick is to visit IKEA and apply the hip shove test to their long narrow kitchen benches. One or two of IKEA's free standing benches have passed that test in the past

    alternatively build yourself one of these
    Lee Valley Apartment Workbench Plan - Lee Valley Tools
    regards from Alberta, Canada

    ian

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Central Coast
    Age
    77
    Posts
    824

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Russell Cook View Post
    Hi,

    I've decided that I'd like to do most of my woodworking at home, as my club's workshop is a 3 hour round trip from my flat.

    My idea is to get a wooden table from IKEA and attach a vice to the top of it.

    I was wondering if anyone could give me some tips as to how heavy and big the table would need to be? Also, what size vice would be best?

    I plan to use the bench for planing, chopping mortises, sawing etc. The biggest items I'll be making are probably laundry box sized boxes.

    Any help would be great )
    Hi Russel this bench may suit your needs the measurements are imperial but should not worry you just change to metric if need to.
    Myself I can go either way.... At this point I must make it very clear that we only talking plans in wood work or metal work…. My humour
    I would use merbau I think if only for the reason it is so easy to obtain from all the larger hardware stores that supply timber www.timber.net.au - The Australian Database of Timber - Merbau
    Hope this helps PM me if I can help with anything else for the building of the bench Colbra
    Attached Files Attached Files
    May your saw stay sharp and your nails never bend

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Central Coast
    Age
    77
    Posts
    824

    Default

    Russell

    OOPS Just read were you live disregard what does not apply to your area.......Shangha
    Colbra
    May your saw stay sharp and your nails never bend

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Location
    Shanghai
    Posts
    102

    Default

    Thanks for the feedback guys.

    I decided to go for the inline vise from my second post in the end. My plan is to attach it to my dining table and see what happens - nothing ventured, nothing gained )

    I'll post about my experiences when I it arrives, should be next week sometime.

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