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Thread: workbench

  1. #1
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    Default workbench

    i am going to be constructing a workbench for my major work at school. i am unsure as to what timbers to use. i am wanting to use jarrah, but being a student the cost is a bit to much. i have a partime job, but it only ays so much. i have picvked uyp a lot of extra shifts a week so maybe i can use it, but i need to know what other timbers are suitable for a workbench. the legs are going to be either 90 x 90, or 75 x 75. and the rails will be ewither 90 x 35, or 75 x 35. it measures 1700 long x 900 high x 600 deep. for nowe i am costruc ting the frame only.

    please give me some ideas on suitable timbers, as i am really sdtuck.and please consiude3r the cost of the timber as i am trying to not spend heaps.

    thanks

    Rhys

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  3. #2
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    Default

    Hi

    Almost any kind of timber will produce a good workbench. Pine in the sizes you describe will be suitable for a workbench.

    Perhaps much of what you want to achieve is the appearance of the workbench. If this is the case then Jarrah is no doubt a beatiful timber for creating workbenches.

    Have you thought of sourcing some seconhand Jarrah? As you probably now know, Jarrah is difficult to obtain and very expensive to buy, even here in WA the home of Jarrah.

    Secondhand Jarrah when dressed/refurbished still maintains its great red colour. Also secondhand Jarrah is likely to be available in larger sizes.

    My workbench is made of 25mm square tube and a thick mdf top - with a replaceable 6mm mdf surface. This is bolted to the wall. Apearance is zero but functionality is 110%

    Good luck with your project, I am sure we would all like to see the final result.
    Kind Regards

    Peter

  4. #3
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    Default

    Most timbers are good for a bench. Some just look better than others. If you are on a budget(like most of us) then check out the recycled timber dealers. There is the extra work of denailing and care must be taken not to put nails or metal through the planer. Have you asked your teacher if he knows any sources of timber at budget rates. Check out the timber and the buy sell and swap sections of this site.

    Good luck with the project

    John

  5. #4
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    Thumbs up Workbench.

    G'day Rhys.
    Your budget is certainly going to be a problem so you need to find out how much the timber you choose or can afford effects the overall result. In other words, are the examiners looking for quality of workmanship or pretty timber or both?
    Secnond hand timber can be picked up at demolition yards and perhaps even you local tip
    It might pay you to comb through the classifieds in your local paper/s.
    Perhaps you can put an ad int the local paper/s yourself.
    There ought to be plenty of good recyclable timber in your area _ Grey Gum, Blue Gum, Brush Box, Ironbark, Blackbutt, Turpentine. You might even be lucky enough to crack ont some Tallowwood.
    All the above suggestions are great, so take note.
    Good luck.

  6. #5
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    Default

    i am going to be going to some timber yards soon, recycled timber and non recycled. so i will be seeing the costs of the timber and what prices i am looking at. i am hooping to use a hardwood, but you all seem tyo say that any timebr will be fine. i am going to not be using radiata pine as i have been using it my whole schooling life, so anything but radiata pine. the markers are looking for mainly workmanship, not overall aesthetics, so i guess it doesn't matter on the timber type, but it has to relate to the function. example:

    why did you use treated pine on an indoor coffee table??

    thanks for the help, i will basically be goign to a cheapish but stylish timber that can withstand abuse, but is readily available.

    thanks for the help, keep it coming.
    Rhys

  7. #6
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    ok a have done some searching on the froum and it seems that pine is widely used by many to construct workbenches. i think i may use it, but for the frame i may stain it a different colour, to gewt some contrast. keepo the ideas coming.

    Rhys

  8. #7
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    You able to source some recyled hardwood out of houses in common sizes. the price would be very little more if not the same as new pine.

    most hardwood from second hand yards is de nailed so all you need to do is dress it and fill any big holes with resin.

    the legs can be laimineted from smaller sections.

    i would think that the markers would give better marks if you use recyled. plus you will have some great pictures of the process.

    what type of bench top are you thinking off using.

    there is a lot of beatuful austrailan hardwoods look out for say iron bark/spotted gum these are local species to nth nsw better than using jarra which is from the other side of the country.

    you could also use new hardwood from a yard but buy F27 strutual hardwood it is cheaper than select grade and be ok for a work bench.

  9. #8
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    I would probably do the frame all out of 90 x 45 ....it would be heavy enough to sit by itself .....and spend the savings on a decent top.....some ideas for a solid top .....MDF 20mm sheet glued and screwed to the frame and then used hardwood flooring glued to that.....with a nice trim around the outside to finish it off and or provide support for a vice....most woodablle benches I know of have a "valley" in the centre to provide grip to smaller woodpieces and also peg holes to peg projects together to work on .....it would end up quite a solid table .....I would tend to stay clear of plywood as a top ....it tends to splinter in places you dont want it too and ends up being more trouble than its worth ...

    depending on how well you shop the project would be around $130-150 mark .....without the vice .....and one of those may be bought from the trading post , or ebay etc ....second hand

  10. #9
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    yeah i have been looking around at vices. i think i am going to be going with a couple of vicxes from carbatec. i recently boutgh some hold down fasteners from there for this project, and i will be buying some basic vices, and bench dogs.

    i was thinking of making the top from a hardwood, or even just a thick (50mm) peice of pine. but the floor boards sounds goo, will have to look into that.

    Thanks.
    Rhys

  11. #10
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    Rhys, have you seen the post in Buy,Sell'N'Swap under "Free hardwood for workbenches etc " by boban? The post was on 16th December.

    I think the timber is now spoken for but if you were to pm boban and explain your situation you may be in with a chance for the small quantity you would require. The timber is from a 100 yr old house so it would be well seasoned!

    Laminate the benchtop in strips around 50mm deep. It does not matter if each strip is not the length of the top, just make sure they butt neatly on end and stagger the joins.

    Good luck with the project.

    prozac

  12. #11
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    You could try concretes or builders as well for 19 mm form ply (construction ply) I have my work bench top made out of it and boy it takes some knocking thy have off cuts from time to time ask around. best of luck and let us know how you go?

  13. #12
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    what vice do you recommend for a workbench. keep in mind i will be buying two, and that they are for a first workbench. so is a basic vice the way to go, or should i get something a bit more advanced??

    give me suggestions, and if an online site a link. thanks.

    Rhys

    P.S i was thinking of goign with something like this as a baisc vice:

    http://www.carbatec.com.au/store/ind...342adda05335c8

    or something like thisd for a bit advanced vice:

    http://www.carbatec.com.au/store/ind...342adda05335c8

    thoughts.

    thanks again.
    Rhys

  14. #13
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    I reckon Jarrah would be pretty expensive up your way Rhys. There are a lot of really ideal timbers grown up your way though. Spotted Gum being the king of them all. It is stiff hard and looks great as well.

    The vices you are looking at are both good. I have the carbatec large front vice myself and it is a good vice. The Dawn style is great for the end and many have their benches set up that way with two vices one on the front and one on the end.

    I would be looking around demolition yards to see what is available, structural grade timber will be more than good enough. Select is for the wealthy establishment in high end homes. I do think you want timber that will take anything you throw at it. So Spotted Gum, Ironbark, Tallowood, Sydney Blue Gum, Black Butt, Mesmate, Flooded Gum, Grey Gum, would all be good amongst many others.

    Studley
    Aussie Hardwood Number One

  15. #14
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    just another question. is the second vice i have listed, does anyone have a picture of how it is mounted on the workbench? is it mounted from the underside of the benchtop? just curious as i need to research all of this. also, is that same vice suitable for clamping small, average size bits of timber, or is more suiteed to bigger peicess? if it is not suited for small peices of tmber, should i mauybe get one of each of the above vices??

    thanks
    Rhys

  16. #15
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    Will get back to you on that tomorrow Rhys I have one and mine has been beaten around needs a new piece of timber fixed to it which I should have fixed ages ago.

    You know in many ways benchstops or dogs are better than a vice so consider your options.

    Studley
    Aussie Hardwood Number One

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