PDA

View Full Version : what timber for workbench top?? Need advise



damai
24th January 2002, 01:28 PM
I am building a workbench. I have made the frame from steel and I need an advise on choices of timber for the top. I like light colour wood for my workbench top, I think it will make working area brighter (probably safer). Most people in WA use jarrah but I was told Wandoo and Tuart have lighter colour and strong. But they are very difficult to get. Can anybody comment perhaps from personal experience. Thanks guys.

Shane Watson
24th January 2002, 02:10 PM
Haha.. Do a search and you will find heaps of info on bench tops!

Seach Function (http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/cgi-bin/search.cgi?action=intro&default=7)

Cheers!

John Saxton
24th January 2002, 09:11 PM
Check out the salvage yards ...they often have the stable Jarrah etc that you require.
Also check out the Sunday Times for the demolition sales in the ad columns..its a good source that I have found helpful from time to time.
Cheers http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif

------------------
Johnno

damai
25th January 2002, 12:32 PM
Thanks guys. I just got a book 'Making Workbenches' by Sam Allen. It's an excellent book. He said hard plywoods 3 or 4 of them sandwiched together make a stable and good workbench top. Even though I wouldn't think it's going to be as strong as jarrah I like the light colour on plywood. If I can't get a wood that I like this weekend I might just use plywood. I will try salvage yard and demolition sales this time. Anybody knows where to get good plywood in Perth?
By the way how can you tell if a piece of wood is stable or not?? From the age??
Thanks again

John Saxton
25th January 2002, 08:37 PM
Generally most salvage timber from a yard will be stable due to its age and will have leached most of the cellulose from within its structure.
One way to check for sure is by using a moisture meter to the moisture content which should be reasonably low in the 10-20% range depending on the climate and humidity but in Perth it should be low.
There are numerous outlets around Perth for your plywood but check you Yellow Pages or business directory for the outlets.
Cheers http://ubb.ubeaut.com.au/ubb/smile.gif

------------------
Johnno

damai
29th January 2002, 12:54 PM
Look like I will need a moisture meter to buy wood from salvage yard. Since dress jarrah etc is expensive, an investment on a meter maybe wise. Can you can recommend a brand to get and the price I expect to pay. Generally speaking for Jarrah how long it takes to dry naturraly (air dried) and what is the moisture content should be before it can be used for furniture making?