Thread: Beginner: Advice needed (mainly wood selection)

Burn Toast, welcome aboard.

I started woodworking one year ago. I've got a real good set of plans for a workbench called the "Weekend Workbench". It's supposed to take a weekend to build. The strength comes from the construction. I used Pine for the frame. The legs are mortis and tennon joined to the cross pieces. This is easy to do because the legs are made up of two laminated 4 x2's. The mortis is cut prior to lamination.

The top is 3 sheets of 18mm MDF laminated together, covered with a sheet of 4mm high density masonite. As you see, your suggestion is far below the strenght you will require.


Regards - Woodchuck Canuck

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Woodchuck Canuck
Good luck is the residue of good planning!

http://www.woodworkersworkshop.com/d.../index-11.html
This should throw a spanner in the works for you!!!

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Thanks for all that... I think - even more confused now

One of the workbench articles from that list of links made, what sounds like, a pretty sensible comment - in that, beginners should first make a pretty simple bench, and then when you get better (and know more about what you need in a bench) you can build then build the ultimate one to suit your needs. The simpler bench being easier to build (important for a beginner), thereby allowing me to go ahead and learn enough to build a better bench properly... sounds pretty good to me.

All that still leaves me with some decisions though - The plan I was looking at previous to that horrendus list of never ending links (thanks for that ) just used 4x4s for the legs and 1.5" maple for the bench top (although reading through some of those other plans, they nearly all have significantly thicker tops).

I think I've pretty much got the legs worked out then - either the 90x90mm pine, or two 2x4s stuck together should be ok... the top I still have a bit to think about though. I don't think I'll go quite so thick as some of the plans used (sounds like they're made to stop high rev power tools launching into the atmosphere), but maybe try to get a thickness around the 2"...

With this being the first thing I'm trying to make though, I'm a little aprehensive about laminating two lengths of wood together (maybe I'm worrying over nothing), because it seems to me that unless both lengths are totally flat, there will be problems... and I don't know how easy it'll be for me to get them both totally flat... I feel more confident doing things like mortise and tennons at this stage then laminating

OK, to throw another spanner into the works

Ignore the American workbench plans. Ignore anything that looks like it's meant to last 50 years. Build something simple, cheap and within your capabilities & your tools.

Assuming you want to build a bench 600mm x 2400mm (good size), go buy yourself about 7 2.4m lengths of regular pine framing timber, 2x3's. Buy 2 x 600x1200mm sheets of MDF - preferably at least 16mm, 25mm if you can get it. If you can carry (& get easily) a single piece 600x2400mm, do it. Try your local Mr Plywood or cabinet shop suppliers, they should cut to size.

Build the bench at a comfortable working height (about 760mm is OK for me). Half lap the 2x3's throughout, and either glue & bolt or glue & heavy screws for each joint. Build 2 end frames with a rail at the top and a rail about 200mm from the bottom. 4 rails (2 at top, 2 at 200mm from the ground) join the end frames together. Half lap more 2x3 between the two top rails every 300mm preferably to support the top. Screw the top down. Done.

Buy yourself a half reasonable (preferably Bosch or Makita, at least Dewalt) compound mitre saw and the workbench is dead easy to build. You'll also need a cordless drill/driver, a hand saw & chisels for the half lap joints.

I've got 3 benches just like this, or variations on the theme. As long as you get nice straight pine and use a decent frame structure it's plenty strong enough for 99% of what most people do.

Don't use pine for the top - dents too easy. Use at least 16mm MDF for any benchtop, but 25mm is better. Unsupported it will sag with time, with supports on 3-400mm centres it is just fine. Remember if you don't glue the top you can just unscrew & replace it later. As long as it's supported properly you can easily screw down another sheet or two over the top later if you need to (I didn't).

The two rails at 200mm from the ground make an ideal shelf - or for drawers/cupboards as I have.

I can knock up one of these benches in less than a day easily. Main thing is to get all the bits that are supposed to the same length, the same length - and get the ends square That's where the mitre saw is real winner, makes it dead easy.

Your local bookstore should have a few decent books that will show you all the basics of the various joints & techniques - well worth it.

BTW - Welcome You're getting into a great hobby - hope you enjoy it half as much as I do

please delete me Neil or ...hehe

[This message has been edited by Shane Watson (edited 24 October 2002).]

Welcome aboard,

check out this site to get an idea for work bench plans; well worth a look and you can then plan to suit your needs as I have.
www.workbenchworld.com.au

I sourced some jarrah fence posts from a second hand building materials yard and had to go through the enormous task of denailing,
rip sawing and dressing the timber to size, but it was all worth it.

Enjoy your first project and many more

Thanks guys - I think I know what I want now... probably go with the 25mm MDF for the top, maybe even throw a couple of extra supports under it first... basically, as long as it is sturdy, and has a storage shelf, then I should be happy

Now all I've got to do is source the timber and buy the tools, start doing that next week hopefully... then there's no turning back

I'm new here too - been reading a while, but never posted anything.

Quick note on your bench top. You'll find new MDF 25mm thick is pretty expensive. I just built a bench like you're aiming at and found a demolition/salvage yad full of old bits of bench top. You can pick and choose a nice flat piece the size you want and you'll find a fraction of the cost.

Good luck shopping

Thanks... that's one of the things I was slightly worried about actually, although from the prices I've checked already, it might not be too bad - even if I do end up going for new.

Might have to compromise on the length a little though. Bunnings have 1800x600x12mm MDF for $22.53 (haven't checked anywhere else yet) - sticking two of them together might work out ok, I don't think I'd want anything smaller than that (length or width)... I'll definitely look for some second hand stuff first though.

Somehow I think I'll wait until after my next paycheck comes in anyway before I go and buy anything (couple of weeks)... I'm already off to a bad start with the wife - from the sounds of things, she's already bought me a drill for christmas (who buys christmas presents this early anyway???) and now she's that I want to start woodworking because it means I'll have to go and buy one and it's ruined her present!

Not off to a good start, might have to play this one tactfully - LOL.

BurntToast, don't dispair about the drill... just go and buy the biggest,bestest one there is, and tell her you always need a spare drill anyway....

Kev

Please dont buy timber from Bunnies not even MDF (if you can call that timber) the prices are abolutely outrageous, they may be barely competitive on very common items like 90x45 or 70x45 pine but the price you mentioned for MDF is just OUTRAGEOUS.

Here are 2 links where you can see prices or download their price list, even that I bought stuff from both places I do not recomend or not recomend them, it is just to give you an idea of what you expect to pay for at "Non Bunnies"
http://www.buildex.net.au/pricelists/sheettimbers.htm
http://www.nst.net.au/search.html

Good luck

Jack

Another thought on this one. I picked up 3 rolled edge laminated bench tops about 30mm thick & very sturdy. Used them to make 3 desks for my office. Picked them up from a local outfit that makes them for the kitchen trade - unclaimed orders etc. Paid about $200 for the 3 I think - not much more expensive than MDF for a bench top really.

You could buy a full 2440x1220mm sheet of 16mm MDF from Mr Plywood or whoever, have it cut to 2 x 2440x610mm and screw both down as a benchtop. Should cost under $50 if you get a reasonable price, trade prices can be sub $40 as this is the most popular thickness.

This could have been a gloat if I was a bit quicker, a few months ago a local bank was closing down (fairly common I think) and all the counters were coming out and being thrown into a skip.
If only.....
I wasn't on my way to work
I had a trailer on
etc etc
I could have had a load of this.
Watch out for bank closures and shop fit outs.
Mate of mine is a shop fitter and he just throws the stuff away, call a shop fitter and ask where his next job is and can you have the throw outs.

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