Simple First Bench

**Milo** · 17th January 2011, 06:12 PM

I have been "skilling up" over the past year and am in need of a half decent bench to replace my terribly bowed old crappy bench.

I spotted what looks like a simple knock up bench off the Fine Woodworking website that I subscribe to. It is from their "Getting Started in Woodworking" series and has 4 4x4 legs that bolt via long threaded rods that are housed in routered out grooves in the stretches. It has a MDF laminated top with the same Groz quick release vice that I currently have. It has bench dogs etc and would serve me a few years till I start to build something my great grand kids will be using.....

It looks plenty enough for me, it is sterdy, adjustable and most of all cheap!! Well so I thought!

I get most of my wood from Moxons and called them up today to enquire about this plan and to get some ideas of "affordable" wood for the base.

They don't really do 4x4 post so the other option is to laminate some 2x4's....

I need 2 x 8 foot long 4x4's and 4x 8 foot long 2x4's...

I was hoping to get some hardwood kiln dried straight and spend about the $350 mark..

seems like I was dreaming!!

The closest suggestion was Jarrah $18 lm = $650 rough...approx

this leads to my plea for suggestions for a kiln dried stable, solid wood that is not going to break the bank but is better than heading down to bunnings and picking up something green? Its going to have a MDF top for goodness sake........

By the way I head down to the big red shed and was gobsmacked at what they want for some reclaimed timber!!!

I am a relitive nooby so some old heads out there please let me know what you think....

A big thanks to all that have posted to my other post in the past, I have learnt so much.

Cheers

Milo

**IanW** · 18th January 2011, 10:30 AM

Milo - for bench legs, you can happily get away with construction grade timber of uncertain moisture content. As long as it's not dripping wet, any shrinkage isn't going to be a major problem for the sort of structure you describe - you seem to be planning to use man-made stuff for the critical parts.

The weight & rigidity of our hardwoods means you can get away with smaller dimensions than 4x4 for legs - 3x3 spotted gum or the likes will make fine sturdy legs.
Using full-length threaded rods to hold the stretchers seems like gross overkill to me. I would use 6" bolts through the legs & into nuts that sit in routed slots in the stretchers. I'd use 6x2s for stretchers - if you make a stub tenon on those & pull them into over-deep mortises with the bolts, they will prevent racking, and you can easily tighten them if any shrinkage loosens the joint.

Where are you in Brisbane? PM me - I might have a few bits of recycled wood that you can have, enough for the legs, at least. My better half would be delighted to see some of my 'treasure' disappearing up the drive.....

Cheers,

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