Work benches

**Daddles** · 14th December 2003, 11:18 AM

I'll be building a 12' long workbench next year for boat building (yes, I've seen the post on the boat building forum).

It'll be bashed on, sawn on, planed on and against, will have two large vices fitted flush to the front, little poke up thingies to push against while planing. 12' long because I'll be working with planks the length of the boat (so in a couple of years, those planks'll be longer than the bench).

Any thoughts on what or how I should build it?
Is the traditional bench with it's hardwood top better than a steel frame and heavy chipboard top?
Then there's the question of cost - I'm too scared to price this thing in any form.

Cheers
Richard

**derekcohen** · 14th December 2003, 12:00 PM

Richard

I like the idea of two face vices at the front of a bench since these allow you to clamp long sections of timber for planing. My workbench is set up like this. Save yourself big $$$ and get the largest Chinese made imitations of the #52 1/2 ED Record vices sold at Carba-tec. I have used two for several years with faultless service. ($89 each, verses $219 for the Records)

A 12' long bench will need to be very solid and well-braced to avoid racking. This usually means lots of thick timber and extra supports. One option is to build and bolt the bench against a long wall.

Since you're going to do a lot of unmentionables to the tabletop, make the top replaceable by building a laminated one out of three layers of 13mm MDF, or thicker if you can find such, and a top layer of ply.

Regards from Perth

Derek

**Daddles** · 14th December 2003, 03:42 PM

You mean the $89 are the cheap ones? The question of vices has been depressing me. I saw a couple I like at Gasweld yesterday - wide and deap ... and about a hundred bucks.

The MDF laminate with a ply top is a good thought. Any suggestions on laminating glue?

Bollting it to the wall isn't an option because my plywood store (8x4 sheets) will have to go behind the bench. That's what happens when you try to squeeze a double garage work area plus a boat into a single garage. The term 'challenge' springs to mind.

Cheers
Richard

**Caliban** · 14th December 2003, 05:55 PM

That's what happens when you try to squeeze a double garage work area plus a boat into a single garage.

I should be so lucky.
cheers
Jim

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