Thread: Cyprus Pine as a bench top?

Originally Posted by Redbeard

I'm looking around for a top for my structural grade timber workbench and have come across some Cyprus pine, 300x75, and was wondering what it might be like for a 600x75 top?

Haven't seen the stuff or got a price yet. Just wondering about general suitability.

Thanks
Redbeard

It could look very good and very interesting but a couple of issues

1. It is relatively soft for a bench top
2. It usually very knotty
3. It is very prone to splitting (but well fixed or glued should be manageable)
4. You had better like the smell

I wouldn't use it. My benches are out of jarrah and tassie oak

Regards

Peter

Softness is not a problem, I don't feel as though cypress is that soft anyways.
Mines oregon (soft) and is great.

The knots a b...ch, though?

As it ages and drys out it get hell splintery.

Best work bench timber is the timber you have.

Originally Posted by Lumber Bunker

Softness is not a problem, I don't feel as though cypress is that soft anyways.
Mines oregon (soft) and is great.

The knots a b...ch, though?

As it ages and drys out it get hell splintery.

Best work bench timber is the timber you have.

My woodwork bench is made out of Cypress, and has copped a battering for 20yrs. It is heavy; the timber is hard, yes its knotty, doesn't smell now unless you sand it, and can split if you try nailing or screwing without a pilot hole. Splintery? Not on the worked surfaces, and the splinters don't have those barbs and fur you get with Euc's... they come out easier!
I bolted mine together, all joints with through-bolts and housed nuts. All in all its a good timber for a bench IMO, and easy to get hold of around here in decent sizes.

Cheers

It should be ok as long as it is seasoned. It is hard enough and is used as flooring. I would be looking for quarter sawn if you intend using the full 300mm wide boards otherwise rip down to 100mm and glue up a work top in the usual way.
My only issue with it for a bench top would be the knots could make finding small screws and things hard to see.
Regards
John

Thanks guys.

Sounds like I need to have a look at this stuff. The knots sound a bit of an issue, I do want a fairly clean top (I'm resisting ply).

I don't mind the smell of cyprus, just about any wood smells good to me.

There's a big lump of lami-beam I want to have a closer look at down at my local salvage yard. Just have to get this cast off my arm and this little project will be done in a flash.

Cheers
Redbeard

My main workshop benchtop is cypress - it's very hard and easily handles all the punishment I dish out to it.

With respect to the knots, with cypress they are normally tight, hard knots (i.e. they don't shrink and fall out) and may only an issue if you are finishing the top using hand tools.