Thread: Thoughts on a multiple piece benchtop?

A couple of questions:
1. What type of wood work do you intend on doing? small furniture, large furniture, toys etc.
2. What material are you making the top out of? Ply, MDF, hardwood, soft wood.

A couple of thoughts.
1. Some benches had two section tops. benchcrafted has a design for this on their website. veritas has a design using truss rods to keep it together.
2. 42" is very deep. You won't be able to reach across it. Mine is 26" and I can't comfortable work at the back of it. Thicknesser will only go to 12, 16 maybe 20". Then you need another method like falttening it by hand.

At first, I'll be doing some carving, but eventually, I'd like to start constructing furniture of some kind. Perhaps 42" is too deep...I'm making an adjustable angle(semi-portable) carving bench that I can place on top of the regular bench. The woodcarving bench is going to be made from an old futon, thus speeding up the process, but it is pretty bulky. Taking a look at it again, the futon needs 30" minimum to not hang over.

As far as the material goes, I was originally thinking of white pine(as it is common and readily available in my area) but I had considered going with oak, if it isn't too pricey - working with wood is relatively new to me, so I'm not familiar with the prices of lumber.


After thinking about it, I could be over building because I've been using such a small, cruddy bench for far too long. Pics of my current workspace below. Just so you guys know, I'm moving my work area to a different section of the basement where I'll have much more space, where I won't be quite so cluttered.

A big consideration is the space you have available. As that will determine your bench dimensions to a large degree. Also are you a primarily a Darksider (ie handtools) or do you intend to kit out your shed with table saws etc as that could influence design with vices weight and features various.

Andrew

My current workspace is definitely not where the new bench will be placed. I've got a MUCH larger section of the basement that is to be cleared out, and converted for this use.

As far as the types of tools I use, while carving you could call me a darksider, but I do use some power tools(all hand held currently). Most likely, I'll not have a table saw or any larger non-bench top type power tools in my shop, but eventually, I do plan to aquire a small band saw, drill press etc.(again, probably to be bench top types)

Popular Woodworking had an article last year on a bench with the top made in 12"/30cm wide sections. No problems with stability, the sections were lag bolted to the front & back of the trestle legs, vices bolted to the front section, dog holes etc as required. The middle gap had 4 plywood open boxes sitting on cleats fastened to the front & back - the boxes could be open side up as tool/junk storage, or turned open side down to give a clean, flat top. They could even be removed entirely to allow you to use clamps through the centre of the bench.

You can get a CD from them with the article, plans & video of making the bench, which is also designed to knock down into manageable pieces, which also sounds like something that you would find handy. Search for '20th Century Work Bench'.

wow, that is a heck of a bench. Very impressive, although it looks a little out of my price range, as far as materials required.

I've pretty much decided on the size of the bench I'm going to make, as well as what it's to be made from. As this is going to be my first real bench, I'll make the base out of pine(mostly 2x6 lumber), and the top will be a couple of pieces of 3/4" plywood glued and screwed together. Going this route will make me a functional bench, if not pretty. Also, this will save me money, which will enable me to purchase more tools(thus justifying the future construction of a better bench). Once I've got a design pretty much finalized, I'll post a sketchup drawing and ask some more opinions.

Thanks,
Erik

So, I've got my materials list made up, and should be getting the materials to build this weekend. The top will be two pieces of 3/4 plywood(as stated above), 32" deep by 72" long. My question to you guys, is what will be the best way to attach the top to the base? The plywood sheets will be stacked on top of each other, glued, and possibly screwed. I want to be sure I can add a bench vice or two later on, and I don't want screws getting in the way of my work, or any alterations I will make down the line. would L-brackets work alright, or is there a preferable method?

Take a look at these videos from Taunton/FWW. The ones on the workbench are near the end of Season two.

Getting Started in Woodworking: More Woodworking Basics for Beginners