Newbie post - Workbench timber

**ubeaut** · 27th November 2001, 12:18 AM

What the hell!

Everyone should do as the apprentices of old in England had to do. They were given the timber to make their own work bench, this was their first project. If they made a good strong bench they were usually going to become good cabinetmakers. If they made a weak unstable bench then it was deemed that their future was not so bright.

By the way that work bench they made was the one thay would use for the rest of their working days as a cabinetmaker for that firm.

I am glad I have good benches and not just bits of wood or mdf on trestles. Although I have been known to use these as well. Especially when the 8 benches are covered in that much junk that you can't find them. Just as a rolling stone gathers no moss. A flat surface gathers lots of junk. At least it does in my workshop. It is called flat surface syndrome ie all flat surfaces must be covered as deeply as possible in as much junk as you can find.

Because of this problem the mdf on the trestles is often much quicker than clearing a bench.

Cheers - Neil.

PS Hey Jeremy - Don't be put off by these philistines. You build the best bench you can and just remember that anyone who calls someone a prissy twit must be a complete and utter nong.

Prissy twit. I ask you.

What next? You're big girls blouse Doorstop.

[This message has been edited by ubeaut (edited 27 November 2001).]

**Iain** · 27th November 2001, 06:39 PM

My workbench, not that I have seen it for a long time, is made of solid redgum, it was in the garage when we bought the house and I swear the legs are 12x12. It is large and heavy and I dread the prospect of ever having to move it as it weighs a ton.
I suspect it used to be a jetty before station pier was built and is of similar construction. Apart from that I use whatever flat surface is availablr at the time, be it a floor, trestles and plank or the B&D workmate (which have declined in quality over the years since the introduction of MDF to replace the plywood top, theres another topic Stoppers).
Like Neil said, if it's flat and static it's going to accumulate 'priceless workshop bric a brac' (junk).

**JackoH** · 29th November 2001, 04:07 PM

Sorry Doorstop! However I must congratulate you on the masterly way you wriggled out of that one!!

I suppose a trestle table does have some attributes as a bench, every so often it would overbalance and dump everything on the floor, then you could start again, with a clear work surface.
Incidentally, I have recently joined the Tritoneers having purchased a Work Centre, Saw, and Router Table. May I say that I am delighted with them ,as for the first time in my life I am able to cut a piece of timber absolutely square, something I could never achieve in the past no matter how hard I tried! and yes I did set the saw up all by myself and found it to be quite a simple exercise. I am sure it helped to have the Triton saw, which in my humble opinion is a brilliant piece of machinery.
I have detected some scorn on the part of the "professional woodies" for Triton equipment, but where else could the enthusiastic amateur obtain machinery capable of doing a pretty good job for the price?
John H.

:

**DPB** · 30th November 2001, 09:48 AM

Right 0n, John - let 'em scoff -it's usually a sign of jealousy anyway!

**Evan Pavlidis** · 7th December 2001, 01:55 AM

Originally posted by jdaniel:
Hi Folks,

My first post - hello to all.

I want to get into woodworking on a hobby level. My first project will be a workbench.

Now I've bought the Scott Landis Workbench book and I think I know what I want. Anyway the question
is where can I source DAR hardwood for the bench top? I'm in the Parramatta area.

What timber do you recommend? I don't have a
thicknesser so I'm after DAR hardwood.

Thanks!
Jeremy

A bit about me seeing as this is my first post. I'm an IT professional - I have built houses in previous years and therefore have accumulated *some* tools. eg Compound Slide saw,Triton, Drill Press, Sanders, router etc.

So I'm part way to having a Workshop - just need to convert the gargage - the Workbench is the first project.

Hi there,

I am currently in the process of building a
workbench using jarrah all round including the the top. I picked up four 2.5 metre lengths 5 inches by 5 inches which were recovered from a demolished fence at a
second hand building materials yard for $90.
(I was very lucky). The only issue was to removed all nails and coach bolts which were
difficult to find under all those coats of paint.
I ripped the timber to size and was fortunate to have a portable thicknesser at reach to clean up and thickness the material.
This was very hard on the steel blades.
The edges I routed using a 2 inch by 3 inch square long dead straight length of aluminium as a guide and an inverse straight cutter with bearing in the router.
You can hire portable thicknesses from TOTAL
Tools for about $70 per day.
Hope this helps.

Cheers,
Evan

P.S. There are several outstanding designs of workbenches at the following site:
www.workbenchworld.com.au

**barrysumpter** · 7th December 2001, 11:53 PM

Evan,
Could you tell us which second had timber yard you puchased from?

------------------
Thanks,
Barry G. Sumpter
Proud Tritoneer

**coastie** · 12th December 2001, 07:18 PM

Whatever you do, do not,repeat do not,use any timber that has been used in or around fish markets.
You wouldn't want that half blind old priest that lives down the road and who used to pass my workshop and would raise his hat and
say
"Good morning ladies!'
as happened to me.

**Evan Pavlidis** · 19th December 2001, 09:24 PM

Originally posted by barrysumpter:
Evan,
Could you tell us which second had timber yard you puchased from?

Hello Barry,

The second hand yard is at Swanston Street
Preston Victoria.

Regards,
Evan

Thread: Newbie post - Workbench timber

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