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17th November 2016, 08:05 PM #1
Nicholson knock down build - timber advice needed
As much as I love my B&D workmate it's time for a real bench so I'm planning on building a Nicholson knock down bench. I'm renting and will likely be moving early next year so I need something that I can take apart by myself and transport when necessary.
The apron hook will be replaced with a front vice but I'll probably keep the dog holes and go down the hold fast route as they seem like they would make life a lot easier.
I don't own a jointer or thicknesser so I'll need to buy some dressed timber that's ready to go. The plans call for 38mm thick timber in 140mm, 190mm & 290mm widths. I'm thinking of using treated pine due to price I'm open to suggestions, the length needed for each size is below.
140mm: 10 metres
240mm: 10 metres
290mm: 4 metres
Prices online are pretty non-existent in Perth so I've really only got Aus-tim's price list to go off but I'm very new to this stuff so I don't know if I'm overpaying or not. Can someone take a look at the prices below and let me know how they sound?
H3 F7 Structural Dressed Pine
45 x 140mm - $8.99 per lineal metre
45 x 240mm - $16.71 per lineal metre
45 x 290mm - $24.11 per lineal metre (only available in 6 metre lengths though)
Total cost for timber is around the $400 mark with a couple of metres left over in each board size. Already got the front vise and I've sourced all my knockdown hardware, will be using some big M16 T-nuts that are quite similar to the mounting plates called for in the original plans.
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17th November 2016, 08:11 PM #2
If anyone is interested in the T-nuts check the link below. Still need to pick them up in person but they look very sturdy in the picture (top left) and are only $2.95 each + GST.
"T" Nuts | Flexliner | Levelling Feet
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18th November 2016, 09:04 AM #3
somewhere I have the issue of Popular woodworking where Chris Schwarz goes though building this bench.
Things to note
1. Chris used threaded steel plates rather than T-nuts to retain the bolts.
2. Chris buys his bench timber at his local home center -- i.e. Bunnings. He buys wood intended for framing houses. Where we would use a 4 x 2 hardwood, the Yanks use 2 x 6 softwood.
3. Chris buys large dimension wood 2 x 6 (140 x 38), 2 x 10 (240 x 38) and 2 x 12 (290 x 38), because it comes from bigger trees and usually has fewer knots and is straighter. If you can find straight mostly knot free 4 x 2s it will be a fine substitution -- you'll just need to do some edge or face jointing.
4. Chris times his bench wood buying to coincide with when his home center opens a new pack of wood -- that way he gets to sort through the pack for the best lengths.
5. Don't discount the versatility of a crochet combined with a Moxon style vice and/or planing stops on the bench itself.
I'm not sure that treated pine is a suitable bench timber. Untreated would be better.
apart from the weight (and looks) you could substitute 25 or 38 mm MDF when making the legs and aprons of the bench.regards from Alberta, Canada
ian
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18th November 2016, 10:59 AM #4GOLD MEMBER
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Since you're in WA, I would do everything I could to source Jarrah. Look on Gumtree and find it recycled, go chop down a tree... whatever you gotta do. If you can't get Jarrah, look for another Eucalypt. In my opinion they're among the best workbench woods in the world.
Cheers,
Luke
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18th November 2016, 11:35 AM #5
Actually wound up buying that issue in PDF form, figured it would be better than trying to nut out the plans by eye.
Regarding the mounting plates, I've looked around and really struggled to find anything similar locally. Some construction suppliers have similar plates for hanging threaded rod but they have minimum quantities and they're not small.
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18th November 2016, 11:37 AM #6
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18th November 2016, 12:45 PM #7Woodworking mechanic
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This is a timber yard near me that actually has online prices. Some are good some not so, but I use it frequently for comparisons of timber prices so I have some idea of cost while planning a job.
https://www.nst.net.au/#about
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18th November 2016, 12:52 PM #8
Cheers Lappa, always handy to have a comparison that ain't Bunnings!
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18th November 2016, 01:56 PM #9
bueller
I should have included in my earlier post that Chris's preferred wood for bench building is whatever is the cheapest from your local supplier. That's why he shops at his local home center.regards from Alberta, Canada
ian
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18th November 2016, 02:15 PM #10
Cheers Ian! I'm thinking I should probably cruise around to a few yards and see what they have in stock, at least then I can get a decent feel for what's available on the ground here in Perth. Definitely not keen on getting stuff from Bunnings, the last few times I've been there looking it's been really hard finding stuff that's not warped to hell.
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18th November 2016, 02:34 PM #11GOLD MEMBER
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I would be very, very careful in making deliberate efforts to make your bench lighter. This is something you'll appreciate a few times throughout the life of the bench, but absolutely hate for the other time that you're actually using the bench.
My first bench was too light, and it took almost no effort to skate it across the floor while planing. It drove me absolutely insane. It reached a point where I was ready to just throw in the towel with the hobby.
Money, sure. That's a good reason not to use hardwoods (but I still recommend them), but if you focus too much on reducing weight - which is a cardinal "do not" rule when building a bench - then just keep in mind not to reduce it too much.
To further reference the Chris Schwarz book, I'm pretty sure one of his pillars of good bench construction is "Always add mass".
Good luck,
Luke
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18th November 2016, 02:58 PM #12
38mm MDF is relatively inexpensive and a good way to add mass.
What I've donefor extra mass is store my clamps on the bench's shelf.
The trick with shopping for bench building wood at Bunnings et al is to wait till a new pack of timber is opened and pounce on the "good" stuffregards from Alberta, Canada
ian
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18th November 2016, 03:02 PM #13
The legs will be 90mm x 140mm with a 90mm thick top and 45mm thick aprons, does that sound solid?
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18th November 2016, 03:05 PM #14
Re: Bunnings timber - ahhh yes the last few times I've been looking there the racks have been half empty, I was probably there just before new packs were opened.
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18th November 2016, 03:35 PM #15
Just picked up the T-nuts, they're very good quality for the price. 3mm thick zinc plated steel with each one weighing in at 74g.
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