Thread: Solid-Core Door Workbench - WIP

Originally Posted by Christos

That space is well organized.

Not for long. Already, it's beginning to look a bit 'lived-in'. I'll have to get the shelves etc arranged pretty quckly.

Nice work! Looks solid )

Originally Posted by Daniel99

Nice work! Looks solid )

Thanks Daniel.

I made the first of the clamp racks today, from some of the plywood offcuts. No more clamps lined up on the end of the bench.
I'll make another the same to go directly under this one, about 60cm lower, then some chisel etc racks in the same style.

Nice Bench, how strong is the top with the Solid core Door ? I can not remember did you skin the top with 12mm Ply ?

I am looking at maybe making my top out of pin 70x 30mm as I can buy locally second hand for $1 /lm

Kat.

Originally Posted by Hermit

I made the first of the clamp racks today, from some of the plywood offcuts. No more clamps lined up on the end of the bench.
I'll make another the same to go directly under this one, about 60cm lower, then some chisel etc racks in the same style.

But Steve, The rack is only half full.....room for heaps more clamps.
Looks good; great use of off cuts.
Cheers, crowie

Originally Posted by Geekgirl

Nice Bench, how strong is the top with the Solid core Door ? I can not remember did you skin the top with 12mm Ply ?

I am looking at maybe making my top out of pin 70x 30mm as I can buy locally second hand for $1 /lm

Kat.

I used 3/4" ply screwed on top of the 1 1/4" door, making a total of 50mm benchtop thickness. Finished with spray (aerosol) Estapol. It's strong and solid.

$1/m is cheap. Is that 30mm thick or 70mm thick? 30 would be a bit thin.
My vice really needed 80mm, but I made a pair of spacers to take up the extra 30mm.

Originally Posted by crowie

But Steve, The rack is only half full.....room for heaps more clamps.
Looks good; great use of off cuts.
Cheers, crowie

I have plenty more clamps to finish filling that rack and partly fill another. They're in use at the moment on my wheel-making rig. I like a little space between scew-type clamps, too, for turning the handles.

The offcuts were the same length as the bench width, so I considered scewing the rack across the top of the right-hand end legs under the benchtop, but that would have been too low to easily reach.

Originally Posted by Hermit

I used 3/4" ply screwed on top of the 1 1/4" door, making a total of 50mm benchtop thickness. Finished with spray (aerosol) Estapol. It's strong and solid.

$1/m is cheap. Is that 30mm thick or 70mm thick? 30 would be a bit thin.
My vice really needed 80mm, but I made a pair of spacers to take up the extra 30mm.

70mm Thick, my vice needs 95mm (doing a 12mm ply top as sacrificial top) so 82 is not bad then using a 19mm board to pad out the vice

looking at ~53 lm Is going to be fun buying all that

Kat,

Originally Posted by Geekgirl

70mm Thick, my vice needs 95mm (doing a 12mm ply top as sacrificial top) so 82 is not bad then using a 19mm board to pad out the vice

Sounds like the top will be nice and solid.

looking at ~53 lm Is going to be fun buying all that

You'll be in for a fun time.
I took the easy way out and got my timber delivered. Only $15 deliv for a load, from Home Hardware. The actual cost of the timber, though, was another matter.

I have a merc Vito the roof rack can carry 150Kg SWL plus can slide some in the back if they are under 3.3m

The ply I can get from Austim near by for $35 + GST for a 2400x 1200 12mm CD ply

Thanks to the members on this forum, I am learning where to buy things cheap and alternatives that make great sense

Originally Posted by Geekgirl

I have a merc Vito the roof rack can carry 150Kg SWL plus can slide some in the back if they are under 3.3m

The ply I can get from Austim near by for $35 + GST for a 2400x 1200 12mm CD ply

Thanks to the members on this forum, I am learning where to buy things cheap and alternatives that make great sense

Good luck with the build, Kat. Sounds like you'll have a nice bench.
I just jumped on board your WIP thread. (Hadn't noticed it before.)

My 'Gramercy Holdfast' hold-downs arrived today. They look good. Now I can go mad drilling 3/4" holes in the benchtop. The holes can double as mounts for my bench-lights. They need a 1/2" hole, but I'll make adaptors with 3/4" dowel and blocks with 1/2" holes.

I got the final boring part of the bench done yesterday. (Pun intended.)

Bored 16 x 3/4" holes spread over 1/4 of the workbench, spaced 200mm apart, for hold-downs, dogs, table lights etc: -
Attachment 218116


Regarding the hold-downs, although they are a little expensive, I reckon they're well worth the $. Really versatile clamping and very reliable - one whack to clamp, then one more belt to release. A light tap for light clamping or a good hard hit for really clamping things down.
Gotta get a couple more.

In use: -
Attachment 218117