Thread: What sort of wood do I use to make a Japanese style small workbench?

I'd use something hard and stable.

For those of us who don't live down under, do you have a picture?

Try a search using the keywords:

"toshio odate workbench"

I'm pretty sure I've seen discussions of his benches and trestles, and with a bit of reading you'll probably find timber recommendations.

I don't know that it makes a lot of difference which wood you use. I made a couple of smaller ones from 2X4 pine. If I were making longer ones, I'd probably use some white oak I've got laying around. They're very handy, even if used on top of the bench vs the floor.

Pam

Originally Posted by Ron Dunn

Try a search using the keywords:

"toshio odate workbench"

I'm pretty sure I've seen discussions of his benches and trestles, and with a bit of reading you'll probably find timber recommendations.

From reading the various threads it seems any wood will do - so off to the local on Saturday to check the off-cut bin!

Thanks for the link, there was a lot of interesting reading there.

regards

Brendan

Hi Brendon, i made one as well, including the shooting board and mitre box. I made the board from a piece of very dry Mirboo. i think mine came out at 390 wide 800 long and around 43mm thick. Shooting board was a piece of Vic Ash. And mitre box was a piece of African timber which i can't remember at the moment.
Have been using it to plane up some Celery top pine the last week or so and its great.