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My multiple workbench odyssey - because it's more that a journey
My multiple workbench odyssey - because it's more that a journey.
The scene:
Currently we have a detached colourbond double garage here in Canberra that is my extremely cluttered man cave. when we moved in 12+ years ago there was a 1800x900 bench at one end with a ply top that i decided to leave in place, that is getting ready to fall down. I brought with me a 2200x1000 unit that incorporated under table router at one end and 76mm think top laminated from office desk tops, it's finally showing the effects of age and bits of swelling from water.
Now i want to build a new 3D printer that will be around 700dx1000w so the time has come for some new benches/work spaces.
I am not a hand tool woodworker. i would say i'm a technology woodworker using power tools.
Work areas and bench space becomes about using power tools and assembling things.
Requirements:
Bench space for;
SCMS with space left and right of at least 2.4m
Two drill presses, in is generally used as a rotary sanding unit
Mini Mill for doing aluminium stuff - 1m
Router table section
A movable assemble table that doubles as a outfeed table for the table saw and i'd like to build the lunchbox thicknesser into this as well.
Identified space:
I have a 4.8 meter section that i'd like to have a single bench space between 900mm to 1000m deep and the entire length, all under bench draw storage as well.
Current plans for the top is 18mm MDF sheet then topped with 56mm of laminated hardwood (Q1), all legs will be 90x90.
The movable assembly table can be rolled back into a 1.8M space currently occupied by a narrow bench setup.
The issue here is that i max out at 800mm deep for the basic top so i am looking at a winged setup (Q2) that should double the width when needed.
I've started to draw all this up in fusion360 as i certainly have zero trust to build this on the fly :)
So initial couple of questions
Q1: the hardwood laminated top will be made from T&G flooring that has been acclimatizing on my garage for 12 years and it's about time it was used. We are sawing off the tongue and groove than slicing in 1/2 to give 59mm wide boards that i want to face laminate to give around 56-58mm thick top after leveling.
So as all the boards i have a varying lengths the first thought was trim to the width of the bench and laminate at right angles to the front or would it be better to laminate in a staggered overlap length wise instead of trimming to a fixed length?
This would maximise usage i guess.
Q2: i've read a lot of threads but have seen a winged top setup for a mobile bench, can i ask for thoughts from the collective wisdom?
I've attached an initial rendering of the long bench just to see if i'm on the right track. That drawing has the bench at 4400mm long but i'm now planning on moving some shelving that would let me get to 4800 long. The cladding behind is planed as 12mm ply