Posted: 3/9/2017 12:18:07 AM EDT
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I am planning on building a workbench latter this spring. 8" long 30" deep. Last time I built a bench I cut 2x4s in half and put the cut side up butcher block style for a top. This time besides just plain pine 2x4's I would like to add some color to it. What other woods should I add to the top. I understand different woods, different textures, and hardness. I plan on sanding every thing smooth and putting some type of finish on it. There will be a bench vise on one end and a blacksmith leg vise on the other end. I will probably cut a hole in the top that will have a waste can under the hole. Shelving below and maybe be some doors as well. I plan on at least2 power strips. available on the back or from the ceiling as power drops.
Any other suggestions? |
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When I built my last two I went double layers of MDF glued and screwed to laminate them for the benchtop base. Edged the bench in oak 1x2 left about a quarter inch proud of the MDF top. Mitre the corners then glue and screw the edging into the MDF laminated top.
Both of these benches were built on top of old solid wood base cabinets with drawers that were screwed to the wall studs- super sturdy. Cut an insert to exactly fit the inset on the benchtop out of thick tempered Masonite. It looks good, it's tough, it's cheap and if get gets stained or boogered up it is easily replaced. Plus if you do it right it leaves a very slight raised edge to keep stuff from rolling off the bench. I break the sharp top edge. 4x8 sheet of tempered Masonite is 13-15 bucks. Seems like they used to make it 1/8 and 1/4 inch but all I see now is like 3/16". You can thank me later if you do this and after a bunch of crap gets dropped and spilled on your workbench top. |
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What is the bench used for?
In my wood shop I have a 1 1/4" plywood base with a 1/4" hardboard on top (8' x 28")...when it gets used (glue, stain, paint, dings, etc) I hit it with the belt sander then eventually, replace the hardboard. I'm interested in some other options though so I'll stick around. My top is boring 
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This is not my beat on stuff, tear carb. a part, rebuild winches bench. It will be used for wood carving reloading planning bench. Some pounding on the vices but not on the bench surface.
I like the idea of staining some of the pieces. I have some short pieces of hickory left over from a project as well as some oak and cedar..I probably will do a little drafting as well on it. |
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I went to a local yard sale a few years ago and bought a workbench from the guy. It was 8ft long by 3ft wide , made of 2x4's on top and cross beams underneath with 2 draws and steel legs. The 2x4's were not tight together so you had grooves for things to get stuck in.
I went to the local super market and talked to the meat manager. I ended up getting the discarded polymer table tops. These were about 3/4 inch thick, and like giant white cutting boards. They clean them every day but once they start to get a little chopped up/ discolored they replace them with new ones. Yes they stain from oil/grease etc. But take a lot of impact from things and do the job. And it is a work bench, have assembled a few motors on top of this bench, and they hold up very well. |
| I'm working on a woodworkers bench right now. Started with a Craftsman butcher block tool box top. One thing I have discovered with it is that the wood used is different types apparently. As I was belt sanding the edge to flatten it out to add a solid red oak border, the softer wood sanded in easily and the hard wood stood proud. I think a plain is needed to level something made up of different woods like this. |
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My Son called today his Grandfather in law had a pace maker put in. He is suppose to walk with a cane now, at least for rehad. He is embarrassed to use a cane. My son asked if I could come up with something he might be willing to use. So I refinished one wood cane, have one walking stick I had for my grand kid and finished a another walking stick( iron wood) I had setting around.
His GFIL will have 2 canes and 2 walking sticks to choose from when we visit on Wednesday. He is a real nice guy and I hate hearing he has just given up. |