Work Table

timster68 · Post by **timster68** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 1:16 pm

Anyone have suggestions for a "decent" worktable or plans for making one? I've looked at the ones that Rocker and Woodcraft sells, but I'm not crazy about spending the $$ for them. I'm going to get the New Yankee Workshop book from the libraray as there is supposed to be a worktable in there so I'll take a look at that and see if it will work for me. Thanks,

Tim

chiroindixon · Post by **chiroindixon** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 1:29 pm

Depends on your definition of "decent". This cheap old soldier uses a dumpster dived old solid wooden desk, that is on casters. I can cover it with "sanding/router pads", pound on it, drill holes, store plans.....move it around the shop.

Price was right....Zero. Size is big enough for layout and assembly....Check around...Old solid desks are easy to come by. Beats buying an expensive work table.....until such time that you either are skilled enough to appreciate any advantage, then build your own.

Doc

jmoore65 · Post by **jmoore65** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 10:17 pm

I just bought a "scratch & dent" torsion box tabletop from Ikea for $10 to use as the top of an assembly table. Figured it'd be flat and resist flexing - and cost less than I could build it.

Can't beat the heck out of it - but not what I want it for anyway.

Jim

curiousgeorge · Post by **curiousgeorge** » Tue Jul 22, 2008 11:35 pm

Tim, this is not a bad deal on a 60" solid oak workbench...

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=93454

Ron309753 · Post by **Ron309753** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 1:36 am

Tim,

Here's one from 'Hands-On' http://www.shopsmithhandson.com/archive ... /index.htm
It's not very elaborate,but functional.
Whatever plans you find you might want to consider using a solid core slab door for the top. It's a relatively low cost and easy substitute. They come in varying widths. I suppose you could cut one to fit a base, but I would rather resize the plans to fit the top. The doors are flat and solid enough to work on. I have a heavy vise and a bench grinder bolted to mine.

Ron

ricknwood · Post by **ricknwood** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:55 am

curiousgeorge wrote:Tim, this is not a bad deal on a 60" solid oak workbench...

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=93454

Just remember folks, when you shop at Harbor Freight you are supporting Chinese workers and not American.

efmaron · Post by **efmaron** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:54 pm

Also the top of the Harbor Freight bench may look thick but is only 3/4" that is a lip around the top that you see in the picture.

kalynzoo · Post by **kalynzoo** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:56 pm

I'm glad I'm not the only one who uses a 4th hand desk as a workbench. I even drilled holes in the top to store SS accessories.

hardway · Post by **hardway** » Wed Jul 23, 2008 8:57 pm

Someone else posted this link before for the ultimate workbench as seen in Fine Woodworking. Nice ides.
http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ ... x?id=28530

timster68 · Post by **timster68** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:21 am

hardway wrote:Someone else posted this link before for the ultimate workbench as seen in Fine Woodworking. Nice ides.
http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ ... x?id=28530

I have a subcription to it so would that mean I'm a "member" as far as they are concerned so I can download the PDF.

As for the Harbor Freight, $200 for a "solid oak" worktable seems too good to be true, which means it probably is.

Last week I bought some hemlock for a couple of pantry shelves I made and the guy at BMC told us that hemlock was as strong as oak but not as expensive. I like the feel of it so if I make a bench I'm thinking maybe hemlock.