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Work Table
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 1:16 pm
by timster68
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
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 1:29 pm
by chiroindixon
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
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 10:17 pm
by jmoore65
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
Posted: Tue Jul 22, 2008 11:35 pm
by curiousgeorge
Tim, this is not a bad deal on a 60" solid oak workbench...
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/d ... mber=93454
Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 1:36 am
by Ron309753
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
Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:55 am
by ricknwood
Just remember folks, when you shop at Harbor Freight you are supporting Chinese workers and not American.
Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:54 pm
by efmaron
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.
Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:56 pm
by kalynzoo
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.
Posted: Wed Jul 23, 2008 8:57 pm
by hardway
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
Posted: Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:21 am
by timster68
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.