Help on work bench table flatness

[Slappy]

when does this come to the point of just starting over with new stock , seems your chasing your mistakes & each correction brings new issues .
Just saying  [unsure]
The boards just keep getting smaller  [sad]

 

[mouppe]

It may be obvious but only one face of each piece needs to be flat. Cut your edges square referencing off the flat face side and you'll be fine. That low angle jack plane is perfect for flattening boards. You can even use the side of the sole as a straight edge whilst you're working.

In this case it's easier to flatten a board with the cup face down, i.e. so you are removing wood in the centre, not at the edges. You can take long passes straight down the centre to get it down fast before going cross-ways across the board to make it level. Then a few clean-up passes lengthways and you're done.

 

[tiralie]

The main problem is that all 3 boards are now cupped.

Interesting.

 

[Runhard]

The main problem is that all 3 boards are now cupped.

Interesting.

I do not remember the boards being cupped a year ago when I made the bench, that is why is said they are now cupped.

 

[Runhard]

when does this come to the point of just starting over with new stock , seems your chasing your mistakes & each correction brings new issues .
Just saying  [unsure]
The boards just keep getting smaller  [sad]

I paid $200 for this stock and don't see the point of giving up. I haven't even tried flatten the boards yet. I may have lost a total of 1/4" by ripping the bench apart.

 

[Sparktrician]

You might want to consider jointing the boards with the TS 55, then using the domino to re-join them.  Once the glue has set up, use a flattening sled to smooth it on both sides, taking off as little as possible. 

 

 

[stevep]

The OP is looking for a benchtop that can withstand hand tool use. MDF is useless for that.

Since when? It's dense, tough, cheap, stable and flat. His current top is neither cheap, stable or flat, so fails on the most important requirements.
I do all my hand work on a traditional bench topped with mdf, and it's perfect. I'm not sure how other people use their hand tools on a bench, but I can't see how mdf can't stand up to normal wood working use.

 

[NYC Tiny Shop]

Paul Sellers has a few videos on youtube, worth checking out, on how to flatten a warped board with a hand plane. If you use his technique, then you should get your top together - relatively easy.  (RL has the right idea... Listen to him. He generally gives very helpful advice.) I use hand tools on my MFT.  Yes, it's not very fun, because the table shakes quite a bit.  If I put the table up against the wall and plane in the direction of the wall, i find that it helps steady the bench enough to get something done. Also, I use that spongy drawer liner, from the hardware store, to help grip the piece.