Shop Benchtop Suggestions

iamnothim

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Feb 5, 2014
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Benchtop

I am going to demo my white ElCheapo garage cabinets and build out a proper shop.  I would like some suggestions on the bench top.  I know there are a lot of approaches and I’d like to see what ya’ll have done.

First the scope.
The lower boxes (I’m a metric guy) will be 900h x 750d x 600w.  I’m 1981mm (6’4”) and I like a high counter.  My plan for Systainers is to put them on SysCarts and roll them into bays under the counters, two deep, hence the 750mm counter depth.  It might be a trick extracting them with the casters sideways.  This will be a game time decision. I’m going to make the doors out of wormy blue pine for a rustic barn look.  Vertical chamfered slats domino’d and laminated with two external cross bars across the slats.  I know it's soft, but I think it's cool and it's only $1.50 a BF

One of the biggest challenges I have is securing stock to plane.  I have two MFT tables.  At the present I use the Clamping Elements.  But those are limiting.  It is difficult  to use the HL850 with the deep angle fence on thinner material.  I have the 850 Bench accessory but for long stock I’d prefer to run the planer on top of the stock.

I’m thinking a tail vice on the end of the bench top would help but I just don’t know.  If you guys have any photos or links it would be great.

Many thanks.
 
Do you have any specific requirements for the top? Overall size?

One traditional benchtop is the 'butcherblock' kind. You can build it, or you can order it fairly inexpensively in sizes up to maybe 36" x 8-10 feet (I'm not *yet* a metric guy). I picked up a nice thick 36x72 top for an island for less than $200. It was made out of Maple and  (I think) 5/4 thick. I know I couldn't build it for that!

I've also seen old sections of bowling alley used with good result. If you want durability get the end that is hard-rock maple rather than the lanes, which are usually pine. Around here you can pick it up for $10-$20 per lineal foot, and it's typically 42 inches wide. You might get a bench and a shelf out of one piece.

If you decide on the bowling alley, be sure to take a forklift - or SEVERAL strong friends!!!

[tongue]

Does that help?
 
The bench top will be 14'  (4267mm)
Hard maple is a strong candidate and Fine Woodworking has a nice how too.  I would stagger the slats to achieve the length I need.  I would also purchase many more clamps.
 
The last time I bought some, I seem to recall you can get Boos 5/4 hard maple, edge grain countertop material in lengths up to 15'. It's pretty nice stuff, not outrageously priced and pretty easy to work with.

Tom
 
iamnothim said:
The bench top will be 14'  (4267mm)
Hard maple is a strong candidate and Fine Woodworking has a nice how too.  I would stagger the slats to achieve the length I need.  I would also purchase many more clamps.

Staggering the ends is important, for both strength and appearance.

Having enough clamps is even MORE inportant, and is a prefect excuse reason to buy more clamps. Lots more. Many, MANY more!

[wink]

My thoughts are that when people see your clamp inventory, if they don't exclaim something like "My god, how many clamps do you HAVE?" then you don't have enough.
 
wow said:
iamnothim said:
The bench top will be 14'  (4267mm)
Hard maple is a strong candidate and Fine Woodworking has a nice how too.  I would stagger the slats to achieve the length I need.  I would also purchase many more clamps.

Staggering the ends is important, for both strength and appearance.

Having enough clamps is even MORE inportant, and is a prefect excuse reason to buy more clamps. Lots more. Many, MANY more!

[wink]

Amen Brotha'

My thoughts are that when people see your clamp inventory, if they don't exclaim something like "My god, how many clamps do you HAVE?" then you don't have enough.
 
Since my thread is going to devolve I might as well be the one to devolve it.  What kinda clamps?  [big grin]
I have Bessy

But before that I'd really like to see solutions to securing stock to be planed. 
 
Can't help you with the clamping solution - sorry - but I can absolutely endorse the choice of Bessey clamps. I have a few of them myself (57).

[big grin]
 
I think a tail vice at one end and bore some dog holes.

What about a front facing vice?
Are there other lateral solutions?
Does anyone use flush mounted T Tracks for, say, Kreg clamps?

Thanks
 
Here is the tail I'm hanging on mine. Got it from Lee Valley a few years ago.
 

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I used a top I bought from Woodcraft. They come in 3 sizes I think and periodically they are on sale for a good price. The only problem with them is that they are not dead flat. If you're looking for that you would either have to plane it or create a sled to flatten with your router. I've never flattened mine although I had intended.

I mounted and end vise on my using the cheaper hardware (also bought from Woodcraft) and a solid block of maple for the outside face. If I learned anything, I'd say that buying the cheap vise hardware was a mistake and I should have either gone with a better grade or bought the Veritas twin vise (with the chain). It's a little bit harder to install but I would think work every extra penny and the extra time.

I also drilled 3/4" holes in the top and in the end vise face to use dogs to hold wood in place while working on it. I found drilling the 3/4" holes a challenge although there may be better router bits, drill bits, and guides out there now from what I see. I just winged it and, while they work, they aren't up to my usual standards.

I built the base and used threaded rods to bolt it together. I was skeptical but it is very solid and, since I installed a cabinet with drawers and storage space underneath it is heavy enough that it does move, especially with some thick rubber sheeting I put on the bottom of the feet. I also bought the completely retractable casters from Rockler which allows me to move the bench out of the way when I need more floor space.

All things considered, it is a very functional bench, even with the cheaper vise hardware. I really need to flatten the surface though. I would love to have a dead flat surface to assemble cabinets, etc on although I do have other work tables with flat surfaces.
 
I've pretty much decided on a 16' counter made from African Teak.  It's a Janka 1650 and has some dark oiled qualities I like.
I can get it for a tad more than $4 BF in long lengths.  However, I suspect I'll be buying saw blades and planer knives.

I'll laminate narrow planks (2.5") of 5/4 and affix that to 3/4" ply.

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Where can you get teak for $4 a BF!

Im ready to get in my truck and take a road trip.....
 
Got me thinking again.  That was for 4/4 1x6 And it was LF not BF. 
I still though it was a good price.  It was for decking stacked next to Ipe.
 
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