Tom Bussey
09-06-2021, 10:17 AM
Stew Denton has a post in the Neanderthal section about laminating a work bench top. I have read several comments over the years and this type of project seems to be a project that a lot dream about but it can be a little intimidating to a lot of woodworkers, so it doesn't happen. Lets not go to busy schedules. Every one finds time to do what they really want to do.
This is going to take several posts so hopefully you will stay tuned. This is actually be general guide lines about how to build most everything.
A little about myself so you can understand where I am coming from. I am a retired Tool and Die Maker that still does some part time work in a tool room. I served a 4 year apprenticeship. I was taught by literally hundreds of people over the course of time. It took a 4 year apprenticeship and another 4 years of working on my own to get proficient. The learning never stops even after 59 years.
I have been trained to do nothing but build and I would like to pass some information on.
Selecting the type of material and considering to cost.
I have come to the conclusion that when a person considers building the first thing that come to mind is the top has to be made out of hard Maple and out of 8/4ths material. Most European benches are made from Beach because it is a common wood there. Or 2 by construction material
Hard maple is a closed grain wood so sawdust and water or things of that nature will set on top. Other choices are Douglas fir, Southern Yellow Pine and anything you wish to build it out of, your choice. My choice is Ash. Hard maple has bounces back and Ash absorbs a blow. Baseball bats are made of ash in the majors. The force of the ball hitting the ball is not felt by the players hands. Maple he would feel the force. If you are chopping mortices all day, you will get done faster and your hands will like Ash better.
Did I mention the Ash Bore Beatle killing Ash trees. Most of it around here is going to fire wood or being burned in the land fill.
I had some trouble finding a price list on different woods and this came from Goff @Goff Timber in PA Web page.
Ash is $4.00 a BF for 4/4ths material. 8/4ths is $500 a BF. Both are rough cut and you can add $.30 a BF for S2S.Straight line ripping. I didn't see but where it is available, around here is $.10 a linear foot per board.
Hard maple is $5. and $5.75 . The cost of S2S is the same per foot. Prices very in different areas and different mills.
There is 63.984 board feet in a 4inch thick top 34 inches wide and 8 foot long. Yes I know people have different ideas about thickness widths and I will explain why reason for the 8 foot long later. You will have to include about 20 % more for scrap.
You can do the math on each scenario and you will find a big difference in gluing up 4/4ths material and 8/4ths material and the only difference is 8 glue lines.
By the time it is over the difference between 4/4 ash and 8/4ths maple is the price of a bench top planner.
Do you want me to continue?
This is going to take several posts so hopefully you will stay tuned. This is actually be general guide lines about how to build most everything.
A little about myself so you can understand where I am coming from. I am a retired Tool and Die Maker that still does some part time work in a tool room. I served a 4 year apprenticeship. I was taught by literally hundreds of people over the course of time. It took a 4 year apprenticeship and another 4 years of working on my own to get proficient. The learning never stops even after 59 years.
I have been trained to do nothing but build and I would like to pass some information on.
Selecting the type of material and considering to cost.
I have come to the conclusion that when a person considers building the first thing that come to mind is the top has to be made out of hard Maple and out of 8/4ths material. Most European benches are made from Beach because it is a common wood there. Or 2 by construction material
Hard maple is a closed grain wood so sawdust and water or things of that nature will set on top. Other choices are Douglas fir, Southern Yellow Pine and anything you wish to build it out of, your choice. My choice is Ash. Hard maple has bounces back and Ash absorbs a blow. Baseball bats are made of ash in the majors. The force of the ball hitting the ball is not felt by the players hands. Maple he would feel the force. If you are chopping mortices all day, you will get done faster and your hands will like Ash better.
Did I mention the Ash Bore Beatle killing Ash trees. Most of it around here is going to fire wood or being burned in the land fill.
I had some trouble finding a price list on different woods and this came from Goff @Goff Timber in PA Web page.
Ash is $4.00 a BF for 4/4ths material. 8/4ths is $500 a BF. Both are rough cut and you can add $.30 a BF for S2S.Straight line ripping. I didn't see but where it is available, around here is $.10 a linear foot per board.
Hard maple is $5. and $5.75 . The cost of S2S is the same per foot. Prices very in different areas and different mills.
There is 63.984 board feet in a 4inch thick top 34 inches wide and 8 foot long. Yes I know people have different ideas about thickness widths and I will explain why reason for the 8 foot long later. You will have to include about 20 % more for scrap.
You can do the math on each scenario and you will find a big difference in gluing up 4/4ths material and 8/4ths material and the only difference is 8 glue lines.
By the time it is over the difference between 4/4 ash and 8/4ths maple is the price of a bench top planner.
Do you want me to continue?