Stan Figura
06-29-2022, 11:01 AM
I am planning on making a roubo style workbench using a plan calling for two top assemblies measuring 3.5 x 11 x 66 inches. I do not presently have a good workbench. My objective is to build a functional workbench using, to the extent possible, materials I have on hand. I have a bunch of lumber leftover from old projects, as well as a salvaged 2 x 30 x 60 inch maple table top someone in my neighborhood had thrown out.
I decided to build the base with 8/4 poplar I have on hand. (I actually have enough 8/4 poplar to build the top, but I don't think it would be a good idea to use poplar for the top.)
As for the top assemblies, I have enough 8/4 maple and 8/4 ash on hand to make one top assembly from maple, and the other from ash. So one option is to use two species of wood for the top assemblies, but I don't think I want to do that. Another option is to purchase additional 8/4 maple or 8/4 ash for the second top assembly. Based on my research, it seems that if i went this route, maple is the way to go.
However, since I have the material from the maple table top on hand, I am wondering if I could laminate that material for the second (rearmost) top assembly? The table top was constructed from maple pieces measure 2 x 1.5 x 60. The prior owner probably threw that top out after several of the glue lines failed. I think the top was glue starved during its original construction, as I was able to disassemble the top into individual strips with minimal effort.
After milling the strips from the old top, would it be a good idea to glue up two 11 inch wide slabs, probably each around 1.75 inches thick, then glue those two slabs together, and then dimension that glue up down to final size? If I did this use the material I have on hand, I would end up with a top assembly about 59 inches long, which seems a bit short, and is short for my plan.
To increase the length of the top, I could cut the ends of the maple strips at a 45 degree angle, and butt pieces together to make longer strips. If I were to do this, i would use random length strips so the butt joint are not all in one place. I would also orient the grain direction of the strips consistently, and orient the 45 degree butt joints so they run from top left to bottom right, to facilitate running the top through my planer.
Is laminating the top as described above a good idea, or will wood movement be an issue?
Also, while my plan calls for a 66 inch long top, I could go longer if 66 inches is too short. Thoughts on top length are appreciated.
Thanks in advance your your feedback.
Stan
I decided to build the base with 8/4 poplar I have on hand. (I actually have enough 8/4 poplar to build the top, but I don't think it would be a good idea to use poplar for the top.)
As for the top assemblies, I have enough 8/4 maple and 8/4 ash on hand to make one top assembly from maple, and the other from ash. So one option is to use two species of wood for the top assemblies, but I don't think I want to do that. Another option is to purchase additional 8/4 maple or 8/4 ash for the second top assembly. Based on my research, it seems that if i went this route, maple is the way to go.
However, since I have the material from the maple table top on hand, I am wondering if I could laminate that material for the second (rearmost) top assembly? The table top was constructed from maple pieces measure 2 x 1.5 x 60. The prior owner probably threw that top out after several of the glue lines failed. I think the top was glue starved during its original construction, as I was able to disassemble the top into individual strips with minimal effort.
After milling the strips from the old top, would it be a good idea to glue up two 11 inch wide slabs, probably each around 1.75 inches thick, then glue those two slabs together, and then dimension that glue up down to final size? If I did this use the material I have on hand, I would end up with a top assembly about 59 inches long, which seems a bit short, and is short for my plan.
To increase the length of the top, I could cut the ends of the maple strips at a 45 degree angle, and butt pieces together to make longer strips. If I were to do this, i would use random length strips so the butt joint are not all in one place. I would also orient the grain direction of the strips consistently, and orient the 45 degree butt joints so they run from top left to bottom right, to facilitate running the top through my planer.
Is laminating the top as described above a good idea, or will wood movement be an issue?
Also, while my plan calls for a 66 inch long top, I could go longer if 66 inches is too short. Thoughts on top length are appreciated.
Thanks in advance your your feedback.
Stan