Robert Trotter
03-25-2007, 7:03 PM
Hi all,
I need you expertise and experience. I am making my first workbench. It is a bench for me to use in my workspace to decide on the final size and location of "The Bench" when ever that comes, and to have something to make things on now. This bench, I was planning on being temporary but I think it will be used for quite a while so that I can work out things that I like, don't like and things I need to change in the design etc. etc.
Anyway...
I am going to glue up the top for the workbench from 105mmx105mm (4-1/8"x4-1/8" laminated spruce posts. I chose these as they were cheap and they are already laminated so I figured this would be more stable than trying to glue up 4x2s or something. (other cheap material)
I will have 5 of these making a top 525mm (about 20.5") wide (narrow I know by a lot of standards but this will allow me to add an apron or extra width if I can or want to later )
Question:-
How many clamps can I get away with (minimum) for gluing up this top?
How long do you recommend? Clamp size?
Clamping procedure?
I have to buy clamps just for this. I am thinking of Bessey K-Body clamps. Expensive:eek: . But they sound like the best option for the future as well. Wide face and good reach and parrallel jaws.
I have made one saw bench and another will be finished soon for doing the glue-up on and for help when making the bench.
Will four (4) clamps be enough? How many?
I would like to reduce the cost as much as possible as I have to import them here which makes them more expensive but cheaper than buying them here in Japan. In have some other tools to buy as well as the bench hardware so keeping costs down is important.
I don't really want to get a lot of really long ones like 41" or 50" as I won't be doing a lot of work in that range. But I will listen to your advice and get what is needed.
I was thinking 4 x 25" clamps, but 25" clamps don't allow for using cauls, just clamping the bench wood. 4 enough?? I am afraid 4 is not enough but I don't know. I have never done this type of glue up before.
OR
2x25" and 2x41" (better alternative for future projects)
OR 4x41"
Is there an alternative for gluing up this top?
Your advice, please.
Robert
I need you expertise and experience. I am making my first workbench. It is a bench for me to use in my workspace to decide on the final size and location of "The Bench" when ever that comes, and to have something to make things on now. This bench, I was planning on being temporary but I think it will be used for quite a while so that I can work out things that I like, don't like and things I need to change in the design etc. etc.
Anyway...
I am going to glue up the top for the workbench from 105mmx105mm (4-1/8"x4-1/8" laminated spruce posts. I chose these as they were cheap and they are already laminated so I figured this would be more stable than trying to glue up 4x2s or something. (other cheap material)
I will have 5 of these making a top 525mm (about 20.5") wide (narrow I know by a lot of standards but this will allow me to add an apron or extra width if I can or want to later )
Question:-
How many clamps can I get away with (minimum) for gluing up this top?
How long do you recommend? Clamp size?
Clamping procedure?
I have to buy clamps just for this. I am thinking of Bessey K-Body clamps. Expensive:eek: . But they sound like the best option for the future as well. Wide face and good reach and parrallel jaws.
I have made one saw bench and another will be finished soon for doing the glue-up on and for help when making the bench.
Will four (4) clamps be enough? How many?
I would like to reduce the cost as much as possible as I have to import them here which makes them more expensive but cheaper than buying them here in Japan. In have some other tools to buy as well as the bench hardware so keeping costs down is important.
I don't really want to get a lot of really long ones like 41" or 50" as I won't be doing a lot of work in that range. But I will listen to your advice and get what is needed.
I was thinking 4 x 25" clamps, but 25" clamps don't allow for using cauls, just clamping the bench wood. 4 enough?? I am afraid 4 is not enough but I don't know. I have never done this type of glue up before.
OR
2x25" and 2x41" (better alternative for future projects)
OR 4x41"
Is there an alternative for gluing up this top?
Your advice, please.
Robert