Beech

[Vince Shriver]

I'm to the point with my workbench that I have to make the aprons (7" around a 30" x 72" maple top). My local lumber yard has European Beech on sale. Would that be a good choice for the bench? Vince

[Don Orr]

Many of the European-made benches are made from it.

[Louis Bois]

European Beech is a great choice for benchtops. I used it for my benchtop and it has proven it's worth after much bashing and pounding. What style of bench are you building that requires such a deep apron?!? A Nicholson style of bench? Will you be adding dog holes in the apron? Just curious...

Please post pics once you're finished.

Cheers,

Louis

[Marcus Ward]

If you're gluing the aprons on, I'd make them from the same wood as the top to avoid any separation that may occur as the wood moves at different rates during seasonal changes. Just my 2 cents. I wish my lumber yard had beech, I have a transitional plane that needs a new sole.