torsion box/ work bench

[Austin Dienner]

i am looking to build a dead flat assembly table, i want it to be a torsion box. I was thinking about it and thought, it would be really nice to have some holes for bench dogs to fit into. Then i realized that with just a 3/4 inch top this could be a problem. I thought of putting a hardwood strip in the middle, but eventually when the hardwood warps it will through the rest of my torsion box out of alignment. So, again i am looking for a dead flat torsion box assembly table with hole in it for bench dogs. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
Austin Dienner

[Art Stratemeyer]

Austin,

We've made up a bunch of these in varying sizes for our shop and even to take to a job site.

we use honeycomb fillers between maple 3" wide rails and stiles that are planed down to exactly the thickness of the 3/4" honeycomb ( most important part). Cut the honeycomb to fit inside the "frame" than laminate 1/8" luan door skins on both sides and then laminate formica on both sides. These are amazingly stiff, flat and VERY light. Glue pops right off the formica.

For larger sizes we simply add 3" wide stiles anywhere we want within the frame and that give is something to screw to if needed.

We do all of the laminating in vacuum bags to insure flat even laminations.

Note: honeycomb construction is used in lots of airplane and boat construction for strength with light weight.

[Al Willits]

The newbie here is a little confused about Arts suggestion, but I was thinking of making my next table a bit smaller than the 4x5' and also using it as a workbench with a smaller vise screwed to it.

I was going to try and glue 3/4" hard wood squares around the outer grid, cutting them the same size as the gridwork is and cluing them to the 3'4" MDF, that way you'd screw though the MDF and into the hardwood.

Not sure if that's clear or not, but if you installed your dogs into the MDF they would go though it and into the hardwood that was glued underneath it.

Al......who's usually a little confused anyway

[Tom Henderson2]

Art-

What do you use for the honeycomb core? Where do you get it?

Thanks!

-Tom H

[Austin Dienner]

Half inch MDF (medium density fiberboard) is sold at almost any home center such as lowes or home depot

[Greg Funk]

We do all of the laminating in vacuum bags to insure flat even laminations.

Do you need to do the vacuum bagging on a dead flat surface?

thanks,

Greg

[Tom Henderson2]

Half inch MDF (medium density fiberboard) is sold at almost any home center such as lowes or home depot

Austin-

MDF isn't honeycomb material.

Art mentioned honeycomb; I was looking for more info about that.

[Tyler Purcell]

The Wood Whisperer did a two part series on making a torsion box assembly table.

http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?cat=3

[John Schreiber]

I Googled around trying to find places to buy honeycomb core at reasonable prices and reasonable quantities and I didn't find anyone who seemed to be oriented toward consumers.

Any suggestions?

[Paul Chinetti]

The Wood Whisperer did a two part series on making a torsion box assembly table.

http://thewoodwhisperer.com/?cat=3

I really liked that, one thing I am trying to figure out is how in the world does he attach the torsion box to the stand?

[glenn bradley]

Austin,

I don't see why you couldn't run strips of layered ply or MDF along the path intended for your dog holes. . . other than weight.

[Art Stratemeyer]

John,

I'll see if we have any left over in the shop ... feel free to email me

[Eddie Howard]

Art,

Do you mind listing your supplier for the honeycomb?

Eddie

[Jason Stout]

Art,

Do you mind listing your supplier for the honeycomb?

Eddie

The honeycomb can be found at http://www.vacupress.com/accessories.htm#honeycomb

Instructions can be found here: http://www.woodworkersjournal.com/ar...ns%20boxes.pdf

[Eddie Howard]

Thanks, Jason.

eddie