Torsion box Neander bench, any ideas?

[Chris Thompson]

My father built a bench a while back. Traditional bottom, made out of doubled up 2x4 nominals and then planed down to just proud of 3x3 (He's an electron burner, so his DeWalt planer did this part.) The whole frame is held together by tensioned threaded rod.

The top is 3 layers of 3/4" MDF and a single 1/4" piece of MDF. Sandwiched together, it makes a 2.5" thick top. He then wrapped the outer edge with 3/4 pine.

It may not look traditional, but it's solid as a rock. It took dog holes very well.

[Dan Forman]

Thanks for all of your replies, looks like there are a lot of options to persue for flat without the torsion box. Will let this percolate and see what comes up.

Dan