Hello neanderthals!
I'm apartment occasional woodworker and my current bench is two sheets of plywood laminated into one 1 1/2 inch top (40 mm). Attached to two walls and one leg. It badly lacks capability to support panels for edge work, not very flat and stable. So I want to make a proper handtools workbench.
I have certain limitations however. Top size that I can fit into my apartment is 600 mm x 1300 mm (24" x 50"). It will be placed into the corner so only front and left side will be available, might be pulled out occasionally for some work. On the left side I would like to place twin screw vise with chain (likely Veritas), on the front I want to have leg vise with cross mechanism and sliding deadman. Leg vise I will likely make angled to avoid racking while clamping wide panels for end / edge grain work.
I also need to be able to disassemble bench in order to relocate or renovate our apartment.
If you notice any flaws in my design, please share in comments.
My main concern is bench top. I'm in doubt about the way I should choose. On the one hand I have butcher block style panels available, on the other hand it's only 40 mm (1 1/2"). Let's say I want to make oak top. I have oak lumber available as well, something like 100 mm x 50 mm (2 " x 4") should not be a problem.
So option one: buy glued thin top and enclosure it into some frame / skirt, German-style workbench top.
+ might be easier
- grain direction might differ within one board
? it's unclear how to deal with wood expansion / contraction
? it's unclear how to design legs and make them flush with the face edge of the top
Option #2: laminate 4" thick top, Ruobo-style.
+ heavier and sturdier
- top thickness might need to be reduced for some holdfasts / holddowns by drilling larger diameter from the underside
- end vise attachment might be tricky both because of wood expansion and of top thickness (I would prefer 5" height jaws)
? not sure how to make legs detachable yet solid
What are your thoughts about dealing with wood expansion of the top? How would you attach twin screw end vise? The only reliable way I might think is some sort of split top.
Do you have any ideas about workbench that can be disassembled? I only saw German-style benches but they didn't have legs flush with the front edge.