WWA Info Exchange

I am thinking I can use my sawhorses and plywood top for a workbench or do I need to build a new workbench? I work mostly with power tools but I do use hand tools.

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My Boss is a Jewish Carpenter!

If you are hand planing.. you should build a real workbench.

Here's a good one"

http://www.popularwoodworking.com/artic ... Workbench/

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I use anything that will keep my knees off the floor. Saw horses, table saw
even the router table if nessary but, a good sturdy, heavy bench really makes a difference. It doesn't have to be fancy at all but, sturdy is the key word.
I built mine out of 2 x 4s and MDF and put it on lockable castors and added a cheap wood vice and a tool shelf. It has served me well for the last three years. I just wanted it movable from time to time.

Rog

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Dont badmouth no strangers, they just friends you aint met yet.

An ounce of responsibility is worth a pound of State and Federal laws.

I spent most of my money on woodworking
tools and beer, the rest I just wasted.

I lay a large piece of 3/4 MDF over my TS. I've added some stops to the MDF that allow me to plane on it like a giant bench hook. It works great for me, I just have to remember to eat my Wheaties before moving that slab of MDF.

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Frank
WWACOAUX#1
"I love the smell of Sawdust in the morning, it smells like, victory."
WWA'ers I've met: Popeye, Ed Avery, Stephen Wolf, Rockfish, Rodedon

Tell me about it. I just finished cutting up 9 sheets of the stuff... Granted all I did was slide the stuff off the forklift onto the router table, but still...

The 6 sheets of Melamine covered MDF I cut up yesterday was even worse. In addition to being even heavier, it lacerates your hands if you don't pay close attention.

Yesterday I was just thinking about using my 100 sqft. of white maple to make a bench top.... That would free up rack space wouldn't it?

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Experience - Adding to the ability to get into trouble, the ability to get out of it.

I like a hard-board top* with hard wood edges and a heavy substrate, the hard-board top can be simply lifted out and replaced when it becomes damaged.

*screwed down or held down by gravity.

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"It is not a mistake it is a learning experience"
Monte

My vote is for building a new bench.
I finished this one a few months ago. Red oak with walnut. The trays lift out.

See "work bench"

Found this in my e-mail a work bench.

http://www.finewoodworking.com/Projects ... x?id=31818

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"It is not a mistake it is a learning experience"
Monte

TT gave me the idea for my bench.

Base made out of Simpson Strong Tie
Top made out of a door off the scrap pile & Lowes with a piece of MDF laying on top.

I paid more for the vice than I did the rest of the bench combined. It is a great bench and works well for me.

Space is always a question. If you have a small workshop than you may not be able to give up the space. You have a table saw and you might try building a side table or outfeed table that you can also use for a work bench to save space.

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Bob Nazro
A Connecticut Yankee

Plywood on saw horses wont give you a good flat surface to work on.What one can do is screw a torsion box under if you want to go that way for now.

A decent bench is the answer end of the day though.


Have Fun
Francois

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Its the quality that counts not the quantity.
If you want creative workers give them time to play.

I thought you had a workbench?

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Mango
The land some where in the middle
20 47 00N -156 26 00W

I did I took it apart.

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My Boss is a Jewish Carpenter!