New Workbench

[Leester]

Trying to keep most of my mess out of the house ( don't want to upset Helga   ) I just about have my garage set up for work. First I had to build a new workbench, on one of the woodworking sites I visit they had plans for an all plywood bench. Minus hardware I used 2 1/2 4X8 sheets of 3/4" ply and 1 sheet of 3/4" MDF board. I just have to edge the top and add some options, I have dry wall and glass to put on then I can start building up a storm. The top is 33" X 72" approx. very sturdy flat and level. A table saw really helps but a lot of the cutting I did with a circular saw. They say you can do it in a weekend but that's a stretch at least for me. I'm going to seal it with Clear poly when I get finished, I still have a middle shelf to go in yet also.

Plans are available from www.finewoodworking.com

[Leester]

Building article:

[Jeff Traxler]

Hello,Did you use the MDF for the top?If so did you seal the underside?MDF does NOT like moisture and absorbs it like a sponge.Over time your new top will not be quite so flat.I have seen MDF grow to twice it's thickness because of water damage.I have over 25 years in production cabinet shops and have cut literally thousands of sheets of that stuff up.You have such a nice looking bench project I thought you would like to know.Jeff

[Howard Rush]

Thanks for the MDF tip, Jeff. 

[Leester]

Jeff, haven't decided on using the ply or MDF for the top yet. I will seal it on both sides whichever way I go. Thanks

[larry borden]

I used mdf on one of my benches, then covered it with a laminate. Ain't had no problems.

[PJ Rowland]

I use an MDF white lamiate sort of material - counter sunk screws. Every 3 years we unscrew the old benchtop and install a fresh new one. With glues and pencil and cut marks, it can get a little unsightly - still perfectly level but I enjoy a clean building environment and board.


Yours looks great.

[Jeff Traxler]

Jeff, haven't decided on using the ply or MDF for the top yet. I will seal it on both sides whichever way I go. Thanks

Hey,You guys are welcome.I still fly the beginner pattern and all I have been doing is getting info from Stunthanger.It's nice to add 2 cents that are worth 2 cents.Information is meant to be shared and I am glad I finally got to share some!!!!!Jeff

[Larry Renger]

Yup, everybody knows something usefull to all.  Thanks for the input and hang in there! 

[Neville Legg]

I had a good clear out of my workshop on Sunday, and finally found the floor! now, with a bit more work, I might find my workbench! I found some tools I thought were gone forever! What a slob

Cheers

[Andrew Tinsley]

  Hmm.... now that sounds very familiar Neville. Everytime I get the floor cleared and the workbench excavated, one of the children visit and more stuff gets dumped in my workshop. Wives are really good at this. Next time I get down to bench level, the building board goes on and a plane gets started!
  As for tools, I can never find what I want, when I want it. This explains why I have nine (yes nine!) ball joint splitters. I could go on but wont due to acute embarrasment.

Regards,

Andrew.

[Neville Legg]

We should do what Don McGovern (Editor of Flying Models 60's & 70's) used to do in his building articles, "just drop another slab of board on all the junk on the workbench, and start building"!  . Sounds good to my slobbish way of carrying on   I can never keep a workshop tidy for very long, somehow I still manage to build straight models, (don't know how?) might not be the best finished though!

Cheers

[Leester]

Thanks for the reply's, with everything being snowed in today  I might get to do some more work on it today. That's if I can make it out to the garage/shop. We got roughly 14" of snow but the winds are blowing real strong. My yard stick shows 18" in a small drift, at least I thought to bring a shovel in the house so I can get to the snow blower in the garage 

[john e. holliday]

Well the wife measured 12 inches of snow here in Shawnee KANSAS.  The sun is out now and I need to get the drive shoveled for the second time.  Plus shovel a path to the shop.  Also a path to the trampoline.  The dogs say the snow is not so deep there.

[FLOYD CARTER]

Andrew:  that's amusing!  My workshop features a ping-pong table right in the center.  Each time the grandkids visit, I have to clear out most of my model stuff so they won't break things when they play ping pong.  When they leave, I can restore my shop to a 'working " environment!

Floyd

[Bill Little]

Great looking bench there, Lee!

I think it's great when you can build your own stuff and then set up a place "just for you"!  Makes building a lot more fun to me.

I do have an out for my messiness.  My basement shop has really taken on the attributes of the "Fortress of Solitude"!   Anyone who visits immediately forgets when they go back up the stairs.  That helps to lower my embarrassment issues.  OF course, Aaron is immune to the effects, he grew up there.   I CANNOT keep it "Clean"!  I can find everything there, 99% of the time, but no one else can........ I'll really be in terrible shape once the memory really starts to go................. 

Let's see some more killer planes come off that new bench!
Big Bear

[brian thomas bennett]

I built a new bench last year. The work top is 2 layers of 25mm ply bonded together and steel rails fixed to the bottom to prevent warping. On top of this I fixed a 25mm drywall board.  The 25mm drywall board is called shaftwall here in the UK, it is slid into purpose made metal studs rather than being fixed to the stud faces. Being 25mm it is much sturdier than 12.5 or 15mm boards and takes pins just the same. The good news is when the drywall gets scruffy I can unscrew it and fix a new board to the bench. Being a carpenter I do a lot of dry lining so get the drywall for free from work. If you cant get your hands on the 25mm the next best is 15mm fire rated drywall  or 15mm acoustic drywall these are both sturdy boards. 

[Neville Legg]

Brian, whereabouts are you in the UK?

Cheers

[brian thomas bennett]

Hi Neville, I am in Cardiff Wales. Fly stunt still learning the pattern, currently flying sig banshee, rtf flightstreak,.35 size own design flying wing. I am in the process of building a sig skyray .35 which will use an asp fs.30 for power.