Hi. I am in the process of finishing my first workbench. Not a work of art, but it suits my needs.
Mostly, i had a cheap bench that would walk around when I was handplaning. So I laminated a top of 2×4’s. made legs with 2 2×4’s glued together and 2×6 stretchers, right now it is rock solid and doesnt rack or move. Then I decided the 2×4 top was going to be too soft so i bought a 1’1/8 laminated beech counter top and “screwed” it on top of the 2×4’s. Now the question I have is about the apron, I see fancy ways of joining the apron to the top, right now I need the bench to improve my skills to do that, so I was thinking of using lag bolts on all 4 sides, and a simple butt joint on the corners. I am a little worried about expansion of the wood.
I plan to have 2 vises on the bench.
Any question or comments?
Edited 5/8/2006 7:59 pm ET by Bouboubomber
Replies
Hi Bouboubomber,
I just want to express my view (as a beginner not a pro). Hopefully, feed-backs from others may improve my understanding.
To have apron on your workbench is a value added. You have further advantage if the apron is flush and square to the table top - very useful for working with long wide work-piece where you can clamp vertically. Since you are using bolts, wood movement is not a problem.
You should be more concerned with the expansion of the counter top or table top against the leg because you glued them together ( if my understanding is not wrong).
Masrol
Thanx, as for the legs, I build a base, put the top on, the top is screwed with 2 lag bolts at each end to the base, if there is any expansion, the legs can somewhat "open or close" to compensate. As for my original question, when I was explaining my concerns to my girlfriend, I saw the living room coffe table I made several years ago, actually quite like the bench in design (meaning the relationship with the top and apron) I made 2 tables that way, and never noticed any effect from wood expansion, other than maybe a paper thin movement.
Bouboubomber,
Sounds like your bench will be quite solid. As far as dovetailing aprons, etc. all that can wait a bit, they add nothing to the functionality. However, many incorporate the vise(s) into the apron(s); it improves the gripping power.
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