Replies

1. 
   nikkiwood | Nov 02, 2004 05:24am | #1

   I guess it all depends on what you consider a "reasonable' price.

   I bought one about five years ago for about $225 after shopping around, and considered that a good price.

1. 
   Doc | Nov 02, 2004 06:04am | #2

   Yes, I would consider that a reasonable price.  Some I've looked at have been $350-$400, and you still have to build a base for it.  I want a good workbench, but not when it's competing with the cost of a power tool.  Maybe I'm not being realistic, but I guess I have a hard time justifying a several hundreds of dollars for a flat workbench when a nice drill press or a bench top planer would cost the same.  $200 I can deal with, but $400 I can't.  I would get more use from an additional power tool than I would a workbench.  Wow, I sound like a geezer don't I. 

1. 
   Telemike | Nov 02, 2004 07:40am | #3

   I built my third bench two years ago. It's the first solid wood bench after a hollow core door and a thickness of birch plywood. It's solid maple, the top is 2 1/2 inches as flattened, and the base is solid 8/4 maple with wedged tenons and sled feet. I have the veritas twin screw vise on one end (I've had some issues with slipping sprokets) and a super old 11" craftsman quick release imbedded on one side. I made a substantial board jack and put in a host of dog holes.

   I should have gotten a good bench years ago. I'd now put it ahead of spending big money on more power tools. It's heavy, almost unmoveable, flatter than Woodland CA, and the vises and board jack work GREAT.

   I'd suggest that you reconsider your statement about wanting to spend on better power tools instead of a bench. This is as important a tool as anyother, more important than some.

   Maybe you can find some other stable hardwood that is local and is cheaper than maple. My bench cost about $800 in wood without the vises.

2. 
   BG | Nov 02, 2004 01:20pm | #5

   Doc,

   I think Rockler is having a sale on maple tops. I was in one of their stores last week and saw a stack with a sign on top but did not notice the details.

   Your going to be shocked at the incredible utility of a workbench...it really changes everything.  

3. 
   JeffHeath | Nov 02, 2004 06:18pm | #11

   Doc:  I 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th what everyone else seems to be saying to you here!!!  I use my workbench as much or more than every other tool in the shop, and most of them combined!!  You absolutely need a flat reference for building almost any piece of furniture or cabinetry.  You won't be able to achieve satisfactory results with your joinery without one.  My rockler flyer, which I get about once a month or so, had maple tops for about $150 or so, as I remember, last month.  However, I must tell you that no tool in your shop will ever mean as much to you as your first heavy work bench made with your own hands.  I'm presently building my 2nd out of padauk and maple, with walnut accents, and it looks so good (and weighs about 450 lbs.) that I'm thinking about sleeping on it!!!  My first one, all maple, and 2 1/2 inches thick with 3 1/2 inch apron around, is my pride and joy.  Add your favorite vise combinations, and you'll have a tool you'll cherish for the rest of your life, as well as your kid's, if you have any.  The Workbench Book (Taunton Press) is an excellent reference on work benches, check it out.

   JC

2. 
   CRAIGCONEY_M | Nov 02, 2004 08:26am | #4

   Bought my top from McMasters Carr a couple of years ago for about $150. 24x60x1.75

3. 
   Cheatah | Nov 02, 2004 03:23pm | #6

   Doc:

   I can understand your apprehension to spending several hundred bucks for a bench / solid maple top. You are right a piece of machinery can cost just as much. However, you really have to put a bench in the same catagory as a piece of machinery. Infact if you look at from "per use" persepective, you will use a bench more than a machine. Thus you get your money's worth with a good bench. So, do not feel too uncomfortable laying out several hundred buck for a maple top. I promise it will be money well spent and you will get great use out of it.

   That being said--- I have two suggestions:

   1. Look at Grizzly. They sell solid maple tops for $300-500 depending on thckness. This may work well for you.

   2. Consider another specie of hardwood. Birch would make good substitute. Also consider Beech.

1. 
   cherryjohn | Nov 02, 2004 03:31pm | #7

   The single most important tool in your shop will prove to be a well designed bench.  One that is solid and doesnt rack when being planed on.has at least one good vise, preferably 2.  I built mine to loutlast my grand kids ( which I dont have yet).  All told i bet mine cost to build with a 2 1/2 " solid mple top........ 2 Record vises maple legs and cherry trim......... about $900.  One of my joys is just looking at it!

1. 
   cherryjohn | Nov 02, 2004 03:44pm | #8

   after posting my opinion of the necessity of a solid bench, I read my mail and low and behold........Woodcraft has a sale on Sjoberg bench tops with 2 vises 66 1/2 " long and 19 3/4 wide.  They dont  specify the wood ( probably beech) nor the thickness but its on sale for $285.  It only weighs 60# though.  The price isnt bad considering it has the vises with it .  Nothing an real experienced wood worker would want but cheap enough, Id say.

4. 
   DaleK | Nov 02, 2004 03:51pm | #9

   Doc

   Try this company:

   http://www.perfectplank.com/index.html

   Dale

5. 
   Len | Nov 02, 2004 05:51pm | #10

   Doc,

   Graingers has them and so does Grizzly.

   I bought mine at a local hardwood lumber supplier. I bought a 30" x 7' one for $200. Most local guys can order them for you. Shipping cost is really high.

   Enjoy.

   Hi, I'm Len and I'm a Toolaholic...
6. 
   JeffC | Nov 03, 2004 02:55am | #12

   I purchased a "wildwood" top from perfect plank.  Very pleased with the decision.  The top is 28 x 3 x 72 and cost a  dollar or two over $200 plus shipping of $95.  I don't think you'll find a top as robust for the money.

7. 
   Jim65 | Nov 03, 2004 11:33am | #13

   Hello Doc,

   Just my 2cents worth, I built a maple workbench about 8 years ago.  I do not have space or money for the table saws, band saws and such and work with almost all hand tools but I can say that nothing has improved the quality of my wood working (except maybe very sharp tools) like a good bench.  Once you have a solid place to hold your work, the accuracy and quality just goes up and up and up.  I became a craftsman instead of a wood chopper.  The clamping options, the stability.....  It is everything.

   I bought the book on workbenches from Taunton and helped me to design what I needed and it is still one of my favorite and well used pieces.

   Jim

1. 
   James1 | Nov 03, 2004 04:38pm | #14

   I agree with Jim, I also do handwork as I don't have a lot of room and it suits what I want to do. One other thing I would mention is that building my workbench was probably the most satisfying thing I have ever done.

   It is mainly white Ash, which, while not the wood of choice was the wood of availability, and a wise woodworker said Ash is fine. I purchased for $95 Canadian around three hundred and fifty or more board feet of 12/4 ash at an auction sale that a farmer had dried in his barn for years. I managed to sweet talk my local purveyor of wood into doing the milling for me so I ended up with nice dry flat wood five and a half inchs wide by 2 3/16 thick. I glued them together and on the advice of my wood guy I put three 3/8 pieces of threaded rod through them  as insurance. I put 5 inch wide red oak skirts around the outside and a piece of 3/4 inch utility grade Maple faced plywood on top, to give it that maple look and to take a beating. I bought the Veritas twin screw vice for the end, which was the single most expensive item on the bench, and at the opposite front corner I have a smaller vice as well, which I only just recently installed. The bench is 34 inches high, 28 wide and seven feet long , weighs just under 400 lbs, and cost me with the new vice I just installed $600.  If I could, I would do nothing but build benches it was more fun than anything I have ever done, and if I was more adept at this computer stuff I would attach a picture.

   Sorry to go on so much but I love talking about workbenches and tool boxes. I firmly believe, when you are a woodworker you don't buy a bench you build one.

   Edited 11/3/2004 9:39 am ET by SEAUMAS

8. 
   Gene_DiNardo | Nov 04, 2004 05:19am | #15

   Hi Doc, don't know where you are but if your in or near Pa. there is a place called "Bally Block" in Bally Pa. (just outside Reading) I picked up a half dozen or so laminated maple table tops appx. 34"x60"x2 1/4 thick for $60.00 ea.  they are "seconds" that means some of the maple has dark streaks in it. They make industrial work stations for schools and butcher blocks and such. If I recall, the guy to ask for is Russ. real nice guy. (showed him a picture of the bench I wanted to build, he provided every thing I needed; top,skirts,aprons even threw in a couple of cut offs to make my wife some cutting boards). If your not near Pa. look for such places in your area, they're out there.

   Happy WoodWorking, Gene in Pa.