I was at the sacred place today where giant walnut trees go to die and was offered the chance to build a workbench from a solid air dried giant slab of walnut. It is nearly four inches thick, about four feet wide and about five feet long. We used it as a workbench today on top of two 55 gallon drums but I hope to put a bit more elegant base on it.
Is there any problem with using a solid slab for the top? I realize cutting the mortises will be a bitch and it won’t have the light reflection of maple but as I do gunstocks, the thought of having a solid walnut bench just sounds cool.
The other option is a thick plank of birdseye maple but it is only about 18″ wide and I would have to cut and glue it in order to get the width I want.
So, what issues are there in making a bench from a solid plan?
Thanks in advance.
Replies
Michael
I have not had experience with large planks. I just finished reading a couple of books on workbenches and workbench design and that topic was addressed. Assuming he wood is properly dried, stability would be the issue I am aware of.
FYI, I do gunstocks also. What is your favorite finish?
Good luck
Grits
Grits,
I specialize in military stocks so I don't do a lot of high gloss stuff. I use Tru-Oil for most of my stocks. For those who don't know what it is, it is a polymerized tung oil, dries VERY hard, polishes well and is very controlable.
I make stuff like target shooting stocks for people who compete in competitive submachinegun matches as well as restoration/reproduction work for vintage military firearms.
Michael
My brother restores old Mauser. I think he also used Tru-Oil. I have used it in the past with good results. Most of my experience is with bolt action rifles and shotguns. I have been using WaterLox for some time with good results. I takes longer to fill the grain, than Tru-Oil, but I feel the finish is a little better; however, both are good.
Good Shooting
Grits
Beauty and functionality are a funny thing. People are buying $250 dollar marking gauges and $2,500 hand planes mainly because they are prettier than an old Stanley.
I want a beautiful workbench.
in The Workbench Book by taunton, the first bench featured is an early 17th century reproduction joiner's bench with a 4 inch thick single chunk of maple top. it is not actually attached to the base, but has a very thick alignment pin at each end of the top that keeps it from sliding off the base, and the weight of the slab keeps everything secure. very interesting and quite beautiful as he left the back side of the bench waney, minus bark. i think it is called the "Roubot" bench after the 1600's designer. the modern user has no problems with movement, and does nothing more than a light skimming with a plane once a year. a google search might turn something up if you don't have access to the book.dave
i checked, and it is "roubo" bench if you are going to do a search.dave
MichaelPB,
This is a sacred place indeed, that offers up a slab of walnut that size for use as a workbench! Does the piece have numerous defects that would preclude it from being utilized in a project more worthy of it's beauty and rarity? I admire a fine workbench, but I would object to building one out of something better suited to a Nakashima alterpiece, than a utilitarian wooden anvil with glue and stain wiped all over it. Functionally speaking, I suppose walnut would make a fine workbench, but I hope you consider loftier themes before bolting a vise to it.
My main bench is made out of walnut. However, most of it is the stuff not fit for furniture work because of knots, checks, sapwood streaks etc. The top is a piece of ho hum ash (cheap and hard). It has held up fine.
It's your wood, but I'd consider using the slab elsewhere.
Frank
I would imagine that a solid slab would be more difficult to keep flat. Also, walnut would not be as hard as hard maple making the bench somewhat more likely to get banged up. But, if I had wood like that to use, I think I'd still use the solid slab to make the bench.
Matt
P.S.--think about round bench dogs if you go that route, much easier.
The latest "Woodworking Magazine" issue has an article on building a Roubo bench, but using a glue up not a slab as the orignal. Nevertheless, it's got a good bit of info on the Roubo design, including original plan diagram reproductions. The top of the original was attaed to the legs with through mortises that included a dovetail tenon. The theory on the slab was that even if the wood moves - shrinks as it cries a bit - it would just tighten the legs.
thanks for straightening out my post about how the top attached to the legs. i was working from memory.dave
Is there any problem with using a solid slab for the top? I realize cutting the mortises will be a bitch and it won't have the light reflection of maple but as I do gunstocks, the thought of having a solid walnut bench just sounds cool.
I think it is a VERY BAD IDEA! Send that sucker to me and I'll put it to good use..
EDIT:: Please send along them two 55 gallon steel containers too...
Edited 10/27/2005 10:22 pm by WillGeorge
Edited 10/27/2005 10:23 pm by WillGeorge
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