Workbench – expansion whithin the tabletop
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Hello!
I am building the workbench and i finished with the legs. The aprons fit and are screwed on. Now i am going to glue the tabletop.
Before i do this, i’d like to ask you (anyone who is reading this) a question:If i glue and screw the tabletop and fit the well board accurately between the tabletops will i get a problem with the expansion of the tabletops?
The dimensions (inch) are: Tabletop (thick: 2 7/8, wide: 13), wellboard (thick: 1.6, wide: 10)
I hope, someone can help me out!
cheers!
I don’t believe so–I tend to have a “problem” (not a problem) more with contraction and some gaps along my wellboard, but that’s probably also b/c it wasn’t cut perfectly to size. Doesn’t affect workbench functionality at all though so I don’t know how concerned you should be with having it fit perfectly accurately (though accuracy is always nice, of course). 🙂
Tobiasbilger,
Sounds like you’re making good progress.
Might I suggest that you consider the thickness of your Wellboard?
It appears that you’ll only have 1-1/4″ depth available, which you may find limiting.FWIW my bench uses a piece 3/4″ thick for the wellboard with a 3″ top. The well does a good job of holding tools below the surface of the benchtop.
My wellboard floats and isn’t screwed down. The edges, rather than square, are slightly undercut so that only the top arrises touch their adjacent top pieces. They’re snug now, in the driest time of year, but have a little give in case of swelling during the summer.
Just some thoughts.
Be sure to show us pictures.
Best,
Rick G
I wouldn’t glue the top to the legs. The strength and rigidity of this design is in the wedged housing joints between the apron and the legs. Use screws only and you can easily break down the bench if you ever need to move it. My boards contracted a little, but a strip of molding along the well board covers the gap on each side.
Tank you for the quick replies!
@dbockel2 havent thougt about contraction yet, thanks!
@rickgugg i’ll cut a housing dado in the well board so i get 2″ to 2.2″ depht. I think that should be comparable with your bench. The idea of undercutting the edges sounds reasonable to me.
@dusty32309 i will not glue the top to the legs but to the aprons. Thats what i meant. i also built the bench to be mobile! Seems to me, the molding along the wellboard is reasonable too.The pictures show the actual stage.
With your suggestions i’ll be able to finish the bench the way i’ll be satisfied.
cheers
Apparently, there is no real issue with expansion of bench tops, or most benches would be in trouble. Paul mentions in one of his videos, that he will add strips of wood into the corners of the well, so any gaps will be covered. And, apparently, this will also make it easier to clean the well.
Dieter
I’m building a new workbench as well and I intend for the well board to slot in a rebate in the top to allow for expansion and contraction. See the attached drawing of an old joinery bench, where you can see this
thanks. looks good to me.
I didn’t find much on expansion of wood, but there is a recent blog entry on this website about bread boards, where Paul Sellers explains some principles. It seems, that wood doesn’t expand much, when there is no room, so we only need to worry about shrinkage. He makes a comparision with a compressed sponge, that still absorbs some water, but only as much, as fits into the compressed sponge.
Dieter
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