workbench woods
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- This topic has 5 replies, 4 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 3 months ago by ryan carr.
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hey yall!
i want to make myself a workbench (since my workbench has been a portable table and a black & Decker workmate) and i was wondering what would be the best woods for it?
i am wanting to do 2-4 different woods on the top, i was thinking the main part be pine and then add some thin cut lines of walnut and maple, or walnut and mahogany.
what are yalls thoughts?
heres a picture of what im talking about the thin cut lines.
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You must be logged in to view attached files.9 December 2016 at 1:10 am #143160Hi Ryan,
Most woods will do. Stay away from anything particularly prone to splitting or anything very soft. Mass is your friend, but generic white wood provides sufficent mass while saving money compared to more exotic materials.
Remember that the top, if used as intended, will suffer abuse. My top (still working on the legs) is of alternating pieces of cedar and hem/fir. This was done to reuse the cedar and minimize purchased materials.
People have responded favorably re the striped appearance. But I use this top (currently on saw horses) and it has a large stained area from sharpening chisels and blades using water stones.
Or look at Paul’s videos and see the wear and saw cuts around his vise.
So knock yourself out making something beautiful and be sure to share it with us.
Rick
Agree, you need the weight and the mass for the table. I would use any wood you can get hold of at a good price. I like softer woods, as it has less chance of damaging your work piece. But still gives me the weight I am looking for.
Also think about expansion of the wood and how you will allow for that in the final construct, less of an issue here in the U.K. As we tend to have limited variation in humidity, but it could be a factor. You have chosen two woods at opposite ends of the spectrum in terms of expansion it could work, but think about that in the design.
I do like the contrast of woods though, but it will get beat up. My current bench has cuts, scars etc, it looks used and that adds its own type of character.
Whatever you do, good luck. It’s a great experiance building a bench, especialy if you work with hand tools, huge learning and satisfaction.
Don’t forget to share, would love to see the progress.
10 December 2016 at 3:58 am #143197If you like in the US, I would go with southern yellow pine. It is fairly cheap, heavier than construction 2″x4″s and you can find it almost anywhere. I used the cheap 2″x4″ at Lowes and my bench is a little light for me. I wish I would have bought the yellow pine. At least it gives me an excuse to make another bench. If money was not an option, I would go with beech. I just like the clean look and it would be unusual.
thanks for all the replies it was a big help.
right now i think im going to do most of it in southern yellow pine with thin to medium strips/line cuts of walnut and mahogany.
im probably not going to get a chance to build it till 2017.
thanks again God bless!
ryan
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