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+-- Thread: bench wood species? (/showthread.php?tid=7329559)
RE: bench wood species? - Timberwolf - 04-20-2017
(04-17-2017, 08:19 PM)mound Wrote: Is your bench made of softwood or hardwood?................
Which species did you choose and why?
Hard maple....because it was formerly a bench from a high school shop.
RE: bench wood species? - JKimel - 04-20-2017
I wanted to build an inexpensive bench. I bought douglas fir 2x 's at Home Depot cut ripped into 3 inch strips then glued so end grain forms the top part of the bench.
Worked for me, but depends what your looking for. You pay for what you get.
RE: bench wood species? - JimBob327 - 04-21-2017
The one I am using now, the top is a solid core door, with a base of red wood
or what ever I had left over after I build our deck, 25 yrs. ago.
Build from a plan in a early Woodsmith mag.
Worked well, as a general all around bench, but it's gotten wobbly.
So now I have started on my version of one of Cris S. benches.
I'm using oak dunnage of off rail cars, that I took home, from my job in a steel warehouse.
Bob
RE: bench wood species? - Derek Cohen - 04-21-2017
Jarrah base (try and source that in the USA!
) and European Oak top (similar to White Oak?). Built 5 years ago, worked hard since, and as good as the day I completed it ...![[Image: TooltrayWithaDifference_html_m5de0b7e3.jpg]](http://www.inthewoodshop.com/ShopMadeTools/TooltrayWithaDifference_html_m5de0b7e3.jpg)
Regards from Perth
Derek
RE: bench wood species? - Boatman53 - 04-21-2017
Ash for mine.
Jim
RE: bench wood species? - Harold O. - 04-21-2017
Mine workbench top is Dalewood.
Neighbor Dale replaced his front doors a few years ago and we adapted the old ones to make a workbench. The holes were cutoff and we laid them side by each to form the top. The main bench structure was inherited with the house purchase 20 years ago.
RE: bench wood species? - DaveLeard - 04-21-2017
Softwood: Southern Yellow Pine/ readily available & relatively inexpensive
Point of interest, SYP hardens over time as the pine resin sets up
RE: bench wood species? - Smoothjazz077 - 04-22-2017
I used southern pine for my bench. Mainly, because it was cheap and available. Also I like the soft wood, because it's easier to flatten and level when needed. Couldn't justify spending a lot on hardwood for a bench that takes its fair share of abuse. Between cutting, chopping dovetails and mortises it gets pretty beat up, but that's what benchs are for.
Scott
RE: bench wood species? - bridger - 04-22-2017
My factory made jointery bench has a beech top. My main bench has a sheet of 3/4" mdf topped with a sheet of white melamine.
RE: bench wood species? - bandit571 - 04-22-2017
Dumpster dive bench...
[attachment=2046]
End vise was a $10 pick. Leg vise is a chop of Sycamore, and a pipe clamp.. oak crochet.
[attachment=2047]
Added a bit of 2x pine to the vise's jaws
Even has a tool well.....added a chisel rack to the back of the well...
[attachment=2049]
Tends to get a bit crowded...when in use.