Fir vs Pine

[ayuce]

I'm on way to buld a small workbench (1.6 mt x 70cm) three layers of MDF ( after Paul Chapmans bench) edged by softwood, base also softwood since it's just what i can find right now.

A friend just checked lumberyard around, only construction grade pine and fir is available. I Tend to prefer fir over pine but just wanted to ask your opinions. Any comment on pine vs fir ? They seems all similar type softwoods to me.

 

[Fat ferret]

Lucky so and so. All I can get from builders merchant is while pine (CLS, cheap floorboard) red pine (PAR and various t and g). Cedar cladding is available and meranti if your pockets are up to paying £15 per meter for 2" x 4".

The red pine is good if you get it milled for you and make it into something and paint it asap. The white pine flooring is crap and the red pines more expensive so it's been on the shelf so long its like a bunch of bananas because no one will buy it. I can get it made up though which is better and the place that mills stuff for you uses a good grade of red pine.

Larch and green oak available from a friendly sawmill so not all bad.

Led to believe Douglas fir is one of the best softwoods so go for that if that's what you want. Although red pine would be fine for a workbench. I made one from scaffold boards which was really nasty soft white pine and all the joints compressed and the thing wobbled like anything. Made one from old floor joists after that and it's much better.

Anyway I have mostly just ranted but I think no one was replying cause it doesn't much matter for something that's going to sit inside. Unless your like me and have a bench outside the shop for nice days. The lights better for saw sharpening too.

 

[dickm]

Basically the fat ferret has said it all. Doesn't really matter what you use for the underframing provided it's used in thick enough pieces. My bench sits on frame of unknown softwood reclaimed from where the contractors building Lancaster University had dumped it, back in the 1960s.
Maybe look out for something nice for the edging, but for the frame, a big soft'un will always beat a skinny finer one.

 

[ayuce]

Thanks for replies. I'll just go and check whichever is knot and bow free. Their prices almost the same. But construction grade lumber 140£/ m3, cabinet grade 190£/m3. Construction grade 2"x4" pine is 0,7£ per meter.