Cheshirechappie
Established Member
There is a thread currently running discussing some aspects of advice given in videos and blog by Paul Sellers, and it covers several topics. Among them is his advice on making bench-tops - by laminating 3x2 softwood. (I've posted this seperate thread because there are several 'discussions' ongoing on that thread in which I do not wish to intrude.)
About 20 years ago, when I knew even less about woodworking than I do now, I built my bench. There were many things I got wrong with the design - the underframe is not rigid enough, the tailvice is in the wrong place, the toolwell is too large (about half the benchtop area) and just becomes a place to lose tools amongst the shavings.
However, there is one aspect that has stood the test of time. The working surface. Because I had no access to decent hardwoods, I made it from what I could get - 3x2 redwood, laminated together - and using only a B&D Workmate to build it on.
That bench has served in several locations (the kitchen of my first house, then an upstairs bedroom, then a conservatory, now a garage) but has remained flat and straight. I attribute that to being careful to alternate the growth rings of the pieces when glueing it up. Being softwood, it does 'cut up' and bruise a little more than a 'proper' hardwood one would, but has nonetheless done good service to an amateur for two decades.
So - for anybody unsure about Mr Sellers' advice on this matter (I make no comment on other matters) my experience suggests that his method of making a bench-top will give a serviceable result. Not perfect, maybe, but definitely adequate for purpose, and certainly enough to make decent work on. Including, in due course, a 'better' benchtop?
About 20 years ago, when I knew even less about woodworking than I do now, I built my bench. There were many things I got wrong with the design - the underframe is not rigid enough, the tailvice is in the wrong place, the toolwell is too large (about half the benchtop area) and just becomes a place to lose tools amongst the shavings.
However, there is one aspect that has stood the test of time. The working surface. Because I had no access to decent hardwoods, I made it from what I could get - 3x2 redwood, laminated together - and using only a B&D Workmate to build it on.
That bench has served in several locations (the kitchen of my first house, then an upstairs bedroom, then a conservatory, now a garage) but has remained flat and straight. I attribute that to being careful to alternate the growth rings of the pieces when glueing it up. Being softwood, it does 'cut up' and bruise a little more than a 'proper' hardwood one would, but has nonetheless done good service to an amateur for two decades.
So - for anybody unsure about Mr Sellers' advice on this matter (I make no comment on other matters) my experience suggests that his method of making a bench-top will give a serviceable result. Not perfect, maybe, but definitely adequate for purpose, and certainly enough to make decent work on. Including, in due course, a 'better' benchtop?