workbench legs, laminated plywood?

[No skills]

Greetings one and all.

My workbench project will be pretty much made from scrap wood I have scavenged/salvaged from work, this limits the materials and quantitys somewhat :roll: I'm looking at making the workbench legs from bits of 'marine' ply laminated together, apart from the cutting of the mortices for the rails being a bit wierd (with the alternating plys) does anybody see a problem with this?

 

[Rusticwood]

Try looking at this

 

[Mark A]

I made my workbench legs out of 4 layers of 18mm WBP plywood laminated together, and the apron and stretchers out of 2 layers. I didn't bother with fancy joinery, just glue and big screws.

It worked really well, plus it was cheap.

Hope this helps
Mark

 

[AndyT]

Perfectly possible. Remember there is no need for legs to be square section - you can very well use a sheet (or two or more) of board on its edge - a bit like a big box - so long as you do something to stop racking. My own scrap-built bench has leg-shaped legs alongside boards on edge and is rock solid, though I had a handy low wall to fix to, and the whole thing is screwed to the wall and the floor.

 

[No skills]

Thank you folks, I think I'll go ahead with the ply legs - I've got some 28mm to glue up so I should be able to make something chunky

Andy
Your bench sounds a bit similar to how I have built my aquarium stands over the years, some vertical timber to take some load and provide stiffening to the sheet material sides/back.

Hmm, need to invest in some more glue I feel.

(hammer)

 

[Phil Pascoe]

You don't need to cut mortices in the legs - just leave gaps in the laminations.
Phil.

 

[No skills]

Yes, thank you - but I need the practise

 

[marcros]

it wont be good practice in plywood though.

I would suggest some cascamite for glue- I found toolstation is as good as anywhere. I like it because it is cheap and you don't have to rush the glue up. They call it something different- resinmite or resintite.

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Cutting mortices in ply isn't really going to teach you much! (other than not to do it again)

Phil.

 

[No skills]

I'll have a look at those glues.

 

[sometimewoodworker]

You might like to take a look at mine http://meekings.selfip.com/nui/Groups-of-photos/Wood_work_etc/Pages/Workbench.html I saw no need to try to make mortices when laminating them gave a perfect fit & I would never have been able to cut them as big. BTW cling film is your friend when doing the glue up.

It has been in use for about 4 years and I would build it the same way again if I needed another one. The only thing I would do differently is I would use brad nails during the glue up.

 

[No skills]

Your ply bench turned out well, I couldnt have any feet sticking out on any bench I made - I'm a walking trip hazard as it is :shock:

Only the legs of my bench will be ply, rails are softwood and top is a salvaged firedoor that I will put a sheet of something on. I say something as I'm not sure on I'll use as a top surface, ply can splinter - mdf is smooth but not my first choice for anything/anything else is probably expensive and I'm skint

 

[marcros]

no skills,

can you salvage any more ply for your rails- it would be much easier to make the joints by missing out sections in the leg lamination that trying to get a softwood mortice to fit. depending on what it is, you could always put an inch of softwood on your door and plane it flat- that is what I am doing, albeit I managed to get some cheap American White Ash. Same difference though.

Mark

 

[No skills]

Ply is limited to leg quantities and sizes, I could do lap joints with the rails I spose but I dont fancy it much - I'll see how I feel when it nearer the time.

Covering the door with softwood is an option I like (thank you), I wonder how much it will move over time tho? A thick end grain top has me smiling but is un-realistic.

I'm going to start rough cutting and gluing the legs next week, we shall see