Would it be okay to use an outdoor 4x4s for workbench legs?

[Tetsuaiga]

I'm planning a workbench and thought I could use softwood 4x4 posts you get at garden centers for the legs instead of gluing together two 2x4. I'm planning to make the bench with mortise and tenon joints.

Do you think this would be safe, i'm a little unsure how much of an issue splitting could be as the wood dried out and shrinks. I'm fairly sure the 4x4s aren't kiln dried or if they are they are meant for outdoor and kept outdoors at the stores.

What do you think?

Thanks

 

[marcros]

it would probably be ok. But I would laminate the 2x4's. Dependent on design, you can get away with less morticing if you do it this way too, particularly with regards to aprons on the front.

 

[Tetsuaiga]

Thanks. How can you get away with less morticing using the two 2x4s?

 

[marcros]

It isn't strictly less morticing but if you were having 2 sets of legs with a front and back apron, you could make the front lamination shorter and slot the apron straight in.

This illustrates it. http://www.theenglishwoodworker.com/wp- ... 2/10/c.jpg

 

[Silverbirch]

I made up my 4" square legs by laminating. You can build in the mortices and tenons. It saves a lot of cutting and chopping!

Ian

 

[Mark-numbers]

Instead of 2 pieces to laminate together - Use three pieces then you can create your joints that way.

 

[marcros]

Maybe that is what I was thinking. I know laminating offered an advantage.

 

[Tetsuaiga]

I see what you mean, laminating could be quite nice for some of the joint making. I'll give it some thought, as gluing up isn't too time consuming.

 

[undergroundhunter]

I laminated 2x4 and then chopped through mortices, its all good practice! Except when i slipped and put a 3/4 chisel in my right inner thigh. But I would still make it the same in a heartbeat.

Matt

 

[dickm]

My bench sits on 4x4's reclaimed from the rubbish chucked out by the builders of Lancaster University. Timber was a bit warped, but that gave good practice in cutting mortices at a slight angle and it's still solid today after 40+years regular use.