Starting My first bench

[Tom Henry]

Recently I came across a 54" x 64" x 2 1/4" thick hard maple top and thought I could take advantage of the situation and build my first bench. Here is the top (http://www.mapleblock.com/detail/industrial-arts-benches-29/) I found on craigslist for $75.:thumb: I removed the rods and cut the top in half :eek: I am planning on trimming all sides and marring the 2 tops together to make a 63" x 26" X 4 1/2" top. That would make the top alone 210 lbs. I am planning to cut out a tool trough from the top piece before glueing the 2 together then drilling round dog holes as you see here. With the wood removed for the tool trough I was going to use for the front vise and the ramps in the tool trough. So any thoughts or comments would be great.:cool:

[Cecil Arnold]

Tom,

Why not do the trough another way and sell the other piece of the slab. 4 1/2" seems to be awfully thick for a top.

[Rob Bodenschatz]

I agree that that would make for an awfully thick top. Would probably cause difficulty with clamping. How about making two benches?

[Tom Henry]

I was thinking of making 2 benches at 2 1/4" and make one for my son but 1- I have no room for 2 benches and 2 This bench will be his one day:thumb:

[tod evans]

tom, my ol` bench is 4" thick and i love it! solid as a rock...tod

[Tom Henry]

Trust me...Moving that top with 2 people was not fun! I thought my arms got 3" longer from carrying it...

[Rob Bodenschatz]

tod, just saw your bench on the other thread. You're right. That thing ain't going anywhere. Maybe Tom does have the right idea sticking those slabs together.

[tod evans]

you`ve gotta put it where you intend for it to stay! it`s a real bugger to move:D

[Ed Nelson]

I had similar find on a couple maple tops. The company I work for was going to throw them out:eek: I took one of the tops and ripped a couple pieces for the front skirt where the vices would mount. Seems to work ok! also made to bench mobile with a couple cams to raise it on the castors...the joy of working in a garage/shop that still has to function as a garage. At least thats what the wife says:huh:

[Reg Mitchell]

Hi Ed. Would thos handels at the bottom be to raise and lower wheels to make it easyer to move around...:)
Reg

[Ed Nelson]

Hi Ed. Would thos handels at the bottom be to raise and lower wheels to make it easyer to move around...:)
Reg

That's exactly what they are for. Had to make the bench mobile and that's what I came up with.

[tod evans]

nice bench ed! don`t enter it in this weeks "bench shots"......the cleanest bench looses;)

[Ed Nelson]

nice bench ed! don`t enter it in this weeks "bench shots"......the cleanest bench looses;)

That bench hasn't been that clean since I made it about a year ago:D

[tod evans]

That bench hasn't been that clean since I made it about a year ago:D

good! a clean bench is the sign of no work getting done.

[Jeff Horton]

I have never had a tool tray on mine. Just my opinion but seems like a waste of space to me. I would prefer to have that as a flat surface as a tool tray. YMMV of course.