Workbench base

Re: Workbench base

paul womack

>Can I use construction grade 2 X 4s or 2 X 6s to make a really stable base that won't loosen up? I'm just going for stability and strength now.

Certainly - the type of loads that bases get are (actually) quite low, and can easily be resisted in a suitable design of softwood.

In hardwood, a well fitted M&T may be enough (just...) to resist racking forces from vise work or planing. In softwood I would recommend either super-sized tenons (a la Kirby), diagonal bracing, or panelled bracing.

My bench uses 2 of these ideas:

bench uing large tenons and diagonal bracing

Bill Taggart may have the most rack-resistant bench on the 'net

To rack it you'd need to shear 3/4 ply!

BugBear

Re: Workbench base *LINK*

Christopher Fitch @ Memphis

>What Paul said..

:)

I made my first bench from SYP 2x4's including the top. Very sturdy...no problems...

I'd suggest buying some 2x4's, gluing them together and making a massively sturdy frame using drawboard mortise and tenons. I'd also advise using Lee Valley bed bolts instead of glue to hold some parts together. I use them in my current base and they are very nice...better than the carriage bolt/washer/nut method I used on my first bench.

The link is to LV's bench bolts. The image is one of my current bench base. If you look real close you can see the bench bolts that connect the long rails to the end pieces.




Veritas� Special Bench Bolts

Re: Workbench base

Ron in Kokomo

>I feel pretty strongly about his one. 2 x 4s not enough. I would use 2 x 6s and laminate them with glue and screws (making lap joints as you go) to make the posts and the beams to hold your bench top. This may sould a little complicated but it is really easy and I can talk you through it in 3 minutes. You need structural strength and weight (IMO) in a bench bottom.

Have a great weekend

Ron

Re: Workbench base *LINK*

Paul M. in San Diego

>Follow the link below to see a picture of my bench. The base is made entirely of Doug Fir 4x4 posts. I resawed these into 2x4 for the stretchers. If you look at the ends of the upper stretchers, you can see that I glued these up so that the end of the upper stretcher is really a 2x8 for shoulder area, but narrows to 2x4 in the middle so I can access the clamps that I keep above the bathroom vanity. ;-)


My bench on WC