Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Attaching workbench top to frame?
Derek
>I'm working on a workbench - a little at at time these days. I'm making the frame now and would like some opinions from those of you who have done this before. I'm using (horrors) red oak - got a good price and am happy with it. The top is pretty much done now.
What method did you use to attach the workbench top to the frame? Lag screws? Recessed bolt through the top? Other?
How many fasteneres did you use of what type? How big is your bench top?
Thanks!
gravity and some dowels
Dave Thompson
>I made my current bench ~7 years ago. I haven't looked at it in 5 years, but I recall I have three loose dowels, which allows dissassembly by just lifting the top. I recall one of the mortises for the dowels is actually a slot which allows for seasonal expansion across the width. They're positioned to prevent sliding, but allow for expansion. The top is ~150lbs. I've found this to be more than adequate.
enjoy,
Dave
Re: Attaching workbench top to frame?
Paul M. in San Diego
>I used a lag bolt from the underside of each crossmember (at the top of the legs). This is simple and allows the wifth-wise movement of the top since there is only 1 lag bolt on each end. It's never moved on me so it's plenty strong.
About the same here
Jamey Amrine in Ann Arbor
>I use 4 dowels, all set into the end grain of the legs of my base. All are loose, and I just allow the frame to wrack with the dimensional changes of the top. Hasn't been a problem at all. If I had a cabinet base I would use the slots for the rearward dowels like above. Since mine is an open frame, it really isn't a problem.
Re: About the same here
thomd
>One advantage to lags is that they drop down during disassembly so you can slide the top off onto waiting horses , etc... With dowels, they can bruise the underside etc.. if you shift the top around, while trying to find them. Not a biggie, I prefer the idea of dowels, but the screws get the job done.
Re: Attaching workbench top to frame?
Jack Guzman from Maine
>Red oak makes a great base. It's good and heavy.I just built a bench using it as my base. I made a 2"x4" tenon on top of both front 4"x4" legs to fit into mortises in the top.The back legs are flush on top.The mortises are fairly loose but once it drops into place the top doesn't budge.The mortise on the left was necessary because I mounted a leg vise on that leg.---Jack
Re: Attaching workbench top to frame?
Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native, Presently Away
>Ray,
On the bench that I am building now I used two short lengths of aluminum 2" angle screwed from the underside into the frame and the top. I did this a tempory thing so I could flatten the top, but think I'll leave it that way as I don't see it interfering with the planned holdfasts holes
Todd O.
Re: Attaching workbench top to frame?
Todd O. Cronkhite Maine Native, Presently Away
>Forgot to add that on my last bench the top was held on and in place by gravity alone. It was bigger than my current top, and more of the base fit under it unlike my new bench which as 2' overhangs on each end of the 6' top.
T.O.