On Thu, 10 Jun 2004 23:27:59 GMT, "Dan" wrote:

I am going to build myself a REAL woodworking bench. I am looking for
opinions as to the materail of the top...I have availible to me red oak,
white ash and birch (yellow I beleive)
What would you pick and why? Thanks!


I would use hard maple, because mine has held up well in daily use for
twenty years.

I'd have it quartersawn and glue it up with the grain on the vertical.

I'd not use oak or ash because of their tendency to splinter.

I would not use birch because it is too soft.






Regards,
Tom.

Thomas J.Watson - Cabinetmaker (ret.)
tjwatson1ATcomcastDOTnet (real email)
http://home.comcast.net/~tjwatson1