On 22 Oct 2004 07:34:40 -0700, (Mike LaViolette)
wrote:

I am a bridge research engineer at a university. We are currently
testing a glue-laminated timber bridge constructed with 5" thick,
southern yellow pine deck panels.

When testing is complete, I'm considering using one of the panels to
construct the mother of all workbench tops. I'm thinking about a
3'x6' top which will weigh in about 375 lbs.

I have a couple of bench tops sitting in my shed made from ponderosa
2x6" laminated together narrow edge up. They're not real big, but
they're going to be carving benches. (The wood came out of an old high
school they were tearing down. At this point they've been seasoning
for about a century.)

Questions -

What's the best way to flatten a panel? I don't have a jointer plane,
but might consider buying one for this project. I'm always looking
for an excuse to buy a new tool.

That's what I used. I've got a Primus jointer and it did a good job
with not too much effort. These timbers were rough-sawn on the edges,
although flat on the sides (go figure). Plane on the diagonal and
adjust the cut appropriately.

How flat is "flat enough"?

Flat enough so you don't get splinters. The flatter the better of
course, but I wouldn't be anal about it. (Of course you don't do
build-ups on a carving bench, so you're not using the top as a
reference.)

Best way to protect the top from dings?

You mean while you're working on it or while you're using the finished
bench? Again, because they're going to be carving benches, I don't
worry about it.

--RC

Any body else interested in some of this material?

If I weren't interested in gardening and Ireland,
I'd automatically killfile any messages mentioning
'bush' or 'Kerry'