The very best approach in my estimation is to find a local cabinet
shop with a wide belt sander. Offer them $20 and a six pack on Friday
afternoon and it will take 10 minutes. Unfortunately most smaller
shops will likely only have a 24" wide sander but you might locate and
open sided version, although those are ususlly only 15 or 16" wide so
you could only go 30-32".

If the Pine is sappy they may not do it but othet than that it will be
a bunch of work by hand.

Regarding how flat, I wouldn't consider a solid top to ever need to be
real flat. If you want real flat you need to build a torsion box (see
other threads maybe).

Regarding dings, this is Pine. Ding away and enjoy the aged look.

BW

(Mike LaViolette) wrote in message om...
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.

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.

How flat is "flat enough"?

Best way to protect the top from dings?

Any body else interested in some of this material?