Attach a perimeter of sacrificial 1X4 or such on edge around the top,
standing a half inch above it's average height, referencing off the lower
edge of the top to keep it on an even plane. Acquire a piece of 3/4" plywood
scrap of the proper size. 64X12 inches, grain running the long way. Add
perimeter bracing to the plywood if needed to prevent swayback. Purchase a
router and cutter bit and attach it through a hole in the center of the
plywood. Adjust router downward to cut top. This assembly will act as a sled
running on the 1X4 to allow you to rout the entire top in small passes until
it is flat. Afterwards, remove the edge wood, and add router to your tool
collection. Sand top properly. Smile knowingly at wife, and explain that the
first venture was just "surface prep".

RJ

"sidney" wrote in message
...
1. The mini-gloat:

Some time age, found a workbench for sale. It was salvaged from an old
metalwork shop that had shut down, and was severely distressed and gunked
with old oil, grease and other congealed nastiness. Under this layer of
crap was 1 3/4 inch thick laminated maple top, 30 by 72. The legs are
bolted-on steel channel--nothing special, but perfectly functional. Cost:
50 bucks.

2. The don't do this:

In an effort to "restore" the top, I went at it with a Bailey #3 (yeah, I
know, but it was all I had). Needless to say, while the layer of crap is
gone, the top is now anything but flat. Gouges, dips and humps to the
tune
of about 1/8 inch. It didn't do the plane blade much good, either.

3. The newbie question:

I claim ignorance for the above transgression, being a relative
wooddorking
newbie, and appeal to the vast pool of knowledge here for advise on how to
go about flattening this top. Options I'm considering include going at it
with a #7 and/or a belt sander with sanding frame, neither of which do I
currently own. Any suggestions or advice on the right way to go about
this
would be greatly appreciated.

It is my sincere hope that responses to this post can be used as
justification to SWMBO for me to procure more tools.

Thanks in advance.