On 12 Aug 2005 10:59:52 -0700, "tim" wrote:

I am mulling over how to make my first woodworking bench, and after
looking at many sites, and considering cost, I am going to build
with standard lumber. My questions are as follows:

Is there any reason to stick with laminating 2x4's for the
legs versus using 4x4 or even better(?) 4x6 stock. I want
to build a leg vise and I am tempted to use the 4x6 dougfir
they have at the local Builder's Supply. Are there any
ramifications that I should be aware of? I asked them and
got blank stares and they made me feel like an idiot.

They'll do that. I made my router table and work bench out of
standard 2"x4" framing studs from the crappiest place in town, and
they have held up just fine. Two caveats to this- first is that I
selected straight lumber from the stack (which took a while) and
second is that the upper and lower frames were bolted to the legs
using lag screws. To keep the lad screws from stripping out where
they bored into end grain, I drilled out 3/4" holes and glued in
hardwood dowels to accept the screws. Everything is still nice and
tight.

And while I'm asking can you use this 4x6 or 4x4 stuff as the
laminated top, or should I stick with glueing up 2x4s?
I have debated using plywood or mdf, but I just don't want
to do that, although I am sure you all have opinions on that
decision.

2" x 4" is plenty thick, if you double it up.

I would really appreciate any suggestions, since the only
person around here I can ask is my Dad, and he is the KING
of Shortcuts. (Great for many projects, but not this one)

Only suggestion besides the two mentioned above is that you rip 2" x
4"s to a 3" width using two rip cuts to remove the rounded portions-
especially if you are laminating them for a top. I handplaned my
entire benchtop without doing this, and really wish I had thought of
that beforehand...

Don't worry about the naysayers- most benches are made of framing
lumber, and almost all of them work just fine.