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#1
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Workbench top?
I have been studying everyones work benches and noticed that most of them
are built out of maple. I understand that maple is very hard but I don't think it is readily available where I live (Sask, Canada). Birch is very common here but is it anywhere close to being as hard as maple? Does anyone see anything wrong with using birch for a work bench? Regards. -Guy |
#2
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Workbench top?
In rec.woodworking
"Guy LaRochelle" wrote: I have been studying everyones work benches and noticed that most of them are built out of maple. I understand that maple is very hard but I don't think it is readily available where I live (Sask, Canada). Birch is very common here but is it anywhere close to being as hard as maple? Does anyone see anything wrong with using birch for a work bench? You can make a suitable workbench from planed and glued-up pine 2x4s so I'm sure birch would be quite suitable. Maple is awesome but VERY expensive for a workbench and most of us can't afford it. |
#3
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Workbench top?
Maple is awesome but VERY expensive
for a workbench and most of us can't afford it. If you have a Grainger near you they will sell you a 30"x72" maple bench top for about $200. I bought one and glued one up. The one I made cost more. BTW I thought the maple was the Canada national tree or something. Don't y'all have a maple leaf on your flag? |
#4
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Workbench top?
I checked the Grainger website and they have complete work benches but I
didn't see just the maple top.........do you have to go right to a store to buy the top alone? I think there is alot of maple in eastern Canada but not here in Saskatchewan. Do you guys get maple shipped to you from long distances or do you have some locally? Regards. -Guy "Greg" wrote in message ... Maple is awesome but VERY expensive for a workbench and most of us can't afford it. If you have a Grainger near you they will sell you a 30"x72" maple bench top for about $200. I bought one and glued one up. The one I made cost more. BTW I thought the maple was the Canada national tree or something. Don't y'all have a maple leaf on your flag? |
#5
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Workbench top?
I am in Florida, we don't have any maple around me and that's where Grainger
sold me mine. It was pickup. They do have them in the catalog but shipping will get you. These are Edsal products (printed on the box) and you can see them on the Edsal web site. This thing came packaged with the back brace for the workbench, just no legs. They assemble their workbenches on modules. Buy what you want. I am using this as a kitchen island top. The one I glued up was the matching peninsula but it was longer than I could buy and has an irregular shape on one end. |
#6
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Workbench top?
Grizzly has them. I've never seen them in person, but I've seen them in
their catalog. Here's a link. http://www.grizzly.com/products/item...emnumber=G9914 HTH "Guy LaRochelle" wrote in message ... I checked the Grainger website and they have complete work benches but I didn't see just the maple top.........do you have to go right to a store to buy the top alone? I think there is alot of maple in eastern Canada but not here in Saskatchewan. Do you guys get maple shipped to you from long distances or do you have some locally? Regards. -Guy "Greg" wrote in message ... Maple is awesome but VERY expensive for a workbench and most of us can't afford it. If you have a Grainger near you they will sell you a 30"x72" maple bench top for about $200. I bought one and glued one up. The one I made cost more. BTW I thought the maple was the Canada national tree or something. Don't y'all have a maple leaf on your flag? |
#8
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Workbench top?
What about Windsor Plywood on Miller Ave in Saskatoon. They sell maple
"Guy LaRochelle" wrote in message ... I checked the Grainger website and they have complete work benches but I didn't see just the maple top.........do you have to go right to a store to buy the top alone? I think there is alot of maple in eastern Canada but not here in Saskatchewan. Do you guys get maple shipped to you from long distances or do you have some locally? Regards. -Guy "Greg" wrote in message ... Maple is awesome but VERY expensive for a workbench and most of us can't afford it. If you have a Grainger near you they will sell you a 30"x72" maple bench top for about $200. I bought one and glued one up. The one I made cost more. BTW I thought the maple was the Canada national tree or something. Don't y'all have a maple leaf on your flag? |
#9
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Workbench top?
Guy
I got the rough maple for my workbench from the Windsor Plywood in Langley BC. Check with your local Windsor to see if they bring in any there. The wood I got was ~1" thick and a variety of widths and lengths. My jointer, planer and table saw turned it into the top below. http://www.jenarae.com/wood/workbench1.jpg Ray "Dave Keith" wrote in message news:CzAKb.4119$Ur.203376@localhost... What about Windsor Plywood on Miller Ave in Saskatoon. They sell maple "Guy LaRochelle" wrote in message ... I checked the Grainger website and they have complete work benches but I didn't see just the maple top.........do you have to go right to a store to buy the top alone? I think there is alot of maple in eastern Canada but not here in Saskatchewan. Do you guys get maple shipped to you from long distances or do you have some locally? Regards. -Guy |
#10
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Workbench top?
Hey!
Nice to here someone from home............are you from Saskatoon? Do you happen to know what the price of the maple is? Regards. -Guy "Dave Keith" wrote in message news:CzAKb.4119$Ur.203376@localhost... What about Windsor Plywood on Miller Ave in Saskatoon. They sell maple "Guy LaRochelle" wrote in message ... I checked the Grainger website and they have complete work benches but I didn't see just the maple top.........do you have to go right to a store to buy the top alone? I think there is alot of maple in eastern Canada but not here in Saskatchewan. Do you guys get maple shipped to you from long distances or do you have some locally? Regards. -Guy "Greg" wrote in message ... Maple is awesome but VERY expensive for a workbench and most of us can't afford it. If you have a Grainger near you they will sell you a 30"x72" maple bench top for about $200. I bought one and glued one up. The one I made cost more. BTW I thought the maple was the Canada national tree or something. Don't y'all have a maple leaf on your flag? |
#11
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Workbench top?
If you can locate an old solid door, 3/4 of your work is done for
you...That's what I decided on, at the suggested of my father. "Bruce" wrote in message .. . In rec.woodworking "Guy LaRochelle" wrote: I have been studying everyones work benches and noticed that most of them are built out of maple. I understand that maple is very hard but I don't think it is readily available where I live (Sask, Canada). Birch is very common here but is it anywhere close to being as hard as maple? Does anyone see anything wrong with using birch for a work bench? You can make a suitable workbench from planed and glued-up pine 2x4s so I'm sure birch would be quite suitable. Maple is awesome but VERY expensive for a workbench and most of us can't afford it. |
#12
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Workbench top?
I am planning on going the pine 2 x 4 route but I would like to have
bench dogs as well and I am concerned about these prematurely elongating. If I were to alternate in a few strips of hardwood at the dog locations would I run into any significant shrink/expansion problems? If so, any recommendation to counter it? (Bruce) wrote in message ... In rec.woodworking "Guy LaRochelle" wrote: I have been studying everyones work benches and noticed that most of them are built out of maple. I understand that maple is very hard but I don't think it is readily available where I live (Sask, Canada). Birch is very common here but is it anywhere close to being as hard as maple? Does anyone see anything wrong with using birch for a work bench? You can make a suitable workbench from planed and glued-up pine 2x4s so I'm sure birch would be quite suitable. Maple is awesome but VERY expensive for a workbench and most of us can't afford it. |
#13
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Workbench top?
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#14
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Workbench top?
Chuck Vance writes:
Some folks recommend lining the dogholes with harder material, or even drilling an oversize doghole, plugging it with hardwood and then drilling your hole centered in the hardwood. Personally, my top is made of laminated SYP (slightly less than 3" thick) and I have noticed no signs of the dogholes elongating. (I've been using it since February of 2001, so it's not old, but it's seen almost daily use since then.) But leave us remember, there is pine and there is SYP, which is a LOT harder. Anyone who doesn't believe that should try framing a couple rooms with the stuff, using a hammer instead of a pneumatic nailer. It has been 20+ years, but my hand still aches when I think about it. Somewhat like framing with red oak, except that with the oak you expect the hardness. Charlie Self "Take care of the luxuries and the necessities will take care of themselves." Dorothy Parker http://hometown.aol.com/charliediy/m.../business.html |
#15
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Workbench top?
birch is fine.
On Mon, 5 Jan 2004 21:57:46 -0600, "Guy LaRochelle" wrote: I have been studying everyones work benches and noticed that most of them are built out of maple. I understand that maple is very hard but I don't think it is readily available where I live (Sask, Canada). Birch is very common here but is it anywhere close to being as hard as maple? Does anyone see anything wrong with using birch for a work bench? Regards. -Guy |
#16
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Workbench top?
On Mon, 5 Jan 2004 21:57:46 -0600, "Guy LaRochelle"
wrote: I have been studying everyones work benches and noticed that most of them are built out of maple. I understand that maple is very hard but I don't think it is readily available where I live (Sask, Canada). Birch is very common here but is it anywhere close to being as hard as maple? Does anyone see anything wrong with using birch for a work bench? Regards. -Guy On Mon, 05 Jan 2004 22:31:23 -0700, Bridger scribbled: birch is fine. Yup. Mine is Douglas Fir with a couple of birch pieces where the dog holes go. If you want a maple slab, you can get one at Lee Valley. http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.a...rency=1&S ID= Luigi Replace "no" with "yk" for real email address |
#17
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Workbench top?
Being a work bench, with work being the key word, I really don't see any big
working advantage to a maple top. My present bench is now about 15 years old and is made up of laminated fir. Works just fine and If it gets messed up, dinged, dented, spilled on, needs a hole here or there, etc I'd don't cringe, just sand/plane it down every few years. . -- Mike G. Heirloom Woods www.heirloom-woods.net "Guy LaRochelle" wrote in message ... I have been studying everyones work benches and noticed that most of them are built out of maple. I understand that maple is very hard but I don't think it is readily available where I live (Sask, Canada). Birch is very common here but is it anywhere close to being as hard as maple? Does anyone see anything wrong with using birch for a work bench? Regards. -Guy |
#18
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Workbench top?
"Guy LaRochelle" wrote in message ... I have been studying everyones work benches and noticed that most of them are built out of maple. Mine is made from a solid core birch door. Very heavy duty. SH |
#19
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Workbench top?
Guy LaRochelle said:
I have been studying everyones work benches and noticed that most of them are built out of maple. I understand that maple is very hard but I don't think it is readily available where I live (Sask, Canada). Birch is very common here but is it anywhere close to being as hard as maple? Does anyone see anything wrong with using birch for a work bench? Regards. -Guy I made my top from Southern Yellow Pine, and works great. Maple was too pricey for me! As long as the birch is firm, and has no pith or soft spots, it should be fine. http://videodoc.home.mindspring.com/...orkBench01.jpg http://videodoc.home.mindspring.com/...orkbench02.jpg FWIW, Greg G. |
#20
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Workbench top?
Greg,
Nice bench and thanks for the info. I see in your pictures that you have a Delta jointer............what size is it? How do you like it? Regards. -Guy Greg G. wrote in message ... Guy LaRochelle said: I have been studying everyones work benches and noticed that most of them are built out of maple. I understand that maple is very hard but I don't think it is readily available where I live (Sask, Canada). Birch is very common here but is it anywhere close to being as hard as maple? Does anyone see anything wrong with using birch for a work bench? Regards. -Guy I made my top from Southern Yellow Pine, and works great. Maple was too pricey for me! As long as the birch is firm, and has no pith or soft spots, it should be fine. http://videodoc.home.mindspring.com/...orkBench01.jpg http://videodoc.home.mindspring.com/...orkbench02.jpg FWIW, Greg G. |
#21
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Workbench top?
Guy LaRochelle said:
Greg, Nice bench and thanks for the info. I see in your pictures that you have a Delta jointer............what size is it? How do you like it? Regards. -Guy Thanks. Yes, I have a 6" DJ - it works great. They had a few problems with warping fences on the earlier models, but I got a later, improved version with a new casting - it's straight within .002" and no problems at all. Fairly quiet for a jointer, and I love the longer, taller fence. Greg G. |
#22
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Workbench top?
Greg,
Do you find that a 6" is large enough or would an 8" be worth the price difference? Regards. -Guy Greg G. wrote in message ... Guy LaRochelle said: Greg, Nice bench and thanks for the info. I see in your pictures that you have a Delta jointer............what size is it? How do you like it? Regards. -Guy Thanks. Yes, I have a 6" DJ - it works great. They had a few problems with warping fences on the earlier models, but I got a later, improved version with a new casting - it's straight within .002" and no problems at all. Fairly quiet for a jointer, and I love the longer, taller fence. Greg G. |
#23
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Workbench top?
Guy LaRochelle said:
Greg, Do you find that a 6" is large enough or would an 8" be worth the price difference? Regards. -Guy I've had no need of a larger one - yet. Very seldom do I use stock wider than 6", as it tends to cup and twist when wider. The considerable price jump into the 8" and up jointers is financially unfeasible for me. Mostly I use it for edge jointing boards for glue up and straightening framing stock. I have a 13" planer as well - between the two I have not run into anything reasonable I couldn't work with. A nice 48" flat-bed drum sander would be nice, but... FWIW, Greg G. |
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