I need a solid piece of hardwood (cypress, oak, maple, etc.) to build a workbench. I need at least 1 1/2" to 2" thick dimensions: 48"x18". I also need material of for 4 legs and 3 (X) supports.wouldn’t mind a thinner solid piece for a shelf, either. I am willing to pay, trade, or whatever to get the wood I want, but don’t want to spend an arm and a leg.you can call me @ 518-0627. Matt
If you can’t find it in Charleston, Mann Tool in Columbia deals in all kinds of wood. There is also a place called Woodworks that would probably have something you could use.
Call Wurth in North Charleston. We buy a lot of lumber from them.
They should be able to get you oak and maple. I wouldn’t build a work bench out of cypress. Too soft. Maple will be your best bet. Oak is hard enough but the grain is too coarse for doing any writing… just depends on what you’ll use it for.
(EDIT)— Changed “North raleigh” to “North Charleston”.
Cypress isn’t a hardwood:wink: A solid piece of good hardwood in a 2" thickness and 18" width would be very expensive, and not really good for a work bench anyway. Wide widths tend to cup, twist, split, warp and otherwise misbehave. It would be much better to use a smaller width such as a 2X2 or 2X4 and laminate multiple pieces together to get the width you need. It will be much more solid and stable, and a lot less expensive.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Small craft surveying and repair
My dad just said the same thing. Anyone local have a good wood shop and talents that would like to help me make a Maple workbench? Reloading bench.
Thank you Larry, that is another thing my dad mentioned. Strength, and Price. Sturdy but nice.
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Originally posted by matthollarMy dad just said the same thing. Anyone local have a good wood shop and talents that would like to help me make a Maple workbench? Reloading bench.
I’m a cabinet maker. I might be able to help you, I have every tool at my disposal, except I cannot actually allow someone non-employee to work at the actual shop.
I might be able to help you mill up the lumber or something, or help you glue it up to make a larger block from smaller pieces.
BTW what kind of work bench are you making? If this is strict utility and not something you’re trying to make an heirloom type item, then just build the thing out of melamine or particleboard with some laminate on it. Way, way cheaper. I can also help with that.
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Originally posted by Cracker LarryCypress isn’t a hardwood:wink: A solid piece of good hardwood in a 2" thickness and 18" width would be very expensive, and not really good for a work bench anyway. Wide widths tend to cup, twist, split, warp and otherwise misbehave. It would be much better to use a smaller width such as a 2X2 or 2X4 and laminate multiple pieces together to get the width you need. It will be much more solid and stable, and a lot less expensive.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Small craft surveying and repair
Agreed that 18" wide stuff isn’t easy to find at all and would be uber expensive.
I have found, though, that as long as it’s kiln dried, and not exposed to large amounts of humidity, that most of your common furniture-type woods (red/white oak, soft/hard maple, cherry, walnut) don’t warp much after you’ve planed and milled it, even if it is solid.
Softwoods like cypress and pine, however, I make no such promises lol, and I definitely make no promises on yellow birch hardwood, it tends to warp if the weather man says anything about rain in the surrounding 3-state area.
I think I will laminate 6" pieces of maple and walnut 1" thick,48 or so inches long into a tabletop, put braced legs on it with a shelf, and it will be a bad ass reloading bench. Gonna need to plane the top and then drum sand it. 24" X 40+" top . I want it to be nice and last forever. I want it about 34-36" tall and I want to put adjustable feet on it to keep it level.
BTW in my post above, I said to call Wurth in North Raleigh— I meant to say North Charleston. There is a Wurth branch in Raleigh I used to do business with also, but the one here in Charleston has decent hardwood prices.
That wouldn’t be all that hard to do really. The glue up isn’t terribly complicated when you have the right tools.
The walnut will cost you an arm and leg, fwiw, if you are wanting the 1" thick (“five-quarter” thick).
I saw the one in N Charleston when I looked it up. Thanks for the source. I would need access to clamps and a planer, then a drum sander. I also need some help with joinery. I want as little metal as possible in it.When I drew it up, I would use 3 6"x40 x1" maple and put in 2 5"x40"x1" walnut strips. Everything else will be maple, and just normal grade hard maple. I would be glad to reimburse you somehow for the help. Got some money, but lots of stuff.
I can probably help you get the material milled up, but I can’t loan out the clamps and such, they aren’t mine to loan. They are cheap, however, at Harbor Freight.
PM me your phone number if you want me to try and help.
I am also a cabinetmaker and if you are not going the heirloom route,let me make a recommendation. I have several benches with cut offs of glue lams or sometimes called micro lams. They are essentially plywood that is an inch an three quarters thick and sixteen to eighteen inches wide is the norm. Most large lumber yards will have short pieces ( four to eight feet ) that you can pick up discounted because there really isn’t much demand for short pieces. I take two pieces to make a bench 32 to 36 inches wide and this stuff is indestructible . Bolt a vice to it and you have a bench to last a lifetime.
I found a guy to plane and joint , and drum sand my walnut and hard maple today. Thanks for the Harbor Freight line on clamps
This is from another direction. Buy as nice a grade of 5/8 or 3/4 plywood as you like, veneer, etc. Rip to 2’x8’, then 2’x4’ or whatever length you want.Glue and screw together with best sides facing outboard. Band with your choice of lumber, stain, varnish or poly. Do your legs as you wish. I built some nice sawhorses for mine and left it at 2’x8’ using an extra sheet of cheap plywood on the inside.
You could drive a truck over it!!! Looked really nice, but not like fine furniture!
Forgot to add this. Before you glue and screw the top layer, figure where you will mount your tools and cut out 6"x6" squares(90 deg front and rear, 45 deg left and right sides.) Cut as many as you will need using cheaper plywood. Screw your tools to these pieces and simply slide into the opening so you can change tools at will!!
i guess my work bench is getting a new top with cut outs, cool idea, thanks
Thanks everyone for all the help and suggestions. I will get my planed maple and walnut tomorrow and begin glueing the pieces. Next question, I need large pistol primers. I found powder and bullets. And large rifle primers. Anyone have any they want to sell or trade?
Table is finished except for a few coats of varnish and mounting the press. I can’t figure out how to post pics here. If interested send me an email.
email it to me and I’ll post it for you.
Capt. Larry Teuton
Cracker Built Custom Boats
Small craft surveying and repair