[MrElliott1982]

So I am getting very close to getting my workshop set up (finally). I still want to build a Roubo style workbench, I have gone back and forth between two large slabs with one seam and multiple 2x4 glued up to make the solid top. Now I was looking at Sears and they have a butcher block top that is the perfect size, 1.5x24x72. http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00914961000P?adCell=MC_to_Product Well, perfect length and width, but not thick enough. So I start thinking to my self, why not buy two of them @$110 each and glue them together to make a top that is 3" thick. IMO that is plenty thick for any work I am going to be doing. Some of my concerns are holding both tops down tight and getting a good glue bond. Then I wonder if I will need some dowels going thru both tops to help hold them from slipping. Then I think it might need a "frame" around the top maybe with some dovetail joinery to give it a nice look. If I am going to dowel them together I can pre-drill the holes and use bolts to help hold the two tops down in the middle of the glue up, then remove the bolts and drive dowels in.

 

[GeorgeC]

Why is 1 1/2" not thick enough?

I certainly would not buy a second top until I had thoroughly used the one with 1 1/2" top and determined that the thickness was insufficient.

George

 

[bigcouger]

Mine is 8/4 an its thick enough even all my other bench's are all 8/4 so why do you want to go thicker ??????????

 

[mike1950]

I can see why you want it thicker- mine is 3+. Why not glue the top to 2 layers MDF or 3/4 plywood and the money you saved could buy some of the wood for the rest of the bench........

 

[ryan50hrl]

Agreed, thickness means weight, which means inertia, which leads to stability. I'd use sandwich 3/4 ply between 2 sheets of 3/4 MDF, and then attach the butcher block top to that. Edge banding around the outside, and you'll be good to go.

 

[tootall83]

I like to use solid slab doors that you can get from home depot for about $60. Their roughly 6/4 I think, and are sturdy.

 

[Dave Paine]

The Sears top looks to be tallow wood. Not as dense as maple.

I have a 1 1/2in thick hard maple laminated top on a kitchen island. This would also be good for a work bench top.

Woodcraft sells a laminated maple top 1 3/4in thick.

http://www.woodcraft.com/product/2005134/4966/24-x-60-laminated-maple-bench-top-70-lbs.aspx

I feel 1 1/2in or 1 3/4in thick maple is strong, will not flex when clamping. If you want extra weight, add it to the bench.

 

[Chris Curl]

Mine is 8/4 an its thick enough even all my other bench's are all 8/4 so why do you want to go thicker ??????????

not arguing, just clarifying ... so yours is 8/4, which means (approximately) 2" thick. His 1 1/2" would be more equivalent to a 6/4. So, to compare apples to apples, are you saying that even though yours is 8/4 (which is thick enough for you) a thinner top at 6/4 should still be thick enough for him?

 

[bigcouger]

not arguing, just clarifying ... so yours is 8/4, which means (approximately) 2" thick. His 1 1/2" would be more equivalent to a 6/4. So, to compare apples to apples, are you saying that even though yours is 8/4 (which is thick enough for you) a thinner top at 6/4 should still be thick enough for him?

Hes wanting to go to 12/4 by lamenting 2 together to equal 3 inches thick

 

[MrElliott1982]

I was thinking 3" because the Roubo build that I saw that I would LOVE to build is out of 5" thick cherry wood. Two pieces, that are 10" wide by 72" long with one glue seam in the bench. I am eating to build something simple to use for a few years while I get better so when I build a bench like that it will be very nice

 

[HowardAcheson]

I can see why you want it thicker- mine is 3+. Why not glue the top to 2 layers MDF or 3/4 plywood and the money you saved could buy some of the wood for the rest of the bench........

Not a good idea. You don't want to glue a solid wood panel to a composition material substrate. The solid wood wants to expand and contract with humidity changes while the composition material panel will not have any appreciable movement. The result will be forces that will cause warping, splitting or some other damage.

In addition, one should not solidly attach any boards across the end grain of a laminated board panel. Again, wood expands/contracts across the grain and an end board would create a cross grain situation.

Finally, attempting to face glue two wide and long panels will lead to a weak joint. It is impossible in the home shop to get enough even pressure to ensure a strong glue joint.

 

[Chris Curl]

Hes wanting to go to 12/4 by lamenting 2 together to equal 3 inches thick

I understand that, but it doesn't answer the question I asked:

... are you saying that even though yours is 8/4 (which is thick enough for you) a thinner top at 6/4 should still be thick enough for him?

 

[Chris Curl]

... I am eating to build something simple to use for a few years while I get better so when I build a bench like that it will be very nice

for a simple 1st bench, something like this with bracing across the width and a countertop from Ikea is a good solution.

 

[bigcouger]

I understand that, but it doesn't answer the question I asked:

Oh sorry no I think 8/4 is a good sixe in the long run of solid wood like mine 6/4 is ok but it depends on what you are going to make on it, for instance my neborito has one made 6/4 but he only assembles on it, an one he hand planes on an he been happy with them so it personal preference I just don't see doing one 12/4 tho dam that's going to be really heavy, all of mine are solid wood no MDF or Plywood