Kreg Owners' Community

Is your workbench flat?  I made a workbench top out of two layers of 3/4 material.  I tried to be really careful in the construction and the  glue up but when I put a 3 foot level on it, it turns out that it was not perfectly flat, some places are 1/16 to 1/8 higher or lower.  So, I think that if I make a table or chair, and assemble on the workbench, it's ultimately going to have contact with the floor in an uneven manner and thus "rock" some amount. 

Any ideas how to resolve this?  I notice in quite a few books I read they say that for the money, it's faster and easier to buy a maple or birch top.  My experience so far would support that idea even though prior to making the top I thought I could make it cheaper than buying it.

John


Views: 2591

Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

How do you know the surface you had level on to start with was level?
Gary,
I don't know if it was level or not. I know it was not flat (that's what is the issue) because I put the level across the top and I can see gaps between the level and the workbench top. If I slide the level around the top, there are gaps and high spots. That's what makes me think that a table assembled on the top will rock when I set it on the floor and use it.


Gary roofner said:
How do you know the surface you had level on to start with was level?
"I made a workbench top out of two layers of 3/4 material."

What kind of material?
I build mine with 3/4 ply, for strength, top with 3/4 particle board, for flatness/hardness, top that with 1/4" masonite/hardboard for protection. Sometimes I'll poly the top.
John if your top needs to be flatend you can do this with a router by making a jig that your router rides in it is a u shape that will go all the way across the table top with a slot for a router bit to stick thru you will have to make rails for both sides of the table that the u shape will ride on then level the rails start with your router at the lowest point on the top and just move your router back and forth across the top moving the u shaped sled as you go . If you go get a stair tread bit they are a larger diameter and will take less time.
If when your done your top is rough try sanding or add a 1/4" peice of hard board .
Just to establish a point of reference, you may run the same test on the floor in your house. How flat is it? You may take great pains to get your bench flat only to find out floors aren't any better. I work with dimensions to four decimal places and I'm constantly having to remind myself that when out in my garage, I'm not building an airplane. By the way, I built my bench tops the same way you did, and I've not noticed any issues with the flatness. :)
I saw a good podcast on the Wood Whisperer about how to make your own flat surface assembly table. It was really sharp. I put it on my to do list.

Bill
I ended up buying a maple bench top through Amazon. It is supposed to be flat, maybe not machinist flat but flat none the less. After I factored in the material cost and the time cost of making a really flat bench top myself, buying it was way less expensive and probably a better product. So, that top is on its way to the shop and I will be putting it on to the frame of the work bench soon. I'll post some pictures of it so you can see how it looks. I can use the material I purchased already for some shelves in the soon to be constructed storage area in the garage.

Now I am moving on to the next project, a chop saw table.

John
Google "torsion box assembly table". It sounds like a chore, but one develops some skills along repetitive way, that's for sure.

Reply to Discussion

RSS

Need Help?

For Technical Support, please call 800-447-8638 or send a message. Reps are available Monday through Friday from 8am to 5pm CST. 

Videos

  • Add Videos
  • View All

Forum

Jig settings for 2 ¾ x 1 ½ boards with 30 degree miters?

I making a hex ring out of 2x4s ripped to 2 ¾ inches wide with 30 degree miters.  What setting on the Jig should I used? 1 ½ is too much.  Thanks.Continue

Started by Patrick Halinski in Kreg Jig® Operation Dec 30, 2023.

40mm Cup Hinge Jig Question

Hi All.....I have the 35mm Kreg Jig hinge drill guide. The guide is great for 35mm Hinge Cups, but I have a speciality 40MM hinge cup to drill.Has anyone adapted the Kreg guide to work with 40mm Forsner drill bits? Or have a guide that works…Continue

Started by Ed Anderson in Beginners' Zone Oct 3, 2023.

Product Reviews

New Kreg 720Pro

I saw the video Kreg put out for this new jig and had high hopes for it.

I purchased one today and am very disappointed with it.

First the docking station is extremely cheap. The plastic is pathetic. A Lego has more…

Continue

Posted by Duke Leon on February 15, 2021 at 9:00pm

Not Pleased With Pocket Hole Construction

Several months ago, I purchased the Kreg K4MS so that I could build the Lego Table as outlined on the companion "buildsomething" web site which exclusively uses pocket hole construction.  I have considerable experience with conventional…

Continue

Posted by Robert Ringel on September 17, 2020 at 1:48pm — 9 Comments

© 2024   Created by KregRep.   Powered by

Badges  |  Report an Issue  |  Privacy Policy  |  Terms of Service

_