Joined
·
355 Posts
It's funny how we evolve. I have a 2' x 4' router table as my first one and I can tell that I really don't need a table that big. I am seriously considering cutting it down to about 24" x 24" and mounting the top on a cube. The cube would go on a base and have adjustable "feet" so that if I needed more infeed or outfeed I could adjust the height to match the table saw or work table. Almost like modularizing the shop. VERY limited space. Naturally I want more tools in the same space, so...
ANYWAYS... I digress (as usual)...
I have this really old "work bench" and I use the term loosely as it is really nothing more than a 3' x 5' table made of 2x4s and 1x8 planks. All stuff I had laying around at the time.... 25 years ago!. It doesn't even have a vise on it. I now want a workbench for woodworking. I won't be making one of fancy maple or oak as this is going to be my first one and (as usual) the budget it tight. I think it will be based on Bob Key's fast and cheap workbench. Laminated 2x4 for the top. I can afford decent 2x4s but I'd have a hard time justifying the expense of maple I think. Total depth 24" front to back and 60" long sound good? And... tooltray along the back or not? I'm really torn on that one... heheh. Oh... square dog holes or round? I know it will have a shoulder vise to start off by may not get a tail vise for a while. The traditional tail vise looks very nice, but to be honest I think I'd USE something like one of those twin screw tail vises a lot more. Expensive though... so probably would be added later. Shoulder vise would go on right away.
Flattening the top....
One of the things that brought me to all of this is that in a dream I was being shown a workbench and kept hearing, "You need a Stanley Bailey #7". Go ahead and laugh but I had no idea what a "Stanley Bailey #7" even WAS. I had to go looking on the internet.
So... my current router table top sits on a 48" bathroom cabinet. My thinking is that the bathroom cabinet would make a great base for a worktable and a couple pieces of 3/4" MDF laminated would make an acceptable top for that. The router table would get "shrunk". I'm hoping that by downsizing the current "workbench/work table" and shrinking the router table, that I'll make enough room to actually have a woodworking workbench.
OR... should I keep the bathroom cabinet as a router table base, add T-Track to the router table top (there's no overhang on the ends using 4' MDF) and then just get a piece of 3/4" MDF that can be layed over the router table to protect it if I need a work table?
I'm going nuts here trying to figure out how to get all this stuff into my small space and still be able to USE it.
But .... the more I DO... the more I WANT to do... addictive, ain't it?
ANYWAYS... I digress (as usual)...
I have this really old "work bench" and I use the term loosely as it is really nothing more than a 3' x 5' table made of 2x4s and 1x8 planks. All stuff I had laying around at the time.... 25 years ago!. It doesn't even have a vise on it. I now want a workbench for woodworking. I won't be making one of fancy maple or oak as this is going to be my first one and (as usual) the budget it tight. I think it will be based on Bob Key's fast and cheap workbench. Laminated 2x4 for the top. I can afford decent 2x4s but I'd have a hard time justifying the expense of maple I think. Total depth 24" front to back and 60" long sound good? And... tooltray along the back or not? I'm really torn on that one... heheh. Oh... square dog holes or round? I know it will have a shoulder vise to start off by may not get a tail vise for a while. The traditional tail vise looks very nice, but to be honest I think I'd USE something like one of those twin screw tail vises a lot more. Expensive though... so probably would be added later. Shoulder vise would go on right away.
Flattening the top....
One of the things that brought me to all of this is that in a dream I was being shown a workbench and kept hearing, "You need a Stanley Bailey #7". Go ahead and laugh but I had no idea what a "Stanley Bailey #7" even WAS. I had to go looking on the internet.
So... my current router table top sits on a 48" bathroom cabinet. My thinking is that the bathroom cabinet would make a great base for a worktable and a couple pieces of 3/4" MDF laminated would make an acceptable top for that. The router table would get "shrunk". I'm hoping that by downsizing the current "workbench/work table" and shrinking the router table, that I'll make enough room to actually have a woodworking workbench.
OR... should I keep the bathroom cabinet as a router table base, add T-Track to the router table top (there's no overhang on the ends using 4' MDF) and then just get a piece of 3/4" MDF that can be layed over the router table to protect it if I need a work table?
I'm going nuts here trying to figure out how to get all this stuff into my small space and still be able to USE it.
But .... the more I DO... the more I WANT to do... addictive, ain't it?