Torsion Box Assembly Table - 18

[TheDeltaFlight]

hey Marc, how sturdy would just 2 layers of 3/4 inch ply wood glued together be? I will probably make a frame out of 2x4 and legs out of 4x4's. Would this be sturdy enough for an all-around work bench?

[TheWoodWhisperer]

@TheDeltaFlight Sturdy, yes. But if you are going for a full-on workbench as opposed to just an assembly surface, solid wood is the way to go. Especially if you are going to use dogs and other work-holding items, those aren't going to hold up real well in MDF.

[ialamont22312]

At 3:46 a bug appears on your table corner.

[mightywombat]

Marc, I'm wondering if you would get the same degree of rigidity if you stagger your short crosspieces, so instead of a proper grid you would get a grid where each row was offset by maybe 50%. Thoughts?

[TheWoodWhisperer]

@mightywombat Don't know for sure. But part of the strength is that the pieces support one another. By staggering them, you remove some of that support. How much of a difference does it really make? probably not much.

[djchasper3]

@Thewoodwhisperer

Thanks a million...

Really appreciate it!

[djchasper3]

@Thewoodwhisperer

Well Im not your average woodworker....I live in Ireland, Im 16 and there arn't any coarses for beginners. So i am just using your videos to get started....I dont really have a budget....and i want to be able to build a work bench first. Or is that the right thing to build first? I wood love to start and am keen. I wood love to start and do it properly.

Regards

Richie

[TheWoodWhisperer]

@djchasper3 Well you need a place to work, but until you establish your tastes and work methods, a full-on workbench isn't really necessary. A nice large flat surface and some clamps will get you where you need to be. Then when you know what type of woodworking you plan on doing, you can build a nice bench to suit your needs. But there is a ton of info available on the web these days. Just a Google search away.

[specialks1953]

@djchasper3 - Good Luck in your hobby. - I am not sure what you mean by not having a budget. If that means you have unlimited money to buy what you want, just decide what type of projects you want to build then read a lot about any purchase of equipment/tools before you buy them and go for it. If you mean you have limited money then you need to start by deciding the projects you intend to build, then buy tools to work with. Read, Watch and Learn. You will figure out what is most needed to least.

[djchasper3]

@Thewoodwhisperer

Hey,

I am wondering. What are the first tools to buy. Because i am extremly intested and am keen to start.

Thanks

[TheWoodWhisperer]

@djchasper3 This is a hard question to answer without knowing you, your tastes, your budget, and your shop space. I have a few articles on my site about tool purchases if you want to stop by and take a look.

[hansvledder]

Marc,

I have two questions about this torsion box assembly table. Is there a particular reason why you didn't construct the 'matrix' inside from interlocking lengths of MDF, and does the overall thickness of the table top make any difference to the stability of the table?

TIA,

Hans

The Netherlands

[TheWoodWhisperer]

@hansvledder Hey Hans. The interlocking is probably a better way to do the grid, just more work. And thickness probably does affect stability. The thicker it is, the wider the matrix is, and the more resistant it is to bending. But its hard for me to know how much or at what point going too thin becomes a problem.

[hansvledder]

@TheWoodWhisperer Thank you very much Marc. Grid was the word I was looking for. I can see why you can't tell when reducing the overall thickness starts to be a problem, it's simply a matter of trying. I love robust, chuncky furniture anyway, so why make a skinny assembly table.

Thanks again, and I am dying for the next episode of the Trestle Table project to the extent that I am chewing on my left shoe currently, just to kill time. Awful flavour I can tell you ...

Regards,

Hans

[TheWoodWhisperer]

@hansvledder haha well here's a little secret. You can already watch part 2 on my site. :) I haven't had a chance to upload it to YouTube yet. :)

[hansvledder]

@TheWoodWhisperer Thanks for sharing the secret :-p. Became a Guild member in the process. It's about time to support you guys. Especially because you (and Nicole) got me interested in (and enthousiastic about) woodworking to start with and have learned a lot from you so far.

Need to go see episode 2 now, gotta rush. I still need these shoes to go to work ...

Thanks!

Hans

[TheWoodWhisperer]

@hansvledder thanks buddy! Take care!

[howser12]

I made one of these tonight in my shopjust for fun. .5" MDF on both sides and .75" MDF on the inside. I did a lap joint instead of butting all those little pieces together. All in all, it was a complete waste of time and $70. Everything went fantastic until I put the torsion box on top of my Assebly table frame. The torsion box sagged every bit as much as the old .75" melamine that was there before.

[TheWoodWhisperer]

@howser12 Oh man that sucks! Thanks for the heads up. Sorry it didnt work out for you.

[Belg1970]

what ever happened to the table part of this project? I did a search on the website and can't seem to find it? I would love to see the plans you mentioned in the video, what issue of fine WW are they in?

[TheWoodWhisperer]

I thought I uploaded here to YouTube but apparently not. You can find it in our Video archive under Projects on our site.

[danno1111]

I'd also recommend adding the hardwood top after adding the oak strips, and trimming it flush to the oak... then you know the entire top is flat, and you can easily replace the surface with another material after it gets banged up.. as it is, you're limited to using a material exactly the same thickness, and you can't do anything about the edges if they're no longer flat.

[gspotr69]

I have a question... instead of cutting all those short dividers, could you gang the pieces together and use a radial arm saw with a dado blade to cut (not sure what they are really called, but I'm going to call them "Vertical Half Lap") joints to make the grid?

[TheWoodWhisperer]

Yeah, I don't see why not. I definitely did it the hard way in this video. But that was the way I was taught. There are a few ways you can do it to save time and effort. Your idea sounds like a good one.

[torgy]

This was very helpful for me since I'm planing on making one myself soon. But i was thinking of off-setting the inner grid by one inch, or the width of the grid boards. So i wouldn't have to toe-nail the boards, but I would be nailing straight into the boards. Do you think that it will effect the over all strength Torsion Box?

[TheWoodWhisperer]

No it should be fine. Many people have done this with great results. I say go for it.

[paulc1700]

So, Can i borrow some of those bar clamps?

[handymanpk]

i like your craftsmanship. i have little workspace, i wanna build workbench, assembly table is another requirement. whats you opinion on making a hybrid design which can do both job done or any suggestions.

[TheWoodWhisperer]

I haven't made a combo bench myself, but I know others have. Basically they just add a little extra reinforcement around the vise. And people tell me this works very well.

[handymanpk]

thx buddy .... i try to find combo bench plans.

[raybieze]

I like your twinkie shirt. And the video is great too. Thanks.

[ElsaMcCrum]

Just curious...why did you switch from the kapex to the makita? and how come you didn't give the older guy a respirator? ha.

[TheWoodWhisperer]

lol, well, my step dad is only in there for a few minutes at a time. I have to be in there all day long. But he should have still worn a respirator or dust mask. :)

And this is actually an older video. The Makita came before the Kapex.

[hopper1]

What kind of weight does this torsion box have to it? My garage doubles as the wood shop and if this table can be moved by one person, I think I found what I've been looking for.

[TheWoodWhisperer]

Heavy heavy my friend.  There are several sheets of mdf tied up in that gridwork, so it is a lot heavier than it looks. I have heard of people using ultralight mdf, which can help. If its on a wheeled base, you can move it. But on its own, probably not a one-man job.

[TheWoodWhisperer]

This video was actually created for Fine Woodworking and there were time considerations. But the info should all be there. Also, if you would like to download a plan, you can find it at my site and at Fine Woodworking's as well.

[RgTrace]

Excellent video as usual, but this one seemed a little rushed compared to the others.

[JCESTRIPING]

Holy Mother!Thats a big ass jointer..(nice)