Total Beginner needing help with a project

[brose1313]

Hello everyone, I am very new to woodworking but I am very excited to start this new adventure. This christmas I got a few tools to help lead me in the right direction. Below are the tools that I currently own.

-Drill
-Router
-JigSaw
-Sander
-Miter Saw
-Circular Saw
-Clamps

I would like to build my own personal worktable to complete my projects on. I was wondering if anyone had some ideas on how to create this table. What timber should I use, Joints, Glue and so on? I really look forward to hearing back from everyone, and thanks in advance for your input.

[RionM]

"Total Beginner" indicates very little experience so your first project (a worktable) should be something relatively simple, but functional. There are dozens of joints to choose from so mastering joints might be one of your priorities and a worktable allows you to try your hand at several types in one project.

An internet search for a worktable plan and info on joinery might be your first step. Your list of tools indicate you might want to build the top and then the legs and join them together. Building drawers later could be a logical extension and useful addition to your new worktable. Building a box may sound simple but can be a challenge.

I would suggest that every project you attempt might incorporate some new technique to build up your knowledge and experience. Taking classes and getting books helps a lot and will short-circuit your learning curve.

[eggcrate]

A good solid work bench is a great way to start. I made a work bench using pine and mdf. It was as solid as a rock and when I moved, I gave it to a friend. Since you have a miter saw, a circular saw, router and drill, you could make one with ease.

The basic frame for the table is made with 2x4 studs. I ripped mine to 3 inches to get rid of the 'factory' edge, making them 3x1.5 inches. The legs are laminated using the cut 2x4's and glued together leaving a space for the stringers. This way, you don't need to make dados. Good ole Titebond works well for this. Just clamp the parts until set and go for the next.

Picture 1.jpg
Basic leg

The gaps in the leg are 3 inches if you trim the 2x4 to 3 inches. It's easier to trim them as it gives you a standard width to work with. You can make the leg what ever length you wish depending on your work height. Cut the end pieces for your legs depending on the with you want to end up with. I made mine 24 inches wide and made the top 30 inches wide. That leaves about 3 inches of overhang to work with.

Picture 2.jpg
View of basic leg

If you wish to add extra weight to the finished table, make the bottom stringers a 2x6 trimmed to 5 inches in width. This will allow you to put a bottom in the stringers and fill it with sand. Then you can place a top on it to use as a shelf. The completed legs look like this:

Picture 3.jpg

You can get a piece of 3/4 inch mdf, cut it to 2 slabs, glue it together and screw it to the stringers.

Picture 4.jpg

Use 1x4 pine, ripped to 3 inches wide, to make a band around the top. Glue and screw the band to the mdf. Leave the band approximately 1/4 in above the mdf, so you can put a piece of Masonite (hardboard) on the top as a disposable surface. When it gets too bugged up, just replace it. I drilled a 1 inch hole in the corner of the mdf top to make it easier to replace the hardboard.

Picture 5.jpg
Work bench without hardboard top

The last thing to do is drop the hardboard on the top and go to work! You can mount a vise to the top and various other things and if you have an oops, you aren't out a lot of funding!
I shot screws into the legs to hold the parts as well as gluing - probably over kill.

[brose1313]

I appreciate your responses, I am going to try and start my project in the next few days, I will keep everyone informed how the progress is coming. Thanks again

[brose1313]

I was thinking about dimensions for the workbench.

34" High
60" Long
30" Wide

Does this seem like a good size or do you think I should make it smaller/bigger??

[brose1313]

I was also thinking about using the 3ft of the workbench for work, then creating a makeshift router table on the other 2ft of the top. Since I don't have a router table for my router I thought this would be a great combination. What do you think?

[fergusM]

Making a router table for your router table is a great idea. When I made my first one I made it 3 foot by 1 1/2 foot and had it so it would clip on to the front of my workbench. The workbench has long been replaced but the router tables hangs it the ceiling ready whenever I need it.

[FrankC]

I would be inclined to make a separate table for your router, it would be to easy to bump the bit with it in the bench, either damaging the router or the object that hit it. Just my opinion.

[RionM]

Other considerations:
1. Vise(s)
2. Small 'cubby' holes/storage bins for hardware/tools
3. Power strip
4. Mobility or in a permanent location

There was a discussion in this forum about work benches several years ago and one of the items mentioned was a "universal" work bench. It included some pictures (either from his work or from a magazine). It was really slick and functional but I can't find any reference to it so I'll try to describe it:

It was a fairly 'standard' size work bench, solidly built with vises, drawers and perf boards on each end for hanging tools. The neat feature of it was a center section of the top that was cut out yielding avoid of roughly 24"x24" (length and width) and 6" deep. There were cleats mounted on each side from front to back. This center section allowed various tools/jigs to slide into place as needed, such as a miter saw mounted on a 2'x2' plywood base, a sanding box (an enclosed box with a perf top and a shopvac/dust collector fitting in front), other small power tools each mounted on a 2'x2' plywood base. To use it as a pure workbench, a piece of plywood only would cover the hole.

If this sounds practical, you might consider it for a future project once you get comfortable with woodworking in general. And I hope I described it adequately.

--- Rion

[Heightswood]

Hi brose1313,
I have a Newbie's To Woodworking Guide, where you can learn a lot of things. Also we have a free Shed Plan with a pictures and easy direction to follow.
You can find this information completely free at:
http://www.heightswood.com/twitter
Thank you