sdkidaho Posted December 5, 2014 Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 I'm building a workbench along one wall of my shop and have a couple questions. I'm going to attach it to the wall so that I won't have legs on the back, but rather a support running the full length of the bench for the top. My floor has a small slope to it, somewhere between 1-2 inches from front to back, and that's over a 40' span. For my bench, do I make the top level for the entire length, or decide on a height from the floor and keep it at that height according to the floor for the entire length? I intend to make it 16' feet long. That's my other question. Do I buy 16' lumber, or do I buy 20' so that I have some waste and am sure on my 16' lengths? Thanks for your help. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted December 5, 2014 Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 I would keep the bench flat. You I would suggest that you use some type of adjusters under your legs so you keep those the same length. I would buy material that was longer than what I need. A good rule of thumb for me s 25% if possible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tedfmcm Posted December 5, 2014 Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 You absolutely keep the bench level and adjust the hight of the legs to maintain that level plane accordingly. depentding on your structure, you could get away with shorter lengths and make sure to refinforce/stagger the joints accordingly. Especially for the piece against the wall...you will presumably be fastening it at at least 16 inch intervals so the length of those pieces is somewhat irrelevant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted December 5, 2014 Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 I echo those above with level! As for the lumber, if the longest piece will be 16' and you can get good lumber then, 16 would be fine. Just watch for twist and curve. I like the to adjust for level. I use a few sets in my shop. http://www.rockler.com/heavy-duty-lifting-leveler Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted December 5, 2014 Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 16 foot lumber will be time consuming to mill. I had 14 footers one time (walnut) and I had to flatten one side by hand before thicknessing. I took a very long time to find the straightest boards possible! Edge jointing was all done by hand with a no 7. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave H Posted December 5, 2014 Report Share Posted December 5, 2014 get 16' lumber add breadboard ends that way you have some wiggle room on total length to square ends or get rid of checked or slit ends also the breadboard ends will keep the top from warping across the width. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted December 6, 2014 Report Share Posted December 6, 2014 Sounds like a good place for one ginormous french cleat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ponderingturtle Posted December 6, 2014 Report Share Posted December 6, 2014 Sounds like a good place for one ginormous french cleat! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdkidaho Posted December 8, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 8, 2014 Sounds like a good place for one ginormous french cleat! Why such a long bench? Planning to make counter-length cutting boards? 16 feet is a lot of horizontal surface. In my shop, that would mean 14' of accumulated crap and 2 feet of work space. So I just build 2' bench... Truthfully I was intending on such a long bench because I have the room. I really hadn't put much more thought into it than that, but seeing your response about it just accumulating crap, maybe I should rethink that size. I had also intended to use some french cleating as well to get stuff organized. I wouldn't mind some pegboard but I sure hate it when the hooks come out when you pull a tool off the wall, and hadn't seen anything I really like that wasn't an arm and a leg to keep the stupid hooks in place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.