Workbench top question

[raruss1]

I am planning on putting in a real workbench top. My local supplier has large cants of air dried white oak.

He can saw it up into any dimensions I want. What would y'all recommend?

1. A large 1 piece slab top

2. Cut it down into 12/4 boards and then glue them back together

3. White oak would suck as a workbench wood

Thanks

Renee

[kesac]

Oak will do fine. I wouldn't do a solid slab. Sawing into quarter sawn and reglueing will give you a very stable top that will become harder as the years go by.

How big are you planning to make it?

[raruss1]

I was thinking 24" x 72", I would mostly use it for cutting joinery and hand tool work as I process my boards in the front part of the basement and the parts get assembled out front as well. So anything I bring to the bench would be less than those dimensions. I have a plywood top workbench that is 8' long and I mostly use the last 2 feet for storing stuff.

[Roger T]

Renee,

The only thing about white oak, is it may be more prone to chipping and splintering. I do agree with the quartersawn comment though. Would sure make a pretty benchtop.

Roger

[Dyami Plotke]

Renee,

I too would go with the quarter sawn white oak. As for tear out, try edge banding it with another, less tearout prone wood.

[raruss1]

Thanks to all for the advice, very helpful. Good point about the splintering of the oak. I think I will edge in madrone since i can also get that for for an excellent price.

I am kinda thinking of buying a wood threader and making my own vice to keep the cost down, not to mention it would thread fast.