gardnesd Posted September 8, 2010 Report Share Posted September 8, 2010 Doing the LVL bench minus leg vise and dead man. Any recommendations? Any cautions. BTW, this will be the first major build I've ever done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuilderBill Posted September 10, 2010 Report Share Posted September 10, 2010 1) LVLs cup badly when sun hits them on one side, check your stock when you buy it. If they've been stored outside you don't want them. 2) They're heavy. REALLY heavy. It's cheaper to buy one wide one than two narrow ones up to 16"-18" width, whichever the yard stocks. A 16" weighs in at 8 lb/ft, you'll want to cut them to length as early in the process as you can. 3) They can sprout some really nasty splinters on the edges. Not the kind you need tweezers for, more the ER or Urgent Care kind. DON'T let them slide through your hands or drag them across your leg(and don't ask how I know this). It looks like a nice bench. You'll have a lot of ripping to do if you make one like Megan's and there's a LOT of glue in them, you'll need a sharp blade and probably a sharpening afterward. I'd use conventional hardwood for the legs and stretchers and save the LVLs(and all the work) just for the top. My current bench has a top made of two 1-1/4x14 rim boards covered with 1/2 ply, it's pretty stout and heavy as lead(well, almost). Been pounding on it for fifteen years or so and it's held up well. If I didn't have it I'd be tempted to rip up a bunch of LVLs as well, but it works and it's all I can handle to drag it around. Post some pics during the build, I think it'll be interesting. Best of luck, Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iSawitFirst Posted September 13, 2010 Report Share Posted September 13, 2010 Great advise about LVL's. I learned something new. So, why do you want to use LVL's? Price? I don't think they's make a very good bench surface either on face or edge. Will you use them only for the frame? Let us know how it turns out. You may be onto something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gardnesd Posted September 13, 2010 Author Report Share Posted September 13, 2010 I like the looks of LVL. Even though it's pine is does not ding a much as you'd think because of the glue every 1/8 in. Money was not the main issue. But Materials may cost $175 for the project. My plan is to make the bench so I can remove the top. So if I don't like the LVL it will make for a good weenie roast. Great advise about LVL's. I learned something new. So, why do you want to use LVL's? Price? I don't think they's make a very good bench surface either on face or edge. Will you use them only for the frame? Let us know how it turns out. You may be onto something. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iSawitFirst Posted September 13, 2010 Report Share Posted September 13, 2010 Got'cha. If down the road the LVL's don't work out for you maybe you could put 3/4 maple over them and not remove the LVL's. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clay Baldwin Posted October 3, 2010 Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 Just got done building the base of my workbench using LVL's. They planed nicely on my Dewalt 735 but cutting the mortises for the legs was not fun. Like builderbill said splinters hurt, watch for them. The base is heavy but very strong and I added a shelf made from some left over barn board. I have a SYP budget for the top, hoping to change that to Ash if I hit the lottery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lawrence Brown Posted October 3, 2010 Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 Love the through tenons with the wedges. Makes it look very hand-made. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuilderBill Posted October 3, 2010 Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 Wow! Lotta work went into that, great job! Best, Bill Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iSawitFirst Posted October 3, 2010 Report Share Posted October 3, 2010 Great job! Love the joinery and the look. Massive! Shallow rails along the sides of the shelf will keep things from falling off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clay Baldwin Posted October 4, 2010 Report Share Posted October 4, 2010 gardnesd How well do you think the LVL top will hold up.I like the idea isawitfirst had with covering tha top with 3/4 maple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torch02 Posted October 6, 2010 Report Share Posted October 6, 2010 gardnesd How well do you think the LVL top will hold up.I like the idea isawitfirst had with covering tha top with 3/4 maple. Megan Fitspztrick's bench has an LVL top and looks just fine a year after construction Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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