| Project by Tony Z | posted 663 days ago | 2750 views | 23 times favorited | 21 comments | ![]() |
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Here it is. It’s skinned with 1/2” MDF on each side and the top is 1/4” hardboard. The edges are wrapped with clear pine with a chamfered edge. The hardboard just sits inside the pine edging and is not fastened so I can replace it when it gets trashed. I had an extra hand with the glue-up of all the short pieces( 60 I think) and also with the skins. The table is at the same height as my Table saw( along with every other surface in my shop), allowing for support of sheet goods as they are sent through the TS. There is a spot for my compressor and a spot for a shop vac. I’m planning on running air line through the cabinets with hook-ups on the long sides. I’ll also run some power strips. The hardboard has a nice smooth surface but I may still coat it with something when I finish the edge.
-- Tony, Ohio































21 comments so far
mrtrim
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1698 posts in 776 days
posted 663 days ago
nice looking bench tony
Les Hastings
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953 posts in 669 days
posted 663 days ago
That ought to make a nice flat bench top,,,good job , great project! Thanks for sharing it.
-- Les, Wichita, Ks. (I'd rather be covered in saw dust!)
Scott Bryan
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20707 posts in 718 days
posted 663 days ago
Tony,
This is really coming together well. Your top should be dead flat and it was an excellent idea to make it the same height as your table saw. It doesn’t look as if the bench is mobile so I assume that you are going to place it in proximity to your table saw?
Great idea and work. Thanks for sharing
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
Tony Z
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173 posts in 686 days
posted 663 days ago
The infeed side of my table saw is just out of the shot at the end of the new table. Stock can come off the new assembly table right into the saw. I’m not moving this thing. It’s heavy.
-- Tony, Ohio
CharlieM1958
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7654 posts in 1114 days
posted 663 days ago
Looks great! Now I want one.
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
schroeder
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512 posts in 1021 days
posted 663 days ago
That looks terrible! To save you embarrassment, I will try and arrange pickup and gladly store in our shop – no charge!, I’m here to help…I am bad with envy, I really need the same…nice job!
-- The Gnarly Wood Shoppe
conwaydog
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26 posts in 665 days
posted 663 days ago
Thats on my to do list. Very nice job! Hook us up with a nice quad outlet along with the air too.
SPalm
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949 posts in 778 days
posted 663 days ago
Good Job sir. Looks right smart.
-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon
IowaWoodcrafter
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256 posts in 972 days
posted 663 days ago
Great job Tony! I saw this on The Wood Whisperer as well and thought I’d like to build one. What was the hardest part of making/assembling the torsion box? Any tips you think we should know? I’m going to make one as soon as I’m done with the honeydo list. Guess that means I’ll never get to make one. ;)
-- Owen Johnson - aka IowaWoodcrafter
ND2ELK
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6202 posts in 670 days
posted 662 days ago
You can go to FineWooding.com and find a similar assembly table in a three part series entitled “Dead-Flat Assembly Table”. They have measured drawings, instuctions, pictures and video.
Tom
-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa
cajunpen
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5968 posts in 962 days
posted 662 days ago
Great looking table – I see you even included dual toe kicks on it, leaving no stone unturned :-)).
Charlie – you don’t have space in your shop for this one (me either).
-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/
rikkor
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11335 posts in 770 days
posted 662 days ago
All I can say is great job.
Critterman
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546 posts in 706 days
posted 662 days ago
Great job Tony, sure wish I had room for one of these, what a nice big surface to work on. Great work.
-- Jim Hallada, Chesterfield, VA
Jon Parker
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20 posts in 707 days
posted 662 days ago
ok – i’m a newbie and curious what the purpose of the torsion box is vs. a solid (ex: 2 – 3/4” sheets of mdf) for a top … which could still allow for a hardboard top … please help me understand … i’m designing an assembly workbench as well as table saw outfeed … some insight here would be greatly appreciated … thanks
-- Jon | Rigby, Idaho
Tony Z
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173 posts in 686 days
posted 662 days ago
The purpose of a torsion box is for assembly reference. It is a strong, ridgid, DEAD-FLAT surface. For example, If your table saw’s surface was not exactly flat, it would be difficult to get accurate cuts. The torsion box assembly table allows for accurate glue-ups and assemblies as well as accurate reference for measurements. This works especially well with pieces with legs. Hope that helps.
-- Tony, Ohio
jsheaney
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58 posts in 884 days
posted 644 days ago
Did you fasten the top to the cabinet or is it just sitting there? How heavy is it? Can you move it yourself? Carrying one sheet of 1/2” MDF is about my limit.
-- Disappointment is an empty box full of expectation.
Tony Z
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173 posts in 686 days
posted 643 days ago
It is screwed to the cabinets from below. It is very heavy. I can slide it around myself on the cabinets or lift up one end but I wouldn’t lift it off without help.
-- Tony, Ohio
PurpLev
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2759 posts in 544 days
posted 439 days ago
looks great…
-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.
Karson
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25802 posts in 1296 days
posted 439 days ago
Nice looking Tony. I made a torsion box for my veneer table. But I used 3/4” MDF and it’s not light. I hindged it to the wall and hooked up an electric winch to lift it up. (which I never do) (But I could if I wanted to)
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
Bob #2
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3041 posts in 917 days
posted 439 days ago
Shoot Tony! now I want one too!
Bob
-- A mind, like a home, is furnished by its owner
SteveKorz
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2030 posts in 610 days
posted 286 days ago
AWESOME!
-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †