Oak Workbench?

No reason that I know of, maple seems to be the traditional wood for a workbench. My bench is oak and it works fine. I’d say, use what’s available.

-- Hal, Tennessee http://www.first285.com

Any Hardwood works. I agree with Hal use what is available.

-- Marc

I would consider oak to be the preferred hardwood for workbenches. However, I favor bamboo for the top work service (with an oak perimeter).

-- Rich, Cedar Rapids, IA - I'm a woodworker. I don't create beauty, I reveal it.

Most top-notch furniture is made of oak, so why not ? Go for it.

-- Government does not solve problems; it subsidizes them.

Sure. There are a ton of designs that incorporate oak. Hell…there are a ton that incorporate pine too. I’m strongly leaning to using pine myself, skirted with hardwood (most likely oak) and perhaps using a hardboard overlay (I like Rich’s idea for bamboo as well). I like the idea of a convertable, replaceable top workbench.

If extra heft is a concern (when using a lighter top), you could just incorporate a drawer unit underneath, more like a shaker-build.

Nobody is going to call you stupid building a workbench out of whatever is cheap and available…which you can still make as utilitarian and enduring as anything else. IMHO, building an entire workbench out of hardwood has more to do with form and less with function.

-- jay, www.allaboutastro.com

Thanks fella’s. Appriciate the input for a project that probably will not begin until the spring…or later.

Brandon

-- I came, I was conquered, I was born again. ἵνα ὦσιν ἓν