Home Page
   Articles
       links
About Us    
Traders        
Recipes            
Latest Articles
Woodworking bench DIY
Page 1, 2, 3  Next
 
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Downsizer Forum Index -> Energy Efficiency and Construction/Major Projects
Author 
 Message
tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Mon Dec 01, 14 5:47 pm    Post subject: Woodworking bench DIY Reply with quote
    

I'm going to build a bench to make life easier for myself, I'm thinking 1 sheet of ply cut down the middle and sandwiched together so I end up with something 2440x610(ish), base will be scaffolding (I have lots). Pre drilled for bench dogs.

Question 1) Ply or MDF?
Q2) What spacing should I put the holes at? Especially spacing from edge.

Nick



Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford
PostPosted: Mon Dec 01, 14 6:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Ply. It won't kill you.

Drill holes as you need them?

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Mon Dec 01, 14 6:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Nick wrote:
Ply. It won't kill you.


Will MDF?


tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Mon Dec 01, 14 6:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Nick wrote:
Drill holes as you need them?


I just thought I'd get them drilled by the timber yard, save a bit of time. (I'm still working 5 days a week)

sean
Downsizer Moderator


Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42207
Location: North Devon
PostPosted: Mon Dec 01, 14 6:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

MDF dust is pretty evil.

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Mon Dec 01, 14 6:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

sean wrote:
MDF dust is pretty evil.


Ah, OK. All new to me.

Hairyloon



Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.
PostPosted: Mon Dec 01, 14 6:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Also, the manufacture of MDF uses a massive amount of energy. The trees have gone to all that trouble to product a solid lump of timber: it takes a lot of work to mash it into a pulp, and then some more to glue it back into a solid lump again...

And ply is simply better, for almost every application.

Last edited by Hairyloon on Mon Dec 01, 14 6:19 pm; edited 1 time in total

Nick



Joined: 02 Nov 2004
Posts: 34535
Location: Hereford
PostPosted: Mon Dec 01, 14 6:19 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

To be fair, the risks are minimal, but present. I'd just go for ply because it's actually wood tho.

Hole wise, I can measure the ones on a black and decker. They work, but no idea why they are at those centres. Must be a reason tho.

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Mon Dec 01, 14 6:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Nick wrote:
They work, but no idea why they are at those centres. Must be a reason tho.


Swot I wondered

Jb



Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 7761
Location: 91� N
PostPosted: Mon Dec 01, 14 6:50 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Whatever you use for the top make the top in two parts with a thin top sheet screwed to a thicker layer. The when you damage the top (which if you do very much you will you can just replace the top sheet.

I would avoid MDF for two reasons, one is that it generates toxic dust, not usually a problem but if it's a workbench you may well be making dust out of it. The second reason is that in my experience MDF is prone to absorbing moisture and loses all structural strength when it does. Fine for a painted shelf, back of cheap furniture etc but in a workshop it might not be so dry.

Jb



Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 7761
Location: 91� N
PostPosted: Mon Dec 01, 14 6:52 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJjrB4SvMWg should give you some ideas.

tahir



Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45389
Location: Essex
PostPosted: Mon Dec 01, 14 7:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

Thanks JB. I don't think I'll be getting anywhere near as involved as you, but I have got a few jobs I need to do.

dpack



Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45372
Location: yes
PostPosted: Mon Dec 01, 14 7:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

mdf will fall to bits rather quickly

ply wont

mousjoos



Joined: 05 Jun 2006
Posts: 1986
Location: VERY Sunny SW France
PostPosted: Mon Dec 01, 14 8:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

sean wrote:
MDF dust is pretty evil.


Unless you eat the equivalent of an 8x4 sheet on a daily basis, you're fairly safe....true it's not the tastiest dust & when cutting wear an effing mask...simples

Hairyloon



Joined: 20 Nov 2008
Posts: 15425
Location: Today I are mostly being in Yorkshire.
PostPosted: Mon Dec 01, 14 10:06 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
    

mousjoos wrote:
sean wrote:
MDF dust is pretty evil.


Unless you eat the equivalent of an 8x4 sheet on a daily basis, you're fairly safe...

The hazard is from inhalation not consumption. Any fine dust is not good to breath in and MDF tends to go to dust when you cut it.

Post new topic   Reply to topic    Downsizer Forum Index -> Energy Efficiency and Construction/Major Projects All times are GMT
Page 1, 2, 3  Next
Page 1 of 3
View Latest Posts View Latest Posts

 

Archive
Powered by php-BB © 2001, 2005 php-BB Group
Style by marsjupiter.com, released under GNU (GNU/GPL) license.
Copyright © 2004 marsjupiter.com