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How do you get a really flat building board / work bench

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Ron:
Hi chaps,

Having just discovered that my bench is far from flat, and needing to sort out a warped wing, I'm starting to wonder just what is the best way to get, and keep, a flat working surface.

Whatever you do with wood, eventually it sags in the middle.
So maybe a metal frame with lots of cross pieces might be the answer?
Even then, my welding technique isn't that good, so just making up a framework from say 1" square tube would mean lots of anglegrinder work too.

Perhaps a metal framework with nuts welded on and support bolts sticking up that you can adjust?

Any ideas?

Ron

Fred:
Hi Ron,
Welcome to the forum !  :D

For sure, a metal frame is the best thing to have, but that is also true that's a lot of work to make.

In my workshop, I have a wooden frame with cross sections in the 3 dimensions, and the top is a kitchen countertop.
My longest work bench is 3 mtrs long, and so far, it is still really straight.
I can take pictures of my workbenches if you want.

Fred

Wight:
I also use kitchen worktop as a bench, actually I bought super-cheap kitchen units in B&Q so I have drawers and cupboards below my bench for storage. The kitchen worktop was slightly damaged along the Rounded "nose" so I got it for 10 Euro. Whole lot (2.5m bench) with 6 deep drawers in 2 clusters and a single cupboard cost me about Eur120.

Ron:
Yes I guess a kitchen worktop is the answer.
Somehow I've still got this idea that you need to push pins into a modelling bench, but that doesn't apply now does it. And in these days of epoxy glue and fibreglass a plastic surface is much more sensible.

I'll have to look out for cheap kitchen units next time I'm in Cork.

Fred:
Hi Ron,

For the pins, you can always put a softer wood on top of the kitchen board, that will still be straight, but at least, you can use pins (something like a 4 / 5 mm plywood or sheets of cork)

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