3 Thick Solid Benchtop

First real project using the workbench…Is a coffee table for the wife. She wanted my workbench top in the house, but I wouldn’t give it to her. Instead I will build her a miniature version the same way I built mine.

I ran across some LVL Plywood at 84 lumber for 2 bucks a piece and instantly thought…that would make a great workbench surface. I ended up with 3 10′ pieces and 1 12′ piece all 16″ wide and 1 3/4″ thick. My neighbor ended up getting some and I helped him build a wet bar covered in red cedar with his.

I ripped the 16″ wide planks into 3″ boards 7’4″ long and planed them to remove the waterproof coating that is on the beams. I drilled 3/8″ holes every 12″ and at each end to insert 36″ 3/8 all thread to use as clamps. I glued everything up at one time but left glue off of a few pieces so I could break it apart into 3″ thick planks less than 12 inches wide that would still fit through my small 12″ planer.

I actually built these foldable saw horses and adjustable height out feed table just for this project…I am sure they will get lots of other uses though. I used them as a work surface during the glue up and painting process for my workbench.

I used an electric hand plane to even out the surface after gluing the three large planks together. I knew it would be off a little, but was hoping it wouldn’t be too bad…I was wrong. It didn’t take to long with the hand planer to even everything out and I got a new tool out of the deal so I can’t complain too much. Sure could use a jointer…There are things I could have done to make it easier. After running the large planks through the planer the final time, I should have ripped a little off of each side to square them back up, but then my all thread would have never fit back through the holes I drilled. Using the all thread may not have been the best idea, but it saved me a lot of money on clamps I would have had to buy.

Close up of the finished top.

Mounted to the old bench and put to use. I moved my vice to the left side of the table in hopes I will actually be able to use it.