Making a first assembly table

[brooks]

I'm woodworking on a couple of picnic tables, using two spare Workmate type tables for vises. I've gotten to the point where I'd like something more convenient and usable to assemble cabinet type projects (also a couple of lightweight doors for enclosing a patio area). I've seen a lot of workbench projects but not many assembly tables. In class, the school has large 4'x8' sheets up on short legs, maybe 16" high, and also some hip level smaller tables, around 5'x5' with a couple of vises on alternate corners. Both elevations seem useful. I finally found a project which seems to offer something like that in a convertible assembly table/work table.

http://www.extremehowto.com/xh/artic...ticle_id=60316

What do experienced woodworkers think of this table? My work area is extremely small, there's no room for two tables. It's literally the area where the washing machine and dryer would normally go. I'd also like to be able to hide what this furniture is for. The Queen Bee from the Homeowners Board would get the vapors if she thought something as blue collar as woodworking was going on in her domain.

[Pappy]

I didn't study the drawings, but my first impression was favorable. The only drawback/problem I see is making sure the assembly areas are flat and trueto each other when in the up position. This is the reason favor runs to torsion boxes for assembly tables.

[LCHIEN]

well that's an interesting design.
With a main table height of 30 inches and a step down height of 15" it gives you two working heights.

The drawback I can see is that you get a situation where its hard to get the whole 30" top dead flat which sometimes you want to make good square assemblies. Also maybe is 15" height really needed, you can always set it on the floor and work on it.

Good luck!

[brooks]

Is there another design somewhere that can do two levels? I do see the utility. I just can't think of a design to get it done easily. I wish I had room for two tables but I don't.

[RayintheUK]

I'd build one immediately if I had the room to accommodate it, as I think it's a great idea! The 15" section would be so useful - I absolutely HATE working on the floor for loads of reasons and that looks to have solved the problem.

Flat surfaces can be difficult to maintain if stood on an uneven floor, but that aside, I love it. Camouflaging it is another problem altogether - good luck with that!

Ray.

[gary]

Here is the base for my adjustable height assembly table I'm building now. The top is a 48" x 60" torsion box and is not shown. The center section of the legs slide up/down in the legs to allow height adjustment. I got my inspiration from vanguard and here is a link to his assembly table http://www.just4fun.org/woodworking/...able/index.htm

[brooks]

Gary - WOW! I've never seen such a nice assembly table. I sure don't have "scraps" like that running around.

Adjustable makes sense, if I could really get it low enough for the low stuff.

[brooks]

Ray(UK) -- it's the first thing like that I've seen. It looks sturdy in two directions without my taking up weightlifting as a separate hobby. Another idea was a large rectangular box with handholds which one tilts on one side for the low format and then tilts upright another way for the higher level use. I don't see how I could put a vise on the high side without making it much more complicated and heavy than I want to lug back and forth all weekend. The used vise I just got weighs 38 pounds. I'd just as soon not be wrangling that up and down, up and down. If I make this one, there's a stable part where I could put the vise, then the movable part for lower workspace.

I'll be camouflaging this thing with a picnic type checkered table cloth and assorted BBQ gear when it's not being used for its rightful purpose.

Check out the table Gary's building. I'm afraid it would be too pretty to use (assuming I could build it at all). I'd worry about getting any glue on it. Sure is amazing to look at though. Someday.... It sure would be nice to have a workshop that could accommodate that.

[brooks]

Pappy, don't torsion boxes have to be pretty thick and heavy, overall? I've only seen a couple of articles on this technique, never saw it done in person, so I don't really have much of a visual when I hear the term "torsion box." My school assembly tables sure aren't flat! That's one thing I wanted to correct in my home shop. I will probably be using melamine mdf for the work surface. I like the way it stays clean. The school tables use pieces of carpet to contain some of the mess but it doesn't work very well and students put scraps of plywood (or anything they can find that's clean and flat) on top. Nobody actually works on the messy, dented plywood surfaces under those carpet pieces. The low tables are used for the large case work.

[Wood_workur]

what about a torsion box where you coul slip in differnt legnth legs?

[cabinetman]

Brooks

A hollow core door, cut to the size you need, with a folding leg kit works like a champ. I use two of them. They get used for everything, side/out feed on TS, portable setup for CMS, and general work tops. The HC door comes in a variety of sizes, are light weight, and inexpensive. I glued a plywood plate to the underside of the door for each screw pattern of the legs to give more rigidity to the folding leg kit. The height is also pretty comfortable - no bending over.



"I'M NEVER WRONG - BUT I'M NOT ALWAYS RIGHT"

[gary]

Thought I'd post a picture to show you how my assembly table is coming along. I still need to screw the top down, make an 8/4 ash apron, attach the vice and cut the dowels (for the heigth adjustment holes). Should finish this week if I can finally kick this sinus thing bugging me.

[brooks]

Gary, that looks spectacular! I'd be worried about it a little. It's too nice to work on, it looks like furniture already. I'm not sure I could bring myself to drip glue on it and make stains and cuts.

How will you attach the vise? Show pics, I need a lot of help in this area.

[gary]

How will you attach the vise? Show pics, I need a lot of help in this area.

I'm new to the vice department myself. I've attached the vice to a 3/4" piece of Baltic Birch plywood with 5/16 bolts and T-nuts. 3 Photos below. The plywood edge will butt against the apron; I figure that will allow vice to transfer the force through the plywood directly to the apron. I will also pocket screw it to the apron and also screw it to the bottom surface of the assembly table.

I'm happy how it's coming out so far.

[brooks]

Good show, Gary! Thanks for the closeups. I read text and often get lost in the words. Picture make it much easier to understand.