Assembly Table ??

[Tarheel]

I have been wrestling with building myself an assembly table. I do have a workbench of sorts but it is really too high and often very cluttered.

I have seen some designs that serve a dual duty, outfeed table/assembly table. What would be the best design to go with for a top? I was thinking of solid HW aprons and legs with some sort of torsion box top covered with melamine.

Anyone out there ventured into this area and would like to share your ideas? (Oh ya, by shop space is really at a premium so no bigger than 4' square or so was what I was thinking.)

Thanks in advance for any of your valued opinions.

Wayne

[niki]

Hi Wayne

Have a look at this one. enlarge the picture (closer look). you can make it yourself, it can be used as dual height table.You can put on it a plate of ply or melamin.
It's a knock-down table (considering your limited space)

http://www.plansnow.com/dn3082.html

niki

[cabinetman]

Assembly tables that can double as infeed/outfeed tables to a TS are valuable IMO. You might use a folding leg assembly and just a 3/4" MDF top, or top it with removable 1/4" masonite. Easy to handle and portable enough to fold up and put away can be very beneficial.



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

[SARGE..g-47]

I have a birch top on my current larger assembly table Wayne. But.. it can be anything that gives a sturdy base with a flat top. The easiest way to achieve a flat top of 3/4" MDF whicj is around .004 off the shelf.

You could use a sturdy folding table (those ones from SAM's comes to mind as I use them for back-ups on large projects and sheet cutting) or one as Niki posted you can build and break down to conserve space. Just come up with something flat for glue ups and so your project doesn't rock if you are actually assembling.

In other words.... whatever works regardless of how it looks or how cheap you got out arriving at it. It just has to preform a function and will never see a beauty contest. Save the beauty for the project that goes on it's flat top!

Regards...

[lcm1947]

Niki's suggestion is going to be very hard to top. Matter of fact I just might build one myself as I too am needing something like that. Excellent find Niki.

[SARGE..g-47]

And when I went back down to the shop to continue after dinner, I laughed as I walked in the door. Sometimes things just get spread out to the point that you have to use reserve assembly talbes or plan the work in a manner that one phase doesn't over-lap.

But no matter how much you got or don't have... you always find a way to "get er done"! ha.. ha... ha..ha..ha..

Regards...

[JTimmons]

I have been looking for an idea too, ran accross this on woodnet the other day

http://www.forums.woodnet.net/ubbthr...=&fpart=1&vc=1

It's based of a design from David Marks

http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/shows_..._26946,00.html

[Tarheel]

Thanks lot to everyone for the great ideas and inspiration!

I have been looking for an idea too, ran accross this on woodnet the other day

http://www.forums.woodnet.net/ubbthr...=&fpart=1&vc=1

It's based of a design from David Marks

http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/shows_..._26946,00.html

If I can fit this one in (space wise), I really like this torsion box design, JT!

Thanks again!

Wayne

[SARGE..g-47]

Torsion boxes are excellent, Wayne. The article said that the base was 3 sided even though it did not show the open side. My first thought was it wasted the space under-neath till I read it had 3 sides.

You might take into consideration that it could be open entirely or at least two sides open on the bottom. Even with one side open, you have no choice but to move to what-ever side that is open to you can get to the storage under-neath. That's not the most time efficient or convient scenario coupled with what is the main focus of the table... the torsion box itself!

Fuel for thought...

[Tom Miller]

I made what is basically a mobile workbench/cabinet for my outfeed table. The top is ~30" x 48", and has a torsion box base. The top itself is 2 layers of mdf followed by 1/2" baltic birch. Still has the "temporary" plastic tub drawers.





Since it's mobile, turning it 90* for long rips is not a problem:




Regards,

Tom