This is continued from the original post
First a few more details on the table,
The bottom most part of this table is ground contact treated 4×4.
Big holes are drilled halfway up through the base for the bolts to fit. Smaller holes are drilled through so that the holes shown above allow washers and nuts to be tightened onto the bolts. All very snug and solid. One small issue. Cedar is very acidic, and tends to eat steel. This is why there is a dark stain around the screws on a cedar picket fence. I have used my wax mix to try and reduce these issues, but time will tell. In any case, I don’t want to leave tools out on this table overnight. Bad idea anyway.
Here is a closer look at the stretcher connection.
The stretcher is what gives stability to this table.
Another View of the Stretcher;
The holes don’t go all the way through, no reason really, I just felt like being different on this part.
The odd part about this table is that it is really two seperate tables. The gap at the top is two inches, the gap between the legs is four inches. The legs and stretcher are two by eight cedar, the top is two by ten cedar. I plan to do all sorts of experimental modifications on this bench, including mouthing a treadle into it. The split in the center is to be able to run a belt up and provide power to tools on the table top.
Here is the end of the table;
A very simple design so far, but I have some pretty involved modifications planned. This table is going to end up with all sorts of holes drilled and parts attached.
Bob
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Hello Bob;
This article answers all of the questions I had about the first one. That split in the top looked perfect to support a long board for ripping, except it was too tall to crawl up on!
It makes sense for you to make a suitable bench before starting your treadle project. Call it a “test bed” if you want. Thanks for reminding us again about the reaction between cedar and steel…. My cedar bench project will need to consider outdoor joints and make accommodations if I use bolts for assembly. I do plan to set my 4 x 4 posts on concrete footings so that I don’t need any treated supports.
Please let us know how the wax mix protects the metal – or not – as time passes!
Skip
It has been seriously raining on this workbench the last two days, so the cedar and steel test has begun! Weathered Cedar surfaces don’t seem to be bad, in this case however, I plan to wax this table regularly, so I will have to see how it does. The borax in the wax mix may temper the acidity a bit. Time will tell.
Bob