Wood top for tool cabinet

[branimal]

I think I may have found the perfect top for my tool cabinet. An old wood top sitting in my storage unit for years. It's 1 3/8" thick. Not sure what kind of wood it is. I'll be mounting a vise to it.

The planks each measure 8 1/4" wide and plenty long.

My tool cabinets internal dimensions are 41 3/4 x 17 3/4.

I can glue together 2 8 1/4" planks and one another 1 1/4" plank to get to a total of 17 3/4

or

I could crosscut all three planks at 5 29/32" and glue together.

Anyone have an opinion or am I overthinking this?





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[38 Dodge Coupe]

I am sure you could make that work. It looks like the top to a picnic table.

 

[branimal]

I am sure you could make that work. It looks like the top to a picnic table.

Yeah I found it in the trash in front of a cafe.


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[lilredex]

Looks like Pine. I'd find a jointer and joint one edge of two boards, then rip one more to fit in the center (and joint both edges of that one). That will give you a strong glue up. You cannot force what is there into a glue up...too much open space.

 

[DIC]

I think it would make a better picnic table than a bench top

 

[ratdoggy]

When it wears out just replace it something better

 

[branimal]

Looks like Pine. I'd find a jointer and joint one edge of two boards, then rip one more to fit in the center (and joint both edges of that one). That will give you a strong glue up. You cannot force what is there into a glue up...too much open space.

Good idea but I won't have access to a jointer.




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[jimreed2160]

I think you are on the right track for your tool cabinet top. I recently acquired a 46" Husky and upgraded the top with 2x8 construction lumber.

I used a handplane to joint the boards before glue up and then ran a rabbet on the backsplash. The oversized top adds a little room all around, especially in the rear where a floor ledge keeps the cabinet 6-8 inches off the wall.

Good luck with your upgrade.

 

[astroracer]

Build the top about an inch wider then the cabinet. A little overhang on the front will keep a lot of junk from collecting in the top drawers and on the pulls.
Mark

 

[davewest]

Id rip all three to 5 29/32 and make them all the same size. I think I would over size it a bit so i hangs over, unless there is some reason not to?

A good rip blade on your table saw will leave a clean enough edge for glueing a workbench top. Good luck.

 

[branimal]

Id rip all three to 5 29/32 and make them all the same size. I think I would over size it a bit so i hangs over, unless there is some reason not to?

A good rip blade on your table saw will leave a clean enough edge for glueing a workbench top. Good luck.

I like that idea. I'm not sure I can make three rip cuts that straight. I've got a Ryobi portable table saw and sawing 47 inches by myself will be awkward.

Maybe I can place a catch table behind the sAw table.


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[astroracer]

I like that idea. I'm not sure I can make three rip cuts that straight. I've got a Ryobi portable table saw and sawing 47 inches by myself will be awkward.

Maybe I can place a catch table behind the sAw table.


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With a rip fence trimming those boards shouldn't be an issue. 4' isn't that long.
leaving an inch or so of an overhang also gives you room to use clamps along the front edge of the bench. It does come in handy for that.
Mark

 

[rburke65]

The extra inch....1 1/2" .....overhang is a great idea for a clamp. I didn't plan this on my work space but I did end up with it and have used the overhand lots of times for clamping.

 

[branimal]

With a rip fence trimming those boards shouldn't be an issue. 4' isn't that long.

leaving an inch or so of an overhang also gives you room to use clamps along the front edge of the bench. It does come in handy for that.

Mark

Yeah you were right. It came out fine with the fence.

I also left an 1 1/2" for clamps.

Just need to buy some long clamps to do the glue up.



Good call guys.

Thanks.


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[KEH]

Looks like red cedar. Did it have that distinctive cedar smell when you sawed it?

KEH

 

[branimal]

Looks like red cedar. Did it have that distinctive cedar smell when you sawed it?

KEH

Ive heard it's pine. Im wearing a respirator so I can't smell anything.


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[branimal]

Finally getting around to installing the vise. Any tips on vise placement. Not working with a ton of room side to side. All the room is extending perpendicular to the cabinet drawers.




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[astroracer]

Put the vise as far out on the corner as you can. Orient it so it will swivel to the outside so anything long can be clamped alongside the bench.
Mark

 

[branimal]

Came out nice. Thanks for the tips.




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[taumac]

Wish I saw this thread earlier. Here's something I did. Its padded out the top of the box so you don't have to worry about the recess where the top chest would go. Its simple 3/4 plywood glued together.


As for vise are you right or left handed. I'm right handed and like my vise on the right. Far as placement put something in the vise like long piece of wood and much sure it be forward enough that front edge of the top doesn't interfere. You might be bolting it on that front overhang.



What you can also do is mount vise to a piece of plywood if need to move it farther out towards the edges.

 

[branimal]

Wish I saw this thread earlier. Here's something I did. Its padded out the top of the box so you don't have to worry about the recess where the top chest would go. Its simple 3/4 plywood glued together.


As for vise are you right or left handed. I'm right handed and like my vise on the right. Far as placement put something in the vise like long piece of wood and much sure it be forward enough that front edge of the top doesn't interfere. You might be bolting it on that front overhang.



What you can also do is mount vise to a piece of plywood if need to move it farther out towards the edges.

Yep you're right ... I won't be able to hang things off the edge without the overhang interfering. For some reason I was worried about the "tongue weight" of the vise and was hesitant to bring it all the way to the edge of my wood top.

I can redrill if the situation arises.


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