2x4 bench tops

[crazytrain]

For what ever reason I cannot get the search function to work for me. I want to see your bench tops made from 2x4s.

I have a Snap On Glomad triple bank box with hutch at work. I would really like to add a thick top to lift the hutch a bit higher. I priced both the wood and SS tops through Snap On and they are more than I want to spend, plus I would not mind building my own top. The top will not see hard use mostly used as a desk top and tool holder, work bench is where heavy work is done.

My plan is to plane and joint all 4 sides of the 2x4s to square them up then glue and screw them together. Using screws due to lack of clamps and the screws will not be seen when finished. Then I will bore 3 to 4 holes through and add threaded rods with washers and nuts to keep it tightly together. The nuts will be counter sunk and then covered or plugged so they will not be visible. I will round over the front edge of the top. The top will than be stained and polyurethaned.

 

[Cyberbear]

I did pretty much the same thing many years ago and ended up with a 5' square x 4" thick heavy duty bench top. I used the through bolts as clamps to bring it all together when gluing. My bench was made in 20" sections which was run through a thickness planner at the local high school wood shop. After being assembled I covered the top with T&G oak flooring material for better durability. Except for re-coating the top once with polyurethane, the bench has worked out extremely well over the last 40 years.

 

[transplant_wi]

I considered this design for my newest bench and ended-up using a salvaged 2x10 glue-lam beam, which I edge-jointed, glued and then screwed-down to the frame (from below, with pocket screws). I plan to sand the top to remove any steps at the joints, then screw a piece of 1/4" tempered hardboard on top as a sacrificial layer I can later replace.

 

[theoldwizard1]

This will make a good solid bench top !

If you are planing on gluing them on the edge (so the "4 in" face is up) then use pocket screws (good excuse to buy a Kreig Pocket Screw Jug !)

One problem with 2x4 is they are not always uniformly dried and wil warp/twist as they finish drying. Clamp/screw your stock together, face to face, and let them sit next to your furnace for a month or 2. Hopefully they will all dry straight when strapped tightly together.

You WILL have to run them over a joiner or past a saw blade because 2by lumber does NOT have any "truly" square corners.

 

[transplant_wi]

theoldwizard is right. I picked straight 2x4's from the yard, but after 2-3 months in my dry shop they were no longer straight.

Have you considered laminating 3/4" plywood to build-up adequate thickness? Another option is to buy a used 1 3/4" thick solid-core door from a Re-Store or similar. If that's too big then cut it down and edge it with solid wood to cover the chipboard interior and protect the cut edge. I have two benches made this way and am very happy with them. Strong, heavy and flat.

 

[jgorm]

I used 2x6s, glued and screwed, then 14" lag bolts on the last one.

 

[rburke65]

Nice looking top there igorm! Why the 14" lags in the last 2x6"? Thanks.

 

[steel 35]

That top is really nice, should have taken it with you!

 

[jgorm]

Nice looking top there igorm! Why the 14" lags in the last 2x6"? Thanks.

No screw holes and MORE BEEF! Looks cool too.

 

[Chitown_hillbilly]

I used 2x6s, glued and screwed, then 14" lag bolts on the last one.

Looks like a beast. Did you rip each one or plane it to get square edges?

 

[theoldwizard1]

Ohhhh !!! Ahhhh !!! Beautiful. I would hate to use it for beating and banging on !

 

[Chitown_hillbilly]

Ohhhh !!! Ahhhh !!! Beautiful. I would hate to use it for beating and banging on !

I can think of a couple things I'd like to bang on that... most recently Kate Upton in that stupid video game commercial

 

[jgorm]

Looks like a beast. Did you rip each one or plane it to get square edges?

No, I didn't have a table saw or jointer back then. I attempted to use a belt sander with 40g, but it was too slow so I bought a hand planer. If you have a table saw or jointer, then USE it! I spend about a day getting it smooth, then hit it with putty and then the belt sander once more. It needed to be shaved about 1/4" to account for the variation in the 2x6s.

 

[Wylaco]

I am doing the same thing this weekend to make a bench in the house, kind of gives it that butcher block look. Run all thread in a few spots and put an acorn nut over the end to finish it off.

 

[TapperMan]

I've done 3 or 4 bench tops this way so far. Here's the last one, an outdoor bench made with pressure-treated 2x4s...

 

[rlitman]

I would do it like a cutting board.
Joint two sides only. Pre-drill everything.
Glue and clamp using allthread through the drilled holes.

Once it's glued, level the top. The fastest way to do that is with a router and a sled.

 

[CPH628]

LVL lumber might work, I don't know.

cph

 

[John in OH]

For what ever reason I cannot get the search function to work for me. ................

Yeah, the search function here on GJ really stinks. I've found it much easier to search via Google. In the Google search window, enter: site:garagejournal.com followed by the subject you wish to search. For example: site:garagejournal.com 2x4 bench top