Work Bench Top Advice Please

[Alfawrench]

Can anyone tell me if a butcher block top for a work bench will withstand the installation of a bench vise? It's long past time to replace the laminated particle board, but I'm concerned that the top might split along the joints if a twisting load is applied to the vise. The replacement I am considering is 30" X 72", 1 3/4" thick, the vise a 4" general purpose mechanic's vise. Any advice or lessons learned graciously solicited.

Thanks,
Alfawrench

 

[LG63]

Probably overkill, but if it was me I'd put down a 3/16" or 1/4" thick steel subplate to distribute the bolt clamping force over a larger area. I guess it all depends on the footprint of your vise.

 

[pattenp]

The butcher block top is more likely to split any where but the glue joints. I don't see any need to worry if it's a good hardwood butcher block top.

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

The butcher block is more than ample to handle the 4" vise. If you're worried, then put a reinforcing plate underneath the bench top when bolt the vice in place. Even a piece of 1/2-3/4" plywood as a plate would be more than ample.

 

[Alfawrench]

Thanks for the advice. Butcher block it will be.

 

[housedad]

I had a gunsmithing business for many years. I had about 25 feet of workbenches that I built for it. The worktops were made from 3/4 and 1/2 inch marine plywood sandwiched together with contact cement, and then screwed. Then the entire top was skinned with 1/8inch Masonite Which was screwed down (not glued) at the edges with 3/4" bronze flush head wood screws . I then banded the edge with 1-by oak banding (3/4") and sanded it flush to the Masonite.

Those tops served me perfectly for many years. I had 4 different vises on them, a parrot vise, 2 barrel vises, and a 6 inch rotating wilton bench vise, along with a 75 lb anvil. I never hesitated to pound the hell out of the vises or anvil when necessary.

If the tops ever got too badly damaged from oil, detergents, or solvents to be able to sand it out of the Masonite, Then replacing the entire mess of Masonite could be done in an afternoon. Good as new.

I'm still trying to get my garage together, but I'm going to be copying those benches in there.

 

[bad_idea]

I have the C-Man butcher block on my bench. It was cheap and kind of shows it. It isn't very hard, dents easy, scratches easy. But I am hard on my tools, so it may be me. I have a Wilton 6" machinist vise (big, 147 lbs big) bolted to the corner of the bench. The bench frame is made of 2x2x1/4" angle iron bolted to the floor. I ran extra steel under the work top in the vise area to bolt the vise to. I use my vise pretty well and have had no troubles w/ the top splitting or deforming in any way.

BTW... I do like the ability to use a can of pledge and a rag to clean the bench top back to good as new shape. I have spilled motor oil and trans fluid on the bench, wiped it up, then used the pledge and it has held up well.