[Woodcarver] Bench Top Materials

[Bill Judt]

Doug:

Douglas Fir is hard, for sure. And if you apply a few coats of  
Diamond Urethane finish, the surface will wear well.
I don't know about Chris Pye's advice - that the "softwood" absorbs  
the blows...

I WANT the table to be HARD and SOLID so that the sharp tool can more  
easily cut through the carving wood. Imagine - for argument's sake -  
placing your carving on a soft stack of pillows, and trying to drive  
the tool through the wood.

Now imagine placing the same carving on top of a thick metal bench.  
Imagine how much more easily the sharp tool would cut the wood with a  
SOLID bench underneath the carving.

A bench that absorbs the blows seems to me to be counterproductive.
But metal is cold and dirty. That's why I use a heavy hardwood for my  
benches. <grin>

Blessings and Peace,

Bill

My books are for sale at: http://wwwoodcarver.com/Books/index.html
W.F. Judt,
46 Harvard Cres,
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan,
S7H3R1
PH: 306-373-6649
bjudt at sasktel.net
Website: http://www.wwwoodcarver.com



On 23-Aug-07, at 12:26 PM, Doug Nielsen wrote:


> Howdy All !

>

> I am thinking of building a new bench top from KD Doug fir.

> I know Bill suggests hard wood for the tops because they wear well,  

> but old Chris Pye says that soft is better for absorbing the blows.

> Any thoughts or experiences either way ??? Love to here them

> Thanks, Doug Nielsen....................


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