[Woodcarver] Bench Top Materials

[Byron]

I think a good dense wood makes a good top.  Store bought benches usually use beech.  Because I can get it locally I use maple.  Ash would work well too.  All of these have close to the same density.   Douglas Fir is somewhat less dense and might feel a bit more spongy than the other materials.   Material is not the only consideration.  Thickness of the top matters too.   The thicker the top the less flex.   For any kind of wood working or carving you want a level, flat, no giving surface to work on, whether it's leveling the legs of a chair or making a relieve carving using a thick piece of walnut.  

Byron Kinnaman
abkinnaman at earthlink.net
http://home.earthlink.net/~abkinnaman



----- Original Message ----- 
From: Doug Nielsen 
To: woodcarver at six.pairlist.net
Sent: 8/23/2007 10:26:59 AM 
Subject: [Woodcarver] Bench Top Materials


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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