[Woodcarver] Bench Top Materials

[Joe Dillett]

Hi Bill, 

Very good points and I agree 100%. For hundreds of years the hardest wood was used for bench tops. They are designed to remain flat, stiff and durable. Normally hard wood is more dense weighing more adding more weight to the bench to help keep it in place while working.

Joe Dillett
The Carving Shop
645 E. LaSalle St. Suite 3
Somonauk, IL. 60552

(815) 498-9290 phone
(815) 498-9249 fax
http://www.thecarvingshop.net [business web site]
http://www.carvingmagazine.com ['Ask Joe' column]
http://community.webshots.com/user/joe_dillett
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  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Bill Judt 
  To: [Woodcarver] 
  Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2007 9:45 PM
  Subject: Re: [Woodcarver] Bench Top Materials


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  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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