The assembly table in my shop is my favorite place to do just about anything but it has developed an annoying sag. After months of shimming temporary additional tops, I decided to stop and build a flat table top that will stay flat. I watched the David Marks program on the torsion box and set out on Friday to build one. The first step was to purchase the MDF that was needed. Due to having had bad luck with Chinese plywood and not being able to determine the origin of the big box MDF, I headed to The Hardwood Store in Gibsonville to purchase some good, made in the USA product. I found out that they too will do a few free cuts!
Yesterday, I spent the afternoon preparing a flat surface on which to build the flat surface. This consisted of milling 5 - 2X4's, placing them on top of the sagging table and shimming them untill the top edges were all in the same plane. Per David Marks' suggestion I layed 2 sheets of MDF on top of them.
Next, after ripping a lot of MDF, it was time to start the assembly. Glue and brad nail, glue and brad nail, glue and brad nail, etc. (Bas would enjoy this project).
and more
and more
and finally... :banana:
This evening I layed a piece of 1/2" MDF on the grid and checked it out for flatness and it was pretty darn good. Quantitative data coming soon. I've got to hurry up and get it done in the morning because all of that weight is making my old top sag even more! :icon_scra
Thanks for looking.
bobby g
Added more photos today (08-18-2010) :icon_thum
Yesterday, I spent the afternoon preparing a flat surface on which to build the flat surface. This consisted of milling 5 - 2X4's, placing them on top of the sagging table and shimming them untill the top edges were all in the same plane. Per David Marks' suggestion I layed 2 sheets of MDF on top of them.
Next, after ripping a lot of MDF, it was time to start the assembly. Glue and brad nail, glue and brad nail, glue and brad nail, etc. (Bas would enjoy this project).
and more
and more
and finally... :banana:
This evening I layed a piece of 1/2" MDF on the grid and checked it out for flatness and it was pretty darn good. Quantitative data coming soon. I've got to hurry up and get it done in the morning because all of that weight is making my old top sag even more! :icon_scra
Thanks for looking.
bobby g
Added more photos today (08-18-2010) :icon_thum
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