torsion top in the shop

Electric Comet

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Jun 16, 2016, 1:30:10 PM6/16/16

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at some point i need to make more work surface space

i like the torsion top idea but not enough space for 4x8

i am thinking of making either two 4x4 or two 2x8 torsion tops

i think the 4x4 make more sense as they are useful separately
sometimes i only need 4x4 work space

the question becomes what attachments to use to make it easy
to connect and disconnect to get them out of the way

they will sit on saw horses

any one made or use a torsion top in the shop

Larry Blanchard

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Jun 16, 2016, 2:10:20 PM6/16/16

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On Thu, 16 Jun 2016 08:26:08 -0700, Electric Comet wrote:

> any one made or use a torsion top in the shop

I did, but it was a lot smaller than you're thinking of - it was a router
table that replaced a wing on my contractor saw. About 18" x 24" IIRC.

I used 1/2" plywood skins and 1x2 webbing. Worked fine, but I sold the
saw with the table so I don't have any longevity stats other than I used
it for several years.

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carrying a cross.

krw

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Jun 16, 2016, 2:53:24 PM6/16/16

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On Thu, 16 Jun 2016 08:26:08 -0700, Electric Comet

I generally use solid-core doors with a sacrificial cover. They're
easier than torsion boxes. As far as connectors, a search through
grainger.com, or similar, is probably where I'd start. I don't think
it's going to be all that easy to connect them and keep them lined up
perfectly.

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dadiOH

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Jun 16, 2016, 2:54:04 PM6/16/16

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No, but I have used tables like these for many years. Sort of mobile
sawhorses plus they store a TON of clamps.

They are 48" wide, 37" high and about 14" deep. Two trays in one for small
stuff like spring clamps. They can be buted end to end or side to side.
Generally, I have them side by side but separated by maybe 3'. They are
that way now, my new mahogany entry door is on them while I am applying the
finish.

They work better for me than bigger tables, easy to move, easy to clamp
stuff to them when need be. The slots in the legs are for moveable blocks
so I can set things on edge or end (if not too long) and clamp to the legs
to make mortices etc

http://imgur.com/lzG20mq

-MIKE-

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Jun 16, 2016, 2:54:55 PM6/16/16

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One of the cheapest, simplest, fastest, most effective work surfaces
around is available in the door section of Lowes & HD: a luan veneered,
hollow slab door. Different sizes ranging from $18-35.

They are very light, yet very strong and work great for tossing over a
couple saw horses. They are built as torsion boxes. If you need
something with thicker wood surface on the top, you can attach a sheet
of cheap plywood to it, top, or top and bottom.

I throw a sheet of melamine over it to get a great gluing table to which
the glue will not stick.

The door slabs come with or without punctuation... um, I mean, knob and
lockset holes.

--

-MIKE-

"Playing is not something I do at night, it's my function in life"
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Swingman

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Jun 16, 2016, 3:14:20 PM6/16/16

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On 6/16/2016 1:53 PM, krw wrote:
> I generally use solid-core doors with a sacrificial cover. They're
> easier than torsion boxes

On 6/16/2016 1:54 PM, -MIKE- wrote:
> One of the cheapest, simplest, fastest, most effective work surfaces
> around is available in the door section of Lowes & HD: a luan
> veneered, hollow slab door. Different sizes ranging from $18-35.

Bingo, and Bingo ...

> The door slabs come with or without punctuation... um, I mean, knob
> and > lockset holes.

;)

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bnw...@gmail.com

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Jun 16, 2016, 3:22:23 PM6/16/16

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IhavefoundbrandnewoakandmapleveneerSCdoorsoncraigslistfor$25orless.Strongandheavy.
Moreforfixedworkbenchtops,IcanseewhereHCwouldbegoodfortemporaryusage
IhaveseenanumberofHCdoorsoncraigslistforfree.
:)

Electric Comet

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Jun 16, 2016, 3:45:33 PM6/16/16

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On Thu, 16 Jun 2016 18:10:16 +0000 (UTC)
Larry Blanchard <lbl...@fastmail.fm> wrote:

> I did, but it was a lot smaller than you're thinking of - it was a
> router table that replaced a wing on my contractor saw. About 18" x
> 24" IIRC.

am thinking 3x6 might be a better size
easier to manage and will fit the saw horses better

> I used 1/2" plywood skins and 1x2 webbing. Worked fine, but I sold
> the saw with the table so I don't have any longevity stats other than
> I used it for several years.

several years is good
by that time mine will probably need to be recycled

will probably use a combination of staples screws and glue

FrozenNorth

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Jun 16, 2016, 4:53:25 PM6/16/16

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Space bar is broken?

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bnw...@gmail.com

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Jun 16, 2016, 4:58:37 PM6/16/16

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Yep,butpunctuationandshiftkeysseemtowork :)

krw

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Jun 16, 2016, 8:19:10 PM6/16/16

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On Thu, 16 Jun 2016 13:54:52 -0500, -MIKE- <mi...@mikedrumsDOT.com>
wrote:

>On 6/16/16 10:26 AM, Electric Comet wrote:
>> at some point i need to make more work surface space
>>
>> i like the torsion top idea but not enough space for 4x8
>>
>> i am thinking of making either two 4x4 or two 2x8 torsion tops
>>
>> i think the 4x4 make more sense as they are useful separately
>> sometimes i only need 4x4 work space
>>
>> the question becomes what attachments to use to make it easy to
>> connect and disconnect to get them out of the way
>>
>> they will sit on saw horses
>>
>> any one made or use a torsion top in the shop
>>

<snip>

>
>The door slabs come with or without punctuation... um, I mean, knob and
>lockset holes.

<choke!>

Bob Villa

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Jun 17, 2016, 8:57:00 AM6/17/16

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I found one of these at a garage/moving sale for $20. There are no US distributors any longer. I'm using it now for a furniture repair.
http://tinyurl.com/jo2zyu5

Unquestionably Confused

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Jun 17, 2016, 9:23:01 AM6/17/16

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Damn! You suck! ;)

I recall thinking, back in the day, that one of those would make an
excellent bar for the family room of a woodworker. They are very nice.
Were you wearing a mask when you scored that for $20?

Bob Villa

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Jun 17, 2016, 10:38:46 AM6/17/16

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The guy was moving to Fla. and was unloading his workshop. Bench, CMS, ShopVac, Belt sander, and plastic car ramps. No haggling for $54 total. No guard on the CMS...this was 2 garage sales over a 2 week period, and I was lucky no one snatched them up!

Unquestionably Confused

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Jun 17, 2016, 4:04:59 PM6/17/16

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On 6/17/2016 9:38 AM, Bob Villa wrote:

[snip]

>>>
>>
>>
>> Damn! You suck! ;)
>>
>> I recall thinking, back in the day, that one of those would make an
>> excellent bar for the family room of a woodworker. They are very nice.
>> Were you wearing a mask when you scored that for $20?
>
> The guy was moving to Fla. and was unloading his workshop. Bench, CMS, ShopVac, Belt sander, and plastic car ramps. No haggling for $54 total. No guard on the CMS...this was 2 garage sales over a 2 week period, and I was lucky no one snatched them up!
>

You REALLY suck! <g>

Bob Villa

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Jun 17, 2016, 4:30:10 PM6/17/16

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I friend said, "You need to go to Confession"!

Electric Comet

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Jun 23, 2016, 6:06:49 PM6/23/16

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On Fri, 17 Jun 2016 05:56:58 -0700 (PDT)
Bob Villa <pheeh...@gmail.com> wrote:

> I found one of these at a garage/moving sale for $20. There are no US
> distributors any longer. I'm using it now for a furniture repair.

they are kind of niche product

Message has been deleted

Bob Villa

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Jun 24, 2016, 8:18:53 PM6/24/16

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Niche or not they were sold for decades in PopMech and PopSci from an Ohio distributor.

http://i1181.photobucket.com/albums/x430/BenDarrenBach/PM_ad_zpswbgzife0.jpg