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Build Bench
Hey , Anybody remember or know of a link for a site from a guy that had some plans complete with photos for an idea on how to build a super flat building table for scratch building ? Called a "Torque Table" or maybe a "Torque Bench" ? I had it at one time or another until my favorites file got cleaned up I'm , of course , ready to start on it now and can't find it .
Mando...... |
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Be aware that the torsion box is extremely rigid and strong for it's weight but it requires that you build it on a totally flat and unwarped surface to begin with. If the assembly surface is warped, crowned or dished at all the torsion box will faithfully reproduce that shape.
I know because I tried to make some torsion box building boards. The boards came out fantastic other than for a 1/16 deep curve to them. The bench I built my boxes on sits on legs that have leveling screws on one corner each so that I can level the top at the legs but unknown to me was that the table surface itself had sagged slightly in the middle over the years. I tried and tried to uncurve those torsion boxes but without luck. And this despite being made lightweight with 1/8 door skin surfaces and 1/4 mahogany ply edges and internal cross hatching. It's an EXCELLENT design but frustrating to do unless you have the assembly surfaces that is up to snuff. My next bench will use leveling legs like my previous ones and this time I'll be incorporating tension rods at 3 or 4 locations from end to end and distributed across the width. The goal is to use these tension rods to add compression to the work surface and "stress" any sag out of the table. The idea is similar to the tension rods in steel string guitar necks that are used to counter the incredible pull of the strings that would otherwise pull a curve into the necks. |
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Thanks for the heads up BM , I'd like to see some pics of your torsion tension rods when ya do it . I own a huge countertop shop and access to a world class cabinet shop of two good friends of mine just down the street from my shop hopefully between us I can find a flat spot to build on We both shut down the shops for the Holidays from Christmas through New Years , which should give me time to get the table done .
Mando....... |
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Quote:
The DIY articles start off with levelling the surface on which the torsion box is built. Using sawhorses of all things. Shimmed properly and checked three ways from Sunday, a pair of sawhorses supporting the MDF sheets which will become the torsion box works very well. All I did was follow the steps outlined in the article. Quote:
The torsion box building table doesn't seem to know anything about humidity, probably because I sealed it with two coats of epoxy thinned 50% with denatured alcohol. Sure am glad that the days of twiddling the tension on the previous building table are gone. |
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Thanks for the heads up plumber. I'm also a hobbyist woodworker and understand the humidity issue so I understand what you're saying. I guess I'll find another way.
The torsion box IS excellent and for a table sized project it would be worthwhile setting up a good build jig to provide good support even if it is a lot of work just for the top. |
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