Comments on: 19- Assembly Table Base

By: Rob Cottle

Rob Cottle — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 18:19:13 +0000

I liked this project alot and would like to try it – Hope you plan on keeping it on your website, because it will be a year probably before I can build this. Garage is a little full of car projects currently. 78 corvette & a 78 Truimph spitfire. Any ways I used to be afraid of any thing that had to do with wood but between you and my Dad I am very excited about doing different things. Wish I could get my Dad on a faster internet because I know he would love your website as well. He is very good at wood working. He has made several items for the family since he has retired. Coat racks, cabinets, refinished an old bread making station of his mothers. Keep the videos coming.

By: Rob Cottle

Rob Cottle — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:43:59 +0000

Yes – hope to make less trips to the store as I get more experienced

By: thewoodwhisperer

thewoodwhisperer — Sat, 24 Jan 2009 04:42:47 +0000

Hey Stephen. To be honest man, this goes well beyond my level of expertise. That is a heck of a lot of weight and I have never built anything that would need to stand up to that. But if I were doing something like that, I might be looking toward the world of steel to build a proper frame. Then I would simply build my top surface on top of the metal frame.

Good luck. Hopefully someone with some experience in this area will be able to give you solid advice.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 17:36:16 +0000

Hello there, Great Stuff! Really Great!

I am doing a moderate project of my own posted here:

http://www.woodworkingtalk.com.....#post62135

I was wondering if you might have any further ideas, suggestion or tutorials that would help me out. If I need to call you I will. Your expertise is greatly appreciated.

By: Bob

Bob — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 20:45:35 +0000

That’s why you’re the man. I overlooked the gap at the top of the carcass below the torsion-box. That would probably do it. Thanks.

By: thewoodwhisperer

thewoodwhisperer — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:29:16 +0000

Hey there Bob. I thought about adding ventilation but decided it wasn’t really necessary in my shop. My compressor is nearly always off. When I need it, it cycles up once and the air lasts me quite a while. I am only popping a few brad nails here and there or blowing some dust off of something. Now if the air compressor was constantly cycling, we’d have two problems on our hands. In addition to the heat issue, I would really have to think about investing in a bigger compressor. So it all depends on how much you use the air and how much it cycles. If there isn’t enough time in between cycles for the heat to dissipate, then it wouldn’t be a bad idea to vent it. And in fact, with this stand it would be very easy. The top compartment above the compressor is vented. There is a nice gap at that top where it meets the torsion box top. So all you would need to do is make sure the bottom compartment can vent into the top compartment, and you’ll probably be in good shape.

By: Bob Hillhouse

Bob Hillhouse — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 15:15:52 +0000

Marc – I like the design of the cabinet. My question is about the compartment for the air compressor. I have seen other designs that allow for air holes or ventilation holes for the compressor. Your’s doesn’t. Do you anticipate adding some vents – maybe covered with some of those small circular vent covers that Lowe’s sells?

Thanks,

Bob

By: thewoodwhisperer

thewoodwhisperer — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 14:21:53 +0000

Hey Russ. I can say that after over a year of use, the cabinet shows absolutely no sign of racking. Now of course, I don’t move it around. But in general, a torsion box is best kept station when possible anyway.

Particle board and MDF would certainly work for the base, but you would confront the same issue you are likely to find when you use those products for any cabinet. Most folks don’t like them because of their inability to hold a screw very well and their susceptibility to water damage. But, if that was the material you had access to, there is no reason why you couldn’t use it.

As far as particle board goes, I can’t tell you much about it. Honestly, I never use the stuff. If I were looking for the best quality particle board I could find, I would skip Home Depot and go to a hardwood supplier like Spellman.

Interesting question. I can’t tell you from personal experience whether or not this is true, but that is what I’ve heard. I wonder if someone with a bunch of MDF experience will chime in. But I can tell you that the times I’ve worked with MDF, I use all the same blades. Usually because I still want good results, regardless of the materials I am using.

By: Russ

Russ — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:31:17 +0000

A comment and some (sort of) related questions:

THE COMMENT

As you noted in your post on June 2, since the base doesn’t have a face frame or a back, it seems like it might have a tendency to rack from side to side, especially if you put it on wheels and wound up pushing it around a lot. Although I suppose the toe kicks in your design help a tiny bit in the regard, I wonder if it might also be a good idea to add dividers as you suggested to prevent racking, or perhaps some corner blocks, even on a stationary version.

QUESTION 1

Aesthetics aside, I wonder if you could give your opinion on using particle board or the base instead of plywood. Also, how about MDF?

QUESTION 2

Assuming that particle board is an option, how do you specify the “good stuff”, and where can you buy it? The particle board I have seen lately in the local (Phoenix) BORGs has been marked “underlayment”, and doesn’t seem as dense or as strong as some particle board that I have seen in the past.

QUESTION 3

In general, do carbide router bits and saw blades dull faster when used on particle board and/or MDF than on real wood? When you go to make a million little MDF pieces for a torsion box, do you switch to a junker blade in your saw in order to save your better blades from premature destruction?

By: thewoodwhisperer

thewoodwhisperer — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 03:56:00 +0000

Hey Bryce. Welcome to the site. I would say you are on the right track. The whole unit would indeed need a bottom to support the vertical partitions.
I would also recommend adding some dividers in the middle of the stand that would essentially separate the two sides. This will help the frame resist racking, which will surely happen if you push that thing around.

Those two changes should be all you really need to do to get this sucker mobile. Just make sure you use high quality casters and maybe consider putting a wheel in the center as well.