18 – How to Build A Torsion Box Assembly Table Top (Part 1 of 2)
18 – How to Build A Torsion Box Assembly Table Top (Part 1 of 2)
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How to make a Torsion Box Assembly Table. A method learned from David Marks at http://djmarks.com
When assembling projects, nothing beats a wide and spacious dead flat surface. And one of the easiest and most efficient ways to create a dead flat surface is by constructing what is known as a torsion box. A torsion box is really nothing more than a grid-work with a skin on both sides. This creates a very strong, yet light, structure that resists warping and sagging. Its very similar to the concept behind an airplane wing. This episode covers the construction of the Torsion Box top and Episode 19 covers the construction of the base.
For additional information and a downloadable plan for this project go to the original post on our website: http://www.thewoodwhisperer.com/videos/episode-18-assembly-table-torsion-box/
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Whycool
Do you have a build video on that sweet clamp rack in the background?
That’s right just let the old man huff all that MDF
Where is part 2
So young and full of life… hahahaha
Congratulations, beautiful work. What is the name of the wood that you have used?
So if you don’t have the jointer and a planer you can’t setup the original working base.
How do you replace the top with you’ve glued the sides on
I wonder if my table saw top would be a good reference surface to start with rather than two saw horses?
great video. What is the level of tolerance you’re going for? Nothing is perfect, and i don’t know how flat is dead flat? if your table was a 1/8" out over 4′ would it worry you? 1/32? less? Thanks.
For
🤣🤣🤣 damn bro you were so young back then lmfao sorry, I had to. Still love the channel today 👍🏾👍🏾👍🏾
Norm Abrams inspired mine 16 yearsago
Here in 2020….been holding on to this build for years, I finally have the time and space to build it 😊
I love how the step dad didn’t have even a cloth mask when cutting the MDF. But the WW looked like he was going into clean Chernobyl.
OH GROSS 240P
I built my workbench very similar to this and am currently remodeling my workshop which means new bench to fit new space. What would be a good price to sell a used one of these at?
Don’t tell anyone because it is embarrassing, but about twelve years ago I built a 4×8 foot torsion box assembly table. Construction was MDF skins and a pine grid. I put a sheet of plastic laminate on the top. I built it in the high desert of Colorado where the humidity is nil. It was a joy to use as it was dead flat. A couple years later I moved to the mountains of Panama and brought the table with me. Now, with the high humidity here, and the table’s inability to evenly acclimate due to the laminate on only one side, the table is unusable for anything beyond opening paint cans on. I guess if I wanted to build something with a big crown in the middle, then this is the table. I’m about to scrap the thing and make a new bench.
I know this is an old video, but it is a great video! Thanks Marc!
Click here for a higher resolution version: https://youtu.be/GBXf7euDwdk
For others thinking of doing something similar, remember to treat both faces of the table the same, otherwise it it likely to warp. That hard-board needed a balancer.
Why doesn’t your helper wear a dust mask
Now that’s some dust collection on the router! Lol
*Very* late question to this video that I hope you will be able to see and answer. My 14 year old son wants to start woodworking, and I thought that building a proper assembly table to replace my old, warped table would be a great first project. The question is whether or not this type of table can be made to host both a tail vise and face vise. Do you have any ideas or tips?
Why is your MDF light colored like particle board? My MDF is dark, very heavy, and made of fine fiberous dust. A long time ago I built speaker boxes from a product marketed as MDF that looked like your MDF. But now that I look at it, it looks like what’s sold as particle board.
Are you still
Using this setup!?
Hey Mark. I followed your guidelines, but instead of sawhorses, I used an existing table bottom, and levelled out 4 2×4’s on the jointer and planer, and using the Lee valley calibrated straight edge, I levelled these in both directions, and hot melt glued them to the base. After assembling the egg crate interior. I glued the bottom 1/2" mdf, flipped it over and edge screwed the other skin with #5 flat screws. The table is 7′ X 4′. When I tested the levelness, along the length , with the 4′ straight edge, it was 0.045 thou lower in the middle than the ends of the straight edge, which, were of course, 1.5′ from the table ends. Using straight 1.5" (2 pieces of 3/4" med glued together) mdf, 7′ long, from my flattening rig, it will be out a bit more. Is this " flat" adequate, or should I start again. Should it be better than this? I’m thinking "yes".
I cut all the dividers at once on the same table saw setup.
I’m going to build this entire project using only the dowelmax.
You probably should’ve left those screw holes “unplugged,” because that way you could’ve easily removed those side boards when you want to install a new hardboard top.
Is it old dad really, or it is a robot, without the dusk mask??
Excellent video and process. Thank you for sharing.
I guess we are not concerned with our helpers lungs. Not even a dust mask.
You do have to spend some time setting the saw up… blade, fence, etc. But once done, the saw is great. Fairly compact which is Nice https://www.youtube.com/post/UgkxXh-4_3-ZT1fFWP91ZV7iVqzElr0lEb-a I did get an Incra Miter Gauge which takes some setup as well. The stock miter gauge can be adjusted in the miter slot with a little painter’s tape… this tightens up the side to side play a lot.
The ancient YouTube. Love the sound patch
Thanks for the amount of time and detail you put into your videos. PS Nice sideburns from back in the day.
So cheesy, gonna have to change your name to kraft marc-aroni and cheese. Trying to be like that Cremona guy or something?
DIY for millionaires.
Mark, look out. At 2:46 a ghost opened up your cabinet door to show you a sign. We didn’t see you move, so we know it’s the ghost of Milled wood past.
So, to get a perfectly flat surface all we really need as the most basic step is a joiner. Hmm… I was hoping for a cheaper option, to be honest.
he called the Festool track saw a circular saw with a straight edge
16:28 not seeing what a second skin does? The piece is totally ridged and already overbuilt as far as strength and flatness.
Beautiful table, man! I love your channel!
Excellent table top but a 3/4" edge that is about 3 inches wide would have allowed clamping work down without reducing its torsion property.
Hi does anyone know anyone who builds and sells Torsion box workbenches looking for a good dead flat work surface for a work bench any help appreciated
And how exactly does one easily replace the top once it’s beat up? Please, this is why I watched the video but I just don’t see the answer.
What would you recommend for a steel cutting saw, I am currently researching saws such as evolution rage 3 or 4, or possibly the makita.
I’m looking to do this for a large format DIY CNC. Just watched the entire video. Thanks.
I plan on building the cabinet base and using that to level for the torsion box build. Does anyone see issues with using the base vs saw horses?
What kind of vegetable was this video recorded on?
I am a retired mechanical engineer who worked in aviation. WE use torsion boxes to provide structure that isn’t heavy…aka save weight. So I ask/invite debate…why is a torsion box any better than say butcher block for a flat assembly table.