EAA workbenches

tshort · Post by **tshort** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 6:45 pm

I visited the aviation department at Lowe's today to get materials to make my first bench ... was wondering if anyone had any interesting mods or suggestions before I get started. I'd forgotten how hard it was to surf thru and find enough straight 2x4s!
What about MDF vs. particle board? I'm thinking MDF for the top and something cheaper for the shelf underneath.

It seems like I saw somewhere on someone's page an interesting way to level the legs - adjustable legs of some sort - anyone done this?

Thanks in advance!

Thomas
"preview plans" 8/8A

Post by **Spike** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 7:31 pm

I built the EAA tables and I will say that once they are finished you could support a truck with them. Boy are they sturdy. I built mine to plan structurally except that I changed some of the dimensions. I hate working at tables that make me bend over so since Im a fairly tall guy I raised the tables up. I built 2 of them that were 2x5, one that was 4x3, and another that was 8X3. I have pictures on my builders site. Click on the Workshop Topic and you will see the entry with picture links, etc.

-- John

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 11:12 pm

My benches are EAA standard with MDF tops. I love the MDF for it's smooth finish and lesser cost. The bottoms are 1/2" plywood. The dog loves the carpet!

He is my helper!

I am 5'11" and the standard dims are fine with me. Remember, the stuff you are working on sits up off the tabletop, so make them lower than you may normally expect.

Hope this helps!

CJ

bmurrish · Post by **bmurrish** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 12:18 pm

I really like the looks and dimensions of the EAA tables in this thread so I have decided to build them. My other benches seem like they are too narrow so I am going to dedicate them to mount my grinder and drill press on.

Here is the link I found for the EAA table plans
http://www.eaa1000.av.org/technicl/work ... rktabl.htm

tshort · Post by **tshort** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 1:19 pm

Bill-

I'm very happy with my EAA tables - a couple of suggestions.

You definitely want to build them with a "lip" around the edge - my tops are 3x8', with a 1 1/2" edge around them - the frame underneath is 93" x 33". This is invaluable for clamping things while working. Don't know if the plans reflect that or not.

I really like the 3/4" MDF that I used for the top - it starts out flat, (unlike ply which is sometimes warped) - I lightly sanded it, put down 2 coats of polyurethane and it is a smooth, tough top. It looked great, but I've already managed to drill into it multiple times!!

I would consider lowering the shelf somewhat - I made a 3x4' version of the same tables for power tools, and lowered the shelf by 4" - this gives more usable space underneath since the space under the shelf is really wasted anyway.

Hope that helps - good luck!

Thomas

bmurrish · Post by **bmurrish** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 1:40 pm

Thomas-I am glad I read your post before I headed off to Home Depot. Your tables are a lot bigger than the 24'"x60" ones I linked in my last post. I also like the idea of having the added lip area for clamping. Do you have the plans for the tables you built?

tshort · Post by **tshort** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 2:00 pm

Bill-

Here's the link:

http://www.eaa72.org/tech/Table/Table.htm

Note that some of the measurements (i.e. the dimensions of the shelf) are not correct - you can figure them easily. That's the only error I found.
The basic frame dimensions are correct.

Note the picture on the plans doesn't show the "lip"

I'll post some pics later

Thomas

tshort · Post by **tshort** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 2:08 pm

Here's a couple of pictures:

Thomas

bmurrish · Post by **bmurrish** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 2:25 pm

I should have know that website. It is the chapter here in my aera. I am planning on joining this weekend and going for my first RV ride in Bill Vondane's -8A.

Thanks for the link

tshort · Post by **tshort** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 3:15 pm

Funny coincidence!
Make sure to take some pictures of the -8A and post them here. I'll be interested to see them...

Thomas

bmurrish · Post by **bmurrish** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 4:37 pm

Bill Vondane has a excellent builder's website with tons of pictures and tips. It is http://www.rv8a.com. I am sure he has the work tables somewhere on it. I hope his site doesn't sway your decision towards the -8A

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 5:09 pm

Cool Pix! Cool Dog!

Keep those brown bottles to a minimum while building!

CJ

tshort · Post by **tshort** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 5:34 pm

I forgot that was in there ... my parents came to visit the "airplane factory" the other day and my mother was aghast that I was "drinking beer while building an airplane!!!"

I limit it to one per session and only as I'm finishing up / cleaning things up. Otherwise Van's would be shipping me all sorts of spare / replacement parts!!

Thomas

728GD · Post by **728GD** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 6:01 pm

When I built my plane I had two benches, one lower for laying out skins and such, one higher which I always stood at. Worked great to mount my bench drill press and grinder. I had itemized cabnet on the higher on also with all my rivets, clecos, shims, cleco clamps dies....you get the idea...

Beer only after all the work is done for the day, that was my rule too. But you had better watch out when I finished a sub component, BEER FOR ALL!!!.

Dale

Post by **Spike** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 6:33 pm

I dont mind drinking a glass or two of wine. That seems to be my preferred building drink.

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 10:04 pm

Drinking is good for thinking. I enjoy a Captain Morgan & Coke on occasion, as well as a fine micro brewed pale ale, but Harpoon is a standby when micros aren't available.

CJ

bmurrish · Post by **bmurrish** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 11:36 am

Thomas-I can't tell by your picture or by the EAA plans, but did you screw the table tops down or just use Elmers carpenter glue? I bought all the material to make the table, but didn't get a chance to build it last night since it was 9pm. Figured I would be nice and not run a circular saw that late.

tshort · Post by **tshort** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 11:53 am

Yeah - I first set the frame on the top, drew an outline of it, then drilled small pilot holes, flipped the thing over with the frame underneath and "match drilled" (practicing for the RV

) the top to the frame.
Being anal and not wanting the MDF to split I bought a countersink and countersunk the pilot holes before putting the screws in.

I did wood glue some components; I think the top should definitely be screwed down.
I quit gluing because when I move the project to the garage I'm gonna have to take the legs off to move the benches out of the basement.

Thomas

bmurrish · Post by **bmurrish** » Fri Feb 11, 2005 12:07 pm

Thanks, I wasn't sure about gluing it down since I will probably take it apart sometime in the future. Time to break out the drill and countersink.

bmurrish · Post by **bmurrish** » Sat Feb 12, 2005 2:14 am

I just finished building the 8' x 3' EAA table from the plans listed above. The lengths of the bottom shelf is incorrect. It is to big and needs to be cut down. I will post the correct lengths tomorrow.