What makes the ideal assembly table

[John McM]

What makes the ideal assembly table? What's your solutions? Variable height, drawers for handtools, mobile, incorporated glueing table, clamp storage? What size for general cabinetmaking? I'd be very interested in your ideas and solutions.
Ta

 

[Slim]

Hi John,

I was quite impressed with Marc Spagnuolo's assembly table.

There are two videos on its construction, which can be found here and here

Hope this helps.

 

[Chris Knight]

My workshop is too small to afford such a luxury and my table saw serves as an assembly table.

In a larger shop, I'd certainly have one and these would be my design requirements.

1. FLAT.
2. FLAT.
3. FLAT.

Apart from these, I'd like it to be strong, without flex - hence a torsion box construction suggests itself.

Ideally height adjustable but primary height at about 18 inches would suit me. It would be useful to incorporate some sort of levelling mechanism as my current workshop floor is anything but flat and level. I wouldn't want any accessories like drawers or clamp storage, that's just clutter IMHO. I would wax it well to avoid glue sticking.

 

[Steve Maskery]

I saw some impressive ones at the Nuremberg show last week.

Full-size 8x4 (and bigger), hydraulically adjustable height, tiltable, top full of an array of holes, like a Workmate, with quick-action clamps, and a row of raised beams, allowing the easy positioning of sash cramps underneath the assembly. I tried to take a pic, but there were so many people about, I couldn't get far enough away and a clear view to do so.

Very, very nice, provided you work in an aircraft hangar.
S

 

[TheTiddles]

my assembly bench is totally solid, quite flat and once you've cleared it off has loads of room, it's the floor.

Aidan

 

[wizer]

I've been thinking about this lately. For me, a permenant assembly table would take up too much space. I'm thinking of making a fold up, lowish table for both assembly and sheet cutting. I saw this in shopnotes which looks interesting:

 

[Rich]

I know it's hard on the back, but what's wrong with the floor? :roll: seriously though, I WAS impressed with the previously mentioned bench made by marc on the wood whisperer forum, it's well worth watching and building if you have the room, sadly I have'nt,back to the floor then
Rich.

 

[John McM]

Thanks for the replies so far, keep em coming, what do you use?.
What do you think is the best height? 2ft so a 3ft workpiece would be at a convenient height, or level with the tablesaw? so I could use it as a run off table. A torsion box like theWoodwhisperer looks grand, have to scale it down a bit mind, don't have a lot of room.
Thanks

 

[Paul.J]

John.
I copied Norms style of mobile bench,but a smaller version,and used 3/4" ply for the top.Very solid.
Made it the same height as the TS for obvious reasons.
Very pleased with it so far.

 

[woodbloke]

My assembly table doubles up as the take-off table for the saw, it's about 5x2', chipboard top, flat wtith a decent 50mm overhang all round to cramp stuff to. The bench is the place to make components, but the assembly table is where it all happens. Trying to assemble a project on a bench is a non-starter IMO, an assembly area (floor with a bit of chipboard on it is good) is essential and you need to have access to it from all sides, very useful at glue up time - Rob

 

[Waka]

I use the table saw as my assembly table and also have some fold away tables, but these being a bit flexably can't be used to reference off.

With the new workshop extension I'm thinking of building one, but the thinking bits as far as I've got.

 

[Lord Nibbo]

Mine doubles up as a table saw extension just like woodblokes, as in this pic

It's rarely this clear though, it's normally buried in tools not put away :lol:

 

[Richard Findley]

I've just moved into a new workshop and, as mentioned by others, space is at something of a premium so I intend to make a fixed bench which will double up as a run off from my table saw, probably 10ft long to take 8x4 sheets (my workshop is long and narrow!!) and about 40" wide. Was concerned it may be a little on the low side as a table saw is about 845mm from floor and I'm 6ft 1" (sorry for mixing english with silly-metres )

At the moment it's still in my head but work needs to commence soon. Any thoughts wouls be welcome.

Cheers,

Richard

 

[Steve Maskery]

This is the best I've ever seen - fully adjustable and very versatile
http://www.guidoeinemann.de/index2.html

Cheers
Steve

 

[Paul Chapman]

I use this

It's made from a couple of pieces of 18mm MDF glued together and lipped with softwood. As well as an assembly table, with a vice on the end and some dog holes it makes a second, supplementary bench. It has a substantial batten screwed underneath and I just clamp it it a Workmate. When not in use it's easy to store. I put plenty of wax on it so dried glue is easy to get off.

I have another one which has some grooves routed in the top which, as well as making an assembly table, is used for routing and sawing with a hand-held circular saw.

Best thing is they cost next to nothing to make

Cheers :wink:

Paul

 

[John McM]

Thanks for the ideas chaps. I have been toying with doing something with this sort of thing
http://www.liftruck.co.uk/scissor-table ... -ergo.html
What do you think?
Cheers

 

[wizer]

one of these

Sold without the legs

on one of these

And you have what Steve posted above for, I guess, a bit cheaper.

 

[houtslager]

best way to get a solid work table, is go to your local hospital and ask if they have any u/s hospital beds.
Plonk a sheet of whatever you have on the bed and you have a movable and height variable top

 

[BradNaylor]

What makes the ideal assembly table? What's your solutions? Variable height, drawers for handtools, mobile, incorporated glueing table, clamp storage? What size for general cabinetmaking? I'd be very interested in your ideas and solutions.
Ta

Why would you want a drawer to put your mobile in? :lol:

Seriously, I would find it very difficult to come up with a single design for an all-purpose assembly table. One day I might be assembling a 6' x 5' face frame for a wardrobe, the next day it might be a chest of drawers. As I want the work to be easily accessible from four sides and for it to be at the right height a single solution is not really possible.

I use a pair of adjustable height wooden saw horses salvaged from an IKEA dining table and a selection of reinforced 3/4" plywood tops in different sizes which I can place on them.

It works great for me and I can easily clear the floor space when I don't need the table.

Cheers
Dan

PS Here's the IKEA table. They make the most useful saw horses I've ever used!

 

[John McM]

Wizer what on earth is that top contraption?