This compact workbench is designed to be demountable and can even double as a kitchen island bench, or sit on a small balcony.
The top is 725mm wide x 630 deep x 60mm thick with a 40mm overhang front and back and 25mm on each side. It’s made from 190 x 45mm F17 KD Vic ash, quartersawn and clear of defects, which is cut into thin strips that are glued up into a panel.
To create the strips, rip each length of the hardwood twice, using the same setting on the bandsaw to get as close to 60mm finished as you can, not forgetting to factor in the blade kerf.
Saw the strips to rough length and width, and then dress them on the jointer and thicknesser. They only need to be the same, not completely finished as there will be more planing and sanding once the top is glued up.
Keep the best quality strips to the outside as these will be your working edges. Chalk on an orientation triangle to keep them in order.
Clamp your work before marking out for the joinery, and also to check for any gaps between the strips (photo 1). Three biscuits were used to strengthen the joins, and to help keep the surface flat during glue-up.
The biscuits are placed 100mm from the end and also in the centre. Do not extend the lines to the very edges – this is so). Set the biscuit cutter for centre of the thickness, in my case this was 30mm for size 20 biscuits.
