Replies

1. 
   roc | Jun 22, 2009 01:17am | #1

   Oooooh nice !

   You are lucky it is just a hump in the middle. IMO.

   You could plane it using proper planes. Sounds like handplanes are not an important part of your arsenal. That's cool.

   What style of work are you going to use the table for ?

   Maybe one of these

   http://www.amazon.com/Makita-N1900B-Amp-4-Inch-Planer/dp/B0000223JM

   or one of these is more your style

   http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-1276DVS-4-Inch-24-Inch-Variable/dp/B0000223H9/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hiqid=1245622609&sr=1-1

   A truely great sander by the way ! ! !

   And a good straight edge and winding sticks See this article

   http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/SkillsAndTechniques/SkillsAndTechniquesPDF.aspx?id=24092

   roc

   Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )

   
   

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   Edited 6/21/2009 6:18 pm by roc

1. 
   lostcreek | Jun 22, 2009 01:29am | #2

   The power planer might be just the thing. I have a belt sander and straight edges. The table is used for my table saw off feed and also an assembly table. I've removed two vises, they we're on each corner. Since it was a four person work station at school, it has plenty of storage underneath. The article hits home, too.
   I'll try to figure how to send you a photo...
   lostcreek

1. 
   roc | Jun 22, 2009 01:45am | #4

   Yes ! We love to see photos of shops and work here.If you haven't done it before here I will be so bold as to say how. Use a photo editing program. I am on mac and use Preview program. Click " adjust size " in tools pull down menu. Set to ~ 640 x 480 and ~ 50 KBIf larger it will be like looking at a map through a paper towel tube. And large info size files are causing probs in the over all Knots site.Then after you click "Reply" in this forum click "attach files" from the list of items on your desk top in this window you will need to click on the file name of your photo (s) one at a time and click upload then wait a while until you see the name entered near the top of the window then do another. It is easy to select it and forget to upload it that means you sit and wait and nothing happens.I wish some one wold have sent me this info when I started. Maybe someone can tell you better where to look on Knots info for specifics.If you already know all this please forgive.By the way roughly how thick is the top ?rocGive me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )

   Edited 6/21/2009 6:52 pm by roc

1. 
   lostcreek | Jun 22, 2009 01:58am | #6

   Top is about 2 inches thick. Turning it over might be a possibility, too. Here's my first attempt at pics. I have a Mac, too, so your instructions were easy. As soon as I punched in the 640, it automatically took over and filled in the rest. Hope it worked...
   lostcreek

   
1. 
   saschafer | Jun 22, 2009 02:07am | #7

   Is the bow in the top the same amount in both directions, or is it more bowed across the grain than along the grain? I wonder if the bench has been stored in a humid location (not that there are any humid locations in Utah...), and that's why the top is warping (i.e., the top side of the benchtop is wetter than the bottom side).

   -Steve

    

2. 
   lostcreek | Jun 22, 2009 02:15am | #8

   No, the bow is only in the one direction, It's flat down the sides. I've had it stored in my garage/shop for over a year. It was flatter in the past but now my crosscut sled hits the table, so it's a real pain. It never was completely flat, so maybe all the rains this spring have made it worse...
   lostcreek

3. 
   saschafer | Jun 22, 2009 02:17am | #9

   Aha. I think the real solution, then, is to open up the base, so that it gets air circulation on both sides. It likely won't get perfectly flat, but if you try to flatten it in its current condition, it will only curve the other way as it dries out.

   -Steve

    

4. 
   roc | Jun 22, 2009 02:27am | #10

   Your photo attempt came out perfect. I been looking furiously for the how to post pics here info. So I could post it to you. No luck. I know I saw it once by accident. Nuf said.Yep seems from photos that one can see the bow even on the bottom. I don' suppose the cabinet under it is stout enough to force the top to bow when bolted in place ? NaahNice find though !rocGive me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )

2. 
   saschafer | Jun 22, 2009 01:30am | #3

   Would it be possible to turn the top over? The reason I ask is that it is usually easier to remove a hollow (by removing material around the edge) than it is to remove a hump.

   A router jig would work, but it would have to be very stiff, and thus very beefily made, to do any good.

   -Steve

    

3. 
   sapwood | Jun 22, 2009 01:54am | #5

   Cut it down the middle then take it to a large shop to have it surfaced with a wide belt sander. It will be a simple matter to rejoin the two halves. Or, you just may want to leave them separate and have two 30" benches.

4. 
   roc | Jun 22, 2009 02:36am | #11

   >Moisture causing distortion

   Does the underside have a coating of finish on it ? And the top uncoated, worn off or sanded off in the past ?

   roc

   Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )

5. 
   roc | Jun 22, 2009 02:46am | #12

   Ok I had too much coffee and washed it all down with some espresso so forgive me for hogging. I will stop soon.

   Is that a Wilton vise ? Do you have similar vises for sale since you have a few ? I don't need one but this guy was looking for a specific Wilton vise:

   http://forums.taunton.com/fw-knots/messages?msg=46981.1

   roc

   Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )

   
   

   ---

   Edited 6/21/2009 11:50 pm by roc

1. 
   lostcreek | Jun 22, 2009 06:00pm | #14

   roc,
   Just the opposite...no finish on bottom and some oil that I applied on top. Also, the vises are Morgan. Two each of 10" wide and 7" wide, the 10's being quick release. Sorry, I gave one each to my sons...
   I think my plan is to open all lower cabinets and let the bottom and top equal out and see if it goes back to "relatively" flat. It was fine before I noticed the crosscut sled crashed a couple of days ago.
   lostcreek

1. 
   aaronpetersen | Jun 27, 2009 05:28pm | #16

   Lost creek,

   That would make sense. With no finish on the bottom, the bottom is drying out quicker and pulling down. If it were mine, I would try wetting the bottom a bit to make it expand. Then, I would fiinsh both sides equally. After you let it rest I would then use hand planes or the router sled to flatten.

   Aaron

6. 
   stevo1952 | Jun 22, 2009 05:07am | #13

   it would seem like you would want to get it stabilized, bolted down or whatever and then mill the top.
   You could clamp two straight edges to two of the sides and get them leveled up across and diagonally. Then make a simple board or carriage that would span the two of them to hold a router with your biggest diameter bit. Stiffen the board if necessary so it doesnt flex and make sure its long enough to span both sides as you move board with the router back and forth. Start at the highest point, and take just a little until the entire top is level. Plane, scrape, sand as needed.
   It might take some time, but you can get it perfectly flat.
   good luck.
   Stevo

7. 
   DavidWI | Jun 27, 2009 04:06pm | #15

   I bought an abused, massive solid oak and maple workbench.    I built a router sled around the perimeter and used a large straight bit in a router to flatten it.    Things then went out of control:   it worked so well I inlaid walnut and padauk.    The router sled worked great.