pine or spf for beginners bench? prices, etc.

You may if you want some FREE pine check with your local glass place, they
get large wooden packing crates for metal doors. I have picked up 2' x 12'
x (4',6',8',10', even on occasian 12' long pieces. The only draw back is
you have to be a Sampson to lift some of them, and dismantle them when at
your shop. So bring along a friend or two to help lift this FREE wood.
Offer them a six-pack or two only after returning to the shop. don't want
an accident. Soak the nails in vinagar to make a great stain.


"Daniel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hello,
>
> (Apologies in advance if this is a really dumb question.)
>
> I've been looking at wood for my first workbench, and I'm looking for
> recommendations on wood to use. Most of the beginners bench plans
> recommend using standard framing lumber, so I'll stick to that or
> other softwoods.
>
> I've managed to find quotes for 4x4 posts in both SPF and #3 pine, but
> the price discrepancy is large. The SPF stuff is about CAD 0.90 per
> linear ft at a local (in-Toronto) lumberyard, and #3 pine, S4S (with
> corners) is CAD 2 per linear ft at a REAL lumberyard waaaaaaaaay out
> in the countryside.
>
> Is pine inherently more expensive than SPF? I looked at tables
> listing strengths of softwoods, but the numbers vary by exact species,
> are all quite close, and I'm not sure how to interpret them. Are
> there any characteristics (warping, hardness, etc) that would favor
> one over the other?
>
> (I like the pine, as it all comes with un-rounded corners.)
>
> Thanks!
>
> - Daniel

Daniel wrote:>(Apologies in advance if this is a really dumb question.)
>
>I've been looking at wood for my first workbench, and I'm looking for
>recommendations on wood to use. Most of the beginners bench plans
>recommend using standard framing lumber, so I'll stick to that or
>other softwoods.
>
>I've managed to find quotes for 4x4 posts in both SPF and #3 pine, but
>the price discrepancy is large. The SPF stuff is about CAD 0.90 per
>linear ft at a local (in-Toronto) lumberyard, and #3 pine, S4S (with
>corners) is CAD 2 per linear ft at a REAL lumberyard waaaaaaaaay out
>in the countryside.
>
>Is pine inherently more expensive than SPF? I looked at tables
>listing strengths of softwoods, but the numbers vary by exact species,
>are all quite close, and I'm not sure how to interpret them. Are
>there any characteristics (warping, hardness, etc) that would favor
>one over the other?
>
>(I like the pine, as it all comes with un-rounded corners.)
>
>Thanks!
>
>-
Sorry, but what's SPF?(sun protection factor? Something pressure
formed?Southern pine fir?) First bench? Use the standard framing lumber, not
the S4S, and if you can get kiln-dried, more's the better, less the warpage.
Let your _second_ bench reflect more of your "personality".Tom
Someday, it'll all be over....

I didn't know what SPF is either. I suppose that is because I seldom buy
lumber at the BORG. :-)


"Tom" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Daniel wrote:>(Apologies in advance if this is a really dumb question.)
> >
> > > >
> >-
> Sorry, but what's SPF?(sun protection factor? Something pressure
> formed?Southern pine fir?) First bench? Use the standard framing lumber,
not
> the S4S, and if you can get kiln-dried, more's the better, less the
warpage.
> Let your _second_ bench reflect more of your "personality".Tom
> Someday, it'll all be over....

SPF stands for spruce/pine/fir or more perhaps more accurately: one of the
above, we neither know nor care what species.

What wou are likely looking at is pine vs. pine. The difference my be in
that 2-by lumber is generally not dried to the same specs. Consequently
2x4's tend the pretzel if not turned into a wall quickly (or some other
structure like perhaps a bench) which will counteract the tendency of
individual boards to warp as they please as they acclimate from their
generally wet state to the current environment.

The S4S is likely to be much more dry to start with. I'll bet that it has
fewer knots too.

I have used plenty of 2-by lumber for shop stuff, but I generally use stuff
which has been around for a while and then joint/plane it.

-Steve

In article <[email protected]>,
[email protected] (Daniel) wrote:

For the bench support I don't think it makes a big difference what you
use. For the bench top I would consider plywood or MDF. Use a double
thickness of 3/4" material and glue the pieces together. You will not
have problems with gaps on shrinkage. The top will be much smoother.
Add an edging of hardwood to reduce the chips at the exposed edge.

Dick



> Hello,
>
> (Apologies in advance if this is a really dumb question.)
>
> I've been looking at wood for my first workbench, and I'm looking for
> recommendations on wood to use. Most of the beginners bench plans
> recommend using standard framing lumber, so I'll stick to that or
> other softwoods.
>
> I've managed to find quotes for 4x4 posts in both SPF and #3 pine, but
> the price discrepancy is large. The SPF stuff is about CAD 0.90 per
> linear ft at a local (in-Toronto) lumberyard, and #3 pine, S4S (with
> corners) is CAD 2 per linear ft at a REAL lumberyard waaaaaaaaay out
> in the countryside.
>
> Is pine inherently more expensive than SPF? I looked at tables
> listing strengths of softwoods, but the numbers vary by exact species,
> are all quite close, and I'm not sure how to interpret them. Are
> there any characteristics (warping, hardness, etc) that would favor
> one over the other?
>
> (I like the pine, as it all comes with un-rounded corners.)
>
> Thanks!
>
> - Daniel

On 7 May 2004 11:38:28 -0700, [email protected] (Daniel) wrote:

>I've been looking at wood for my first workbench, and I'm looking for
>recommendations on wood to use.
>(I like the pine, as it all comes with un-rounded corners.)

You didn't mention whether you have the tools to properly dimension
your lumber before building.

Assuming you own a way to joint, plane and square your stock, I'd
suggest building out of the cheapest crapola you can find.

My basis for this suggestion is your specifying that this is your
_first_ workbench. Cool. Have a ball. You're going to make some
mistakes, and you won't cry over a wasted tubafor.

I made my first workbench out of _pressure treated_ 2X stock, because
it had the one characteristic I was looking for. It was free. Glued
up the legs and rails giving me almost 3 inch thickness, half lapped
all the joints, glued and screwed it all together. Made a top by
laminating 2 inch-and-a-half thick _conference room doors_ that were
on their way to the landfill. Even cut down to about 2X6', the top
weighs a ton.

It's a real frankenbench, but the only thing wrong with it is...
it's indestructable.

It won't die. I can't even get it to rack. If I could, I could
justify throwing it away and making one that looks good, but this one
appears to be here to stay. 'Sides, it's so ugly it's cute. :)

And did I mention it was _free?_ Free is good.

Michael

My current bench was built with a SPF equivalent. It's about ten years old
now and will probably outlive me.

--
Mike G.
[email protected]
Heirloom Woods
www.heirloom-woods.net
"Daniel" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hello,
>
> (Apologies in advance if this is a really dumb question.)
>
> I've been looking at wood for my first workbench, and I'm looking for
> recommendations on wood to use. Most of the beginners bench plans
> recommend using standard framing lumber, so I'll stick to that or
> other softwoods.
>
> I've managed to find quotes for 4x4 posts in both SPF and #3 pine, but
> the price discrepancy is large. The SPF stuff is about CAD 0.90 per
> linear ft at a local (in-Toronto) lumberyard, and #3 pine, S4S (with
> corners) is CAD 2 per linear ft at a REAL lumberyard waaaaaaaaay out
> in the countryside.
>
> Is pine inherently more expensive than SPF? I looked at tables
> listing strengths of softwoods, but the numbers vary by exact species,
> are all quite close, and I'm not sure how to interpret them. Are
> there any characteristics (warping, hardness, etc) that would favor
> one over the other?
>
> (I like the pine, as it all comes with un-rounded corners.)
>
> Thanks!
>
> - Daniel