easiest way to make a large building board?
03-06-2003, 01:21 PM
#1
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Loves Park,
IL
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
easiest way to make a large building board?
My projects are now outgrowing my GP buliding board and I need something at least 3' X 6 '. My workbench is horribly warped so I may have to start from scratch. Any suggestions? Thanks!
03-06-2003, 01:53 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Jupiter, FL
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
easiest way to make a large building board?
That's easy!Just go to Home Depot and buy a door.They have different sizes to choose from.You can get one for under $30
Then,while you are there,walk over to the accoustic ceiling tiles and get two sheets of that.I think it's the 2x3 size.
Mine is great.I simply put it on top of another, smaller table.Pin the tiles to the door.This gives you something to pin to when you work over plans.
Brian
Then,while you are there,walk over to the accoustic ceiling tiles and get two sheets of that.I think it's the 2x3 size.
Mine is great.I simply put it on top of another, smaller table.Pin the tiles to the door.This gives you something to pin to when you work over plans.
Brian
03-06-2003, 05:17 PM
#3
My Feedback: (1)
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Appleton, WI
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
easiest way to make a large building board?
I just had my garage door replaced and had the installer cut one of the sections in half for me. My building board is now 8' x 21" x 1 1/4". It is flat, light weight, portable and thin. Cover it with something you can stick pins into and there you have it.
I know the war department won't let you tear out her garage door, but if you contact a door installer in your area they may just give you a section of a door they replaced. All they do is throw them out.
This pic kind of shows how it looks with my Contender wing on it.
I hope this helps.
Al
I know the war department won't let you tear out her garage door, but if you contact a door installer in your area they may just give you a section of a door they replaced. All they do is throw them out.
This pic kind of shows how it looks with my Contender wing on it.
I hope this helps.
Al
03-06-2003, 05:32 PM
#4
Member
My Feedback: (1)
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Morgantown, KY
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
easiest way to make a large building board?
My only caution with doors is that you need to make certain that they're true and flat. I went looking at some doors at HD and they weren't at all flat.
Ended up buying a 4x8 sheet of MDF and cutting it to size. Hot glued cork board to it for easy pinning. It's very flat and stable, but very heavy. I have a workbench, so weight's not a problem. If you're wanting one that's easy to move around, I'd go with something else. But for permanent fixtures in a shop, MDF is great, and cheap ($11 for a sheet).
Good luck,
Heath
Ended up buying a 4x8 sheet of MDF and cutting it to size. Hot glued cork board to it for easy pinning. It's very flat and stable, but very heavy. I have a workbench, so weight's not a problem. If you're wanting one that's easy to move around, I'd go with something else. But for permanent fixtures in a shop, MDF is great, and cheap ($11 for a sheet).
Good luck,
Heath
03-06-2003, 07:17 PM
#5
Senior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Loves Park,
IL
Posts: 177
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
easiest way to make a large building board?
Thanks for your replies.
Heath-
Would MDF resist bowing and twisting from a warped bench it was laying on? Also what thickness did you use?
Heath-
Would MDF resist bowing and twisting from a warped bench it was laying on? Also what thickness did you use?
03-06-2003, 07:32 PM
#6
Member
My Feedback: (1)
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Morgantown, KY
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
easiest way to make a large building board?
Hi Jaco,
MDF is medium density fiberboard. It is made of wood particles bound together. So, it's very rigid and doesn't shrink/expand/warp like wood does, and has a machined flat surface. The only thing you have to be careful about is that if you get it wet, it will soak up the water and bulge where it does. So, you have to paint it or polyurethane it to seal it from water damage. But once it's sealed, it is rock hard, ultra flat and straight, and nice and heavy to give a workbench a good solid surface.
Heath
MDF is medium density fiberboard. It is made of wood particles bound together. So, it's very rigid and doesn't shrink/expand/warp like wood does, and has a machined flat surface. The only thing you have to be careful about is that if you get it wet, it will soak up the water and bulge where it does. So, you have to paint it or polyurethane it to seal it from water damage. But once it's sealed, it is rock hard, ultra flat and straight, and nice and heavy to give a workbench a good solid surface.
Heath
03-06-2003, 09:32 PM
#8
Member
My Feedback: (1)
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Morgantown, KY
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
easiest way to make a large building board?
Not sure who you're asking. But I'm talking about a board that's permanently a part of a workbench, which is what it sounded like he wanted.
This would SUCK if you wanted one to move around. MDF is really heavy.
Heath
This would SUCK if you wanted one to move around. MDF is really heavy.
Heath
03-06-2003, 11:04 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Jupiter, FL
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
easiest way to make a large building board?
Home Depot will gladly check the doors to make sure it is flat.Mine is flat and I have built very straight wings on it.It is on a flat table and is still flat and level.The door cost me $23 bucks.The accoustic ceiling tile was about $4 a piece.They have different size doors too.
B
B
03-06-2003, 11:06 PM
#10
easiest way to make a large building board?
I built mine out of 2X4s. Put up a frame, used a 4X4 for the leg on the end that didn't have a side wall and put 1 inch LP particle board on top. It is dead nuts flat and will stay that way. I put poster board on top of the wood and when I get glue or something else on it, I replace the dirty piece of poster board. Works great. I don't use T pins so I don't worry about having to have something you can poke a pin in. Not a bench that would move easily though.
03-06-2003, 11:42 PM
#11
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: jackson, TN
Posts: 469
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
easiest way to make a large building board?
I built a 4'x8' work table in the center of my garage.
On top of it, when Im building, I place a 3'x8' solid core, maple door that is as perfectly true, at least as true as wood can get.
On top of that I use 1/2" drywall cut to the same size as the door.
The drywall is heavy enough to lie flat on the door without screws and I can easily insert building pins into it.
The only drawback Ive found is that the drywall costs about $6 and will have to be replaced after 10 - 50 planes have been built on it.
On top of it, when Im building, I place a 3'x8' solid core, maple door that is as perfectly true, at least as true as wood can get.
On top of that I use 1/2" drywall cut to the same size as the door.
The drywall is heavy enough to lie flat on the door without screws and I can easily insert building pins into it.
The only drawback Ive found is that the drywall costs about $6 and will have to be replaced after 10 - 50 planes have been built on it.
03-07-2003, 12:51 AM
#12
My Feedback: (40)
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Waynetown,
IN
Posts: 2,476
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
easiest way to make a large building board?
Check this one out....it is 2ft by 8ft, but could be made any size......TAKES A LOT OF WEIGHT TO CAUSE IT TO BOW. take your time and shim it straight.....good for LIFE
03-07-2003, 02:20 AM
#13
My Feedback: (3)
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Waynesboro, PA
Posts: 331
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
easiest way to make a large building board?
MDF and 2x4s is what I used. My table is 3'wx6'lx29"h and have plenty have room. I also use a 2'x4'x2" thick blue insulation board for pinning my projects down. I think the blue board is very easy to work with as well. All items picked up at either HD or Lowes. Just put a peg board system on the back of the table for more organization, Peg Board is 2' high x 4' long. See Pic below.
03-07-2003, 05:15 PM
#15
Member
My Feedback: (1)
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Morgantown, KY
Posts: 99
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
easiest way to make a large building board?
This is kind of splitting hairs, but that's not MDF. It's particle board or OSB oriented strand board.
MDF is a really dark brown and is very smooth, like a counter top. It's really heavy and dense.
OSB would work well, too, though, so long as you build it straight and level.
MDF is a really dark brown and is very smooth, like a counter top. It's really heavy and dense.
OSB would work well, too, though, so long as you build it straight and level.
03-07-2003, 05:36 PM
#16
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: San Diego,
CA
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
easiest way to make a large building board?
I just started using some 5/8ths thick pool table slate that was sitting on the side of my parents house for the last few years... Don't know why I didn't grab it earlier. Mine is in three sections from a 4x8 table. I'm just using one right now, but I plan to build a table out of two of them in the future for bigger projects.
You might be able to find some with minor blemishes at a local Billiards room dealer. Bring a friend, this stuff will make MDF feel like cork board when you pick some up.
The only down side is my thumb is really sore from pushing the T-pins into it... does anyone know where I can get Titanium pins? Mine keep bending.
scott.
You might be able to find some with minor blemishes at a local Billiards room dealer. Bring a friend, this stuff will make MDF feel like cork board when you pick some up.
The only down side is my thumb is really sore from pushing the T-pins into it... does anyone know where I can get Titanium pins? Mine keep bending.
scott.
03-07-2003, 09:29 PM
#18
My Feedback: (40)
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Waynetown,
IN
Posts: 2,476
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
easiest way to make a large building board?
Try putting pins in my steel table.......
With my steel table, I use magnets to hold things in place....don't have to poke holes in the wood this way
With my steel table, I use magnets to hold things in place....don't have to poke holes in the wood this way
03-07-2003, 11:37 PM
#19
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: San Diego,
CA
Posts: 359
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
easiest way to make a large building board?
CAPtain232,
I have a GP magnetic building board that I lay on my slate, where did you get that magnet in your picture? I could use a couple like that.
Thanks,
scott.
I have a GP magnetic building board that I lay on my slate, where did you get that magnet in your picture? I could use a couple like that.
Thanks,
scott.
03-08-2003, 01:57 AM
#20
My Feedback: (3)
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Waynesboro, PA
Posts: 331
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
easiest way to make a large building board?
Originally posted by Heath
This is kind of splitting hairs, but that's not MDF. It's particle board or OSB oriented strand board.
This is kind of splitting hairs, but that's not MDF. It's particle board or OSB oriented strand board.
My bust. You are correct. Kinda got the 2 mixed up. Thanks for bringing this to my attention.
03-08-2003, 01:19 PM
#22
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 996
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
easiest way to make a large building board?
I built my workbench of 3/4" partical board. I used a water level and supported it very good. It still is not good enough to build on .... but REAL close. Here is what I did next.... and it can be done with a door that isn't quite perfect, etc. I put down my 2x4 ft. ceiling tile on the bench. I then used my good 4 foot straightedge to check the tile in ALL directions and corner to corner too. I then shimmed up the low spots with index cards under the tile till it was very, very level!!! By looking at the gap under the straightedge, you can easily estimate the amount of index cards to go under that area.
Next, I just ran a strip of scotch tape over the cards so they wouldn't move.
It does take a little time but it seemed to work real good. .... lownslo.
Bob
Next, I just ran a strip of scotch tape over the cards so they wouldn't move.
It does take a little time but it seemed to work real good. .... lownslo.
Bob
