Securing a bench top

Macker

hi ,I want to secure a top to my work bench ,its an old bench made from 70x140 mm wood ,the bench top is 72mm MDF ,I dont want anything like L brackets unless they are pretty solid and I don't want to screw from the top ,I dismissed glue at first in case I wanted to change it at some point but I think 72mm MDF will out last me ,any ideas

Calahonda52

is there an existing top on the bench?
If so and it's flat with good bearing you could dowel it vertically, or of know someone with a domino , drive a bunch of domino tenons down through the mdf into the underneath.
You could fill any imperfections underneath with silicone which would not really stick so would be removable.

Macker

Calahonda52 wrote: »

is there an existing top on the bench?
If so and it's flat with good bearing you could dowel it vertically, or of know someone with a domino , drive a bunch of domino tenons down through the mdf into the underneath.
You could fill any imperfections underneath with silicone which would not really stick so would be removable.

No I took off the old top which was just 3x2 well rotted so Im just working with the frame

Calahonda52

well you could glue and screw 2 by two underneath and screw to side of frame

Macker

Calahonda52 wrote: »

well you could glue and screw 2 by two underneath and screw to side of frame

That sounds like the easiest method ,if I can find my pocket hole jig I might try that

Calahonda52

pocket screws will be too fine a thread.
I would be thinking 6m spax or even 8mm coach screws, with exact size pilot holes for a savage grip

chillyspoon

Macker wrote: »

That sounds like the easiest method ,if I can find my pocket hole jig I might try that

Calahonda52 wrote: »

pocket screws will be too fine a thread.
I would be thinking 6m spax or even 8mm coach screws, with exact size pilot holes for a savage grip

You could easily combine those two ideas - pocket holes followed by pan head larger thread screws. That'd work grand.

Something I haven't picked up in the thread Macker, is why you're opposed to L brackets?

In my case, my bench is topped with a laminated 2 sheet layer of high density 18mm MDF and I attached it from underneath (to the 2x4 frame) with 6 L-brackets that are about 30mm length by about 12mm wide and I think about 3mm stainless steel. The frame supports the weight of the bench top, it doesn't budge and the top can be removed in 5 minutes.

listermint

Calahonda52 wrote: »

pocket screws will be too fine a thread.
I would be thinking 6m spax or even 8mm coach screws, with exact size pilot holes for a savage grip

You don't have to use a pocket screw in a pocket hole

Calahonda52

listermint wrote: »

You don't have to use a pocket screw in a pocket hole

or even a screw:D

Macker

chillyspoon wrote: »

You could easily combine those two ideas - pocket holes followed by pan head larger thread screws. That'd work grand.

Something I haven't picked up in the thread Macker, is why you're opposed to L brackets?

In my case, my bench is topped with a laminated 2 sheet layer of high density 18mm MDF and I attached it from underneath (to the 2x4 frame) with 6 L-brackets that are about 30mm length by about 12mm wide and I think about 3mm stainless steel. The frame supports the weight of the bench top, it doesn't budge and the top can be removed in 5 minutes.

Thanks for the replies lads ,the reason I was worried about L brackets is that the bench is quite heavy and on casters so will get pulled around a bit ,have you a link to the brackets you used

chillyspoon

Macker wrote: »

Thanks for the replies lads ,the reason I was worried about L brackets is that the bench is quite heavy and on casters so will get pulled around a bit ,have you a link to the brackets you used

I'm afraid not - they were from my random bucket'o'bits but I'll whip one off this evening to take measurements and a photo for you. Mine's on castors too btw so they also take that lateral force when I'm moving it around the place.

quietsailor

chillyspoon wrote: »

I'm afraid not - they were from my random bucket'o'bits but I'll whip one off this evening to take measurements and a photo for you. Mine's on castors too btw so they also take that lateral force when I'm moving it around the place.

If you want to use brackets but need heavire ones cut & drill angle iron to make your own, it is a lot of work but you will get heavier brackets - 50mm angle by 3mm thick would be a ver heavy section of steel

Macker

quietsailor wrote: »

If you want to use brackets but need heavire ones cut & drill angle iron to make your own, it is a lot of work but you will get heavier brackets - 50mm angle by 3mm thick would be a ver heavy section of steel

There's a guy beside me who used to make gates ,might ask him to knock me up something

chillyspoon

chillyspoon wrote: »

I'm afraid not - they were from my random bucket'o'bits but I'll whip one off this evening to take measurements and a photo for you. Mine's on castors too btw so they also take that lateral force when I'm moving it around the place.

Ooops- sorry Macker, I completely forgot to post this!

They're 35mmx35mmx20mmx2.5mm

Macker

chillyspoon wrote: »

Ooops- sorry Macker, I completely forgot to post this!

They're 35mmx35mmx20mmx2.5mm

Thanks for that I'll keep an eye out for them