Trilect...
It depends on a lot of variables.
There are woodworking benches for hand tools vs. an all-around bench/table top for assembly, etc. with minimal hand tool use. If you want a wood top bench for general woodworking purposes, a butcher block top is hard to beat. Depending on where you are located, you can find 2" maple tops for a "reasonable" price. You can mount it to any solid framework for support and it will take a lot of abuse. I know that Grizzly sells them and a company (Balley?) has left overs available from time to time. Many woodworking suppliers have tops available to purchase. You have to add any vise or other tools to the top.
If you are hand cutting dovetails, hand planing, etc., then a woodworking bench is more appropriate. They are an involved process to build and expensive to purchase.
As for making one from your own Oak, it takes at LEAST one (1) year per inch of thickness for green wood to reach euqulibrium in the moisture content based on the relative humidity in your area (generally in the 12-14% range). From there you have to "force" the moisture out of the wood to get to the RH in your shop area (generally in the 6-8% range).
To accomplish this, you can air dry (covered, stickered, ventilated) to 12-14% (use a good moisture meter to measure) and then move the wood into your shop to finish the process (protect any metal tools from rusting). You can Kiln dry the wood, which speeds up the process, but requires equipment, you can outsource the kiln drying to someone in your area if they are available and willing, you can sell the Oak to a woodworker and buy a great solid Maple laminated top....
Using the Oak green is an invitation to disaster and a lot of work that will leave you frustrated after the bench contorts itself like it was posessed from a VooDoo ritual....
... furniture builder and CNC Wannabie...  |