We have some extra sheets of material and generally lack work surfaces when we assemble tables at the furniture bank.   We'd like to make some work tables to help there.  The biggest thing we assemble is a dining table 30x48.   What would be a good table size that would hold these projects (om their tops), and still be able to reach across to do the work?   We're thinking maybe 32x48 so we can get three tops out of a sheet of the particle board.   We will double layer them.    And maybe 32 or 36" high (counter top height).   We attach the aprons via pocket screws and legs to aprons with glue and screws.

Edited December 6, 20178 yr by Ron Dudelston
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You might consider getting a flat slab door, Masonite, 32x80 (HD, $36), and cut it to whatever length you like.  Take two cutoffs to make a 3rd slab, and you get 3 dead flat surfaces, basically box construction, for $72 +/-, and I bet the store manager might give you a big discount for a charity. 

a single sheet of 3/4 ply supported by 2x4s on edge is plenty stiff and sturdy.  my work tables are 96x36, just below TS height, so i can also use them for infeed or outfeed.  34" high is a good height, so if you are working on something a few inches high, your work point is right around 36" high.  on casters of course, so you can move them around easily.

 

you can get an idea of mine from the pic below.

 

my current outfeed table was a shooting bench prototype, still need to rebuild it and add casters.

 

you can see 3 work tables in this shot, there are 2 more not in view.  all the same.

 

Edited February 27, 20179 yr by DAB

2 hours ago, kmealy said:

We're thinking maybe 32x48     And maybe 32 or 36" high (counter top height).  

 

foot larger (L&W) and between hip and knee high...

You have the sheet goods.  Just go the whole half sheet if there is room.

All the ideas are good, but I kinda like your original plan. Having 3 tables would be handy for that operation and it sounds like they would have enough room for the work that needs to be done.

Got together with my buddy one afternoon this week and we did a couple of prototypes. tops are roughly 32x48.  They will hold the largest pieces we are currently building, at a good working height.  All the work is 4" or less off the table top surface.   The tops are double layers of particle board so we can get one table's top and shelf out of 1 piece and part of another for the legs and aprons, also doubled up and half-lapped at joints.   We had a few sheets surplus from our last cuttings, so the total expense was about $5.50 for the two of them for carriage bolts, washers, and nuts.   We used some glue and pocket screws from the furniture banks and we donated a few screws and brad nails.  No more trying to get six people to work on a 4x8 piece of OSB on a couple of sawhorses.

 

 

 

Edited March 25, 20179 yr by kmealy

Nice looking and functional design tables Keith. Kudos for your work there and enhancement projects like these.