the MRH Forum

Benchwork Journals/Blogs
Reply
Active Member 36 posts stevo Active Member 36 posts
stevo

I started on my benchwork. After looking at several styles I settled on L girder cantelivered on the wall.

My material list was:

2 sheets 3/4 4x8 plywood (Only used 1 1/2 sheets)

8 8' 2x2's

2 3/4" cabinet screws

15ga x 1 1/4" pin nails

Wood Glue

I attached 1 1/2 x 3/4 furring strips to the wall studs with 3 cabinet screws. The horizontal supports are 3/4 x 3 x 22" ply attached to the furring strips with 4 pin nails. I then used the 2x2 cut at 45 degrees to brace the horizontal braces. They are attached to the furring strip with a cabinet screw and pin nailed in an x patern to the horizontal brace. The L girders are all 3" plywood strips glued and pin nailed.

I was a little bit hesitant about using the plywood and light construction. The benchwork turned out bomb proof. There is absolitely no vertical or horizontal movement. I can put all my weight on it and it doesn't even creak. I could have easily gotten away with using 2 1/2 instead of 3" plywood strips.

I have a worksite table saw, miter saw, pin nailer and air compressor so it made for quick work. Even if I didn't have these I would highly reccommend renting them for 24 hours to do benchwork.

Thanks for reading

Steve

Reply 0
stevo Active Member 36 posts
stevo

Photos

Oops the photos didn't attach.
Reply 0
RSeiler MRH Author 3,755 posts
RSeiler

Photos

imag0055.jpg 

Randy

Cincinnati West -  B&O/PC  Summer 1975

http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/17997
Reply 0
RSeiler MRH Author 3,755 posts
RSeiler

Photo 2

imag0056.jpg 

Randy

Cincinnati West -  B&O/PC  Summer 1975

http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/17997
Reply 0
RSeiler MRH Author 3,755 posts
RSeiler

Photo 3

imag0057.jpg 

Randy

Cincinnati West -  B&O/PC  Summer 1975

http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/17997
Reply 0
craig3 Regular poster 338 posts
craig3

Thanks Randy

Much easier to see when the photos are in the post, not linked.

Appreciate you doing that!!

Craig
Reply 0
David Husman dave1905 MRH Author 9,887 posts
David Husman dave1905

L girders

Actually you really didn't even need the L girders.  I just used the brackets from the wall attachments with no L girder., front or back.  Wasn't necessary.  By the time I installed roadbed that stiffened the brackets against left-right movement.  

By omitting the L girder it gives unobstructed access into the underside of the layout.  With no girder right behind the fascia it allowed me to recess all the controls, car card boxes, etc. into the fascia and made wiring stuff really easy.

You did do a great job with the carpentry.

Dave Husman

Visit my website :  https://wnbranch.com/

Blog index:  Dave Husman Blog Index
Reply 0
Goose in The Caboose Productions Regular poster 313 posts
Goose in The Caboose Productions

Great start

Looks like your off to a fantastic start, looking forward to seeing more.

_garthft.jpg 

Goose in The Caboose Productions  -  Railroad and Model train fanatic, superhero fan, and lover of historically accurate and well-executed sword fights.

Long live railroading and big steam!! And above all, stay train-crazy!!!

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTkT-p0JdEuaMcMD10a72bg

 
Reply 0
steamhog Regular poster 188 posts
steamhog

diagonal support

The 45 degree bracing is optimal for strength and stability.  It’s an ideal shelf design.

Chris
Reply 0
pldvdk Super User 2,563 posts
pldvdk

Great Work!

Craig,

That looks like the start of a really great layout. The bench work is superb! Will be eager to see more.

Paul Krentz

Free-lancing a portion of the N&W Pocahontas "Pokey" District

Read my blog
Reply 0
vincep Regular poster 299 posts
vincep

Like this

As my limited 7X11 room I'll be following along your guidelines more or less. Thanks for posting up
Vince P
Reply 0
UglyK5 Super User 1,140 posts
UglyK5

Executing the plan with purpose

Blank canvas to completed bench work in under a week: I like the cut of your jib!

Structure looks great. Simple, efficient, well built.  It will serve you well 

jeff

 
—————————————
“Think before you post, try to be positive, and you do not always have to give your opinion.....”
-Bessemer Bob
Reply 0
musgrovejb Prolific poster 1,734 posts
musgrovejb

Nice

 Very nice benchwork!

Joe

Modeling Missouri Pacific Railroad's Central Division, Fort Smith, Arkansas

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLENIMVXBDQCrKbhMvsed6kBC8p40GwtxQ

 
Reply 0
stevo Active Member 36 posts
stevo

Benchwork Update

Just a quick Update. Got the 1/2 ply cut. Next is some plotting for the cookie cutter sections.

h_update.jpg 
Reply 0
vincep Regular poster 299 posts
vincep

Digging this

That's coming along nicely giving me some better ideas for mine when the time comes.
Vince P
Reply 0
stevo Active Member 36 posts
stevo

Benchwork is done.

Got the benchwork all done. Took a little bit to get used working with  the cookie cutter and risers style.  I think it was worth is. The grade transitions are nice and smooth.  I got away with a 1.9% max grade.   The benchtop was 1/2" plywood with 1" foam on top.  The foam was attached   with foam board adhesive. 

Looking forward to getting the track laid down. 

 

bench.jpg foam.jpg 
Reply 0
Michael Tondee MRH Author 5,540 posts
Michael Tondee

Looking good

Do you have a track plan you could post? Curious to see what that is going to become.

Michael, A.R.S. W4HIJ

 Model Rail, electronics experimenter and "mad scientist" for over 50 years.

Member of  "The Amigos" and staunch disciple of the "Wizard of Monterey"

My Pike: The Blackwater Island Logging&Mining Co.
Reply 0
AzBaja Prolific poster 2,089 posts
AzBaja

Looks like the board room at

Looks like the board room at the office.  Need the fancy chairs and we are set for the next meeting.

AzBaja
---------------------------------------------------------------
I enjoy the smell of melting plastic in the morning.  The Fake Model Railroader, subpar at best.
Reply 0
stevo Active Member 36 posts
stevo

Track Plan

Here is the link to the track plan. The latest one is the last post. https://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/node/35632?page=1
Reply 0
Reply