Outfeed/Assembly Table

[Robert Engel]

I would not recommend trying to use your outfeed table as an assembly table.

You will find during a project it is a major hassle having to clear it off.

[Tim M Tuttle]

Tim,

Ultimately, you will have to decide what is best for you depending on your available space, budget, and current tools and skill level. In my mind, a woodworking bench is one critter, an assembly table is another critter, and an outfeed table is yet another critter. They can double for one another at times, but when you do that you lose some of the functionality that each may provide.

A workbench is really just a really advanced clamping system. It should be designed to hold work-pieces in any of the three dimensions so that you can cut, carve, chisel, drill, pare, etc., thus the various vises, dog holes, holdfasts, dead men, etc. It should be reasonably flat, as long as possible, but not too wide, preferably under 24" so you don't lose tools to the back and you can lay a cabinet carcass over the end so you can work on it. Most of all, it should be HEAVY so it does not move while you are trying to cut, carve, chisel, drill, pare, etc.

An assembly table should provide a large, very flat work surface for the assembly of pieces. When you get to the assembly stage it is more common to need to clamp you work-pieces to each other than the work surface, although you may need to clamp things down to get an assembly started. If you start attaching vises and drilling dog holes it can mess with the whole flatness thing - and you're faced with figuring out how to beef up the torsion box and suddenly its not so flat anymore.

An outfeed table is just to catch work-pieces and waste as they come off the machine so they don't become difficult to control or fall off the end while you are cutting. You see these most often on table saws. Because of that, you usually have grooves cut in the surface directly behind the saw to allow for your crosscut guide to move. Well, there goes part of your flat surface. in general, outfeed tables don't have to be particularly flat as long as they are reasonably so and don't interfere with the cut at the blade.

All that said, again, you have to decide what your priorities are base don where you are now. Some folks will build an oversized outfeed table that will double as an assembly table. Some build their bench at a good height and position it to function as an outfeed table. I think trying to get all three out of one table is going to create more problems than it solves, but that's just one guys opinion.

Currently, I have no bench, no outfeed table and no assembly table, so if you get something built you'll have one up on me. I use adjustable height stands that I can move around where needed. They were one of the first things I built for the shop back when I was in a one-car garage that I had to share with my wife's car. Got the plans from and old ShopNotes magazine and modified them a bit. Been using them for about 15 years.

Good luck!
Charles

One thing I've learned so far is that anything I make I tend to find a deficiency with it fairly quickly. Right now, more than anything, I just need a big flat surface to put things together on. Currently I am using sawhorses with a sheet of plywood. It's fine but I constantly have to set it up and break it down to make room for my car (it's outside most of the time but when a storm's a comin I like to get it inside). The table I am planning on building will be large, mobile and multi function. I am not trying to make it perfect and I am not trying to make it a workbench (that's on the list for a later date). I dont know if dog holes are really needed at this time but I've run across a few situations where they seem like they would come in handy. So too with a vise.

Thanks for your viewpoint.

[Tim M Tuttle]

I would not recommend trying to use your outfeed table as an assembly table.

You will find during a project it is a major hassle having to clear it off.

Good point. Hadn't thought of that.

[andy bessette]

I would not recommend trying to use your outfeed table as an assembly table.

You will find during a project it is a major hassle having to clear it off.

Sorry but this is nonsense. For years I had a single car garage for a shop and had no room for anything but using my outfeed table as my sole workbench. Though my shop is now large enough for my 4' x 8' assembly bench I still often use the original. Come on fellas! This is not that tough to figure out.

[Mike Wilkins]

Don't see the need for a torsion box out feed table; it will not be seeing a lot of weight. Why not make a table from 2 layers of MDF with some cross brace support below. You can then drill your dog holes straight through and not worry about losing a small part down one of the holes. Unless there is a large pile of shavings below.

[Charles Wiggins]

One thing I've learned so far is that anything I make I tend to find a deficiency with it fairly quickly. Right now, more than anything, I just need a big flat surface to put things together on. Currently I am using sawhorses with a sheet of plywood. It's fine but I constantly have to set it up and break it down to make room for my car (it's outside most of the time but when a storm's a comin I like to get it inside). The table I am planning on building will be large, mobile and multi function. I am not trying to make it perfect and I am not trying to make it a workbench (that's on the list for a later date). I dont know if dog holes are really needed at this time but I've run across a few situations where they seem like they would come in handy. So too with a vise.

Thanks for your viewpoint.

Given what you're saying, something to consider: