Poplar or Spruce for workbench?

[jamesd]

I'm thinking of milling some wood for a workbench to go in my shed. And have a lump of poplar (not sure which species exactly) and some Norway spruce which would you use for a bench?

The bench will just be used for general workshop tasks sharpening/fixing saws etc etc..

[arbmark]

i reckon the soft poplar will develop 'character' very quickly!! attractive to woodworm too if its a bit damp in there? I'd probably go spruce

[se7enthdevil]

spruce is the lesser of two evils there in my opinion but if you can find anything like scotty pine, larch, black pine or douglas fir then use them.

[MattyF]

Spruce is not much better for wood worm , poplars a underrated timber IMO and you won't get covered in sap milling it.

[Tony Croft aka hamadryad]

Spruce is not much better for wood worm , poplars a underrated timber IMO and you won't get covered in sap milling it.

 

agreed, ive seen some very nice furniture turned out of aspen recently.

 

got a 4ft thick lump that im gonna mill soon as its dried out a little, worth consideration as 4 inch thick tables IMO

[jamesd]

I know this is a bit late, but i still havn't got round to milling any wood for my work bench.

But just thinking if poplar and spruce aren't the best options for a work bench what wood would you guys use?

[se7enthdevil]

most of the slightly harder hardwoods will be fine.

 

personally i would go for beech.

 

what do you have access to?

[Woodworks]

I know this is a bit late, but i still havn't got round to milling any wood for my work bench.

But just thinking if poplar and spruce aren't the best options for a work bench what wood would you guys use?

 

Beech is traditionally used for benches.

[jamesd]

most of the slightly harder hardwoods will be fine.

 

personally i would go for beech.

 

what do you have access to?

 

Ash, Oak, sycamore unfortunately not a lot of beech thats the ones i can think of at the moment

[delabodge]

mate use what you`ve got...spruce isnt perfect but it will do,,put a sheet of ply over it or a hard finnish on it,,,and if it dont work ,,make another:thumbup1: