Thank you!!! Yours is just about the best video I've seen on benchwork. You included something near and dear to my heart, humidity control. I will have to re-watch your video to make sure I understand everything you said. Thank you again!
James, I have height adjustable feet on the bottom of all the modules' legs. Firstly to correct my dubious carpentry and secondly because most floors are not flat. They made a big difference in setting up when I moved house. The other things I would recommend are DCC Concepts Power Point alignment dowels. These are very good for keeping a lift up flap aligned and for feeding it with track power.
We were going to put the adjustable feet on this layout but, the weight of the posts and benchwork crushed the plastic used to adjust the foot height. So it was abandoned. Adjustable feet will work on lighter tables and L shaped legs, James's layout is built like a deck that you can walk on, adjustments are made with the length of leg and a level to adjust when attaching.
@@DaBobsNScaleMancave There are a couple of good options to make your own leveling feet. Drilling a hole in the end and using a lag bolt is quick and easy. Drilling a hole and using a T nut with leveling feet or regular bolts with a jam nut to set the height. Either way won't break the bank, it just needs a little planning ahead to obtain the materials.
Just an FYI: The water from most dehumidifiers, like the one you showed, is not distilled water. Distilling water is a purifying process where the water is brought to a boiling point then condensed (cooled) back to water in a different container. This process purifies the water to a degree by leaving behind the impurities in the water that does not turn to vapor with the water. Therefor leaving the impurities in the original container. Most dehumidifiers work similar to an air conditioner and the water collected is from condensation of the water in the air without boiling. Similar to the the water on the outside of a cold glass of ice tea or cold beer on a hot summer day. The condensation is cause by the difference in temperature between the inside and outside of the container. The water condenses on the warmer side without boiling. So it would still contain at least most of the impurities.
And alternative to the 4" x 4" legs would be an L-girder, made from two 1 x 3s or 1 x 4s, glued and screwed into an L-shape. Very strong, but lighter (and costs less).
I noticed you do not use gussets to stabilize benchwork. Good video. I do not drill for my feeders. I have installed little eye hooks and hang inexpensive shower curtain rings that I can open to slide an additional wire in or to add a feeder.
any Experience with Foam bench work? I have seen a layout that essentially was 2x4 foot sections of foam board glued together and then the sides where routered out and plywood strips glued in. the entire section was then wrapped in oak 1/4 plywood glued and stappled to the Plywood strips. these modulars were then placed on metal self arms that were screwed into the studs in the wall.
Thanks for the great info James. I'm just beginning to build my benchwork and am looking for as much info as possible. I've just ordered the book on benchwork you showed and looking forward to your next video. Thanks
Same issue. Unless you want to spend a fortune on cabinet grade. What I did was I built the modules and leveled best I could, them I leveled the foam using shims between the plywood and foam.
Holy crap! 4x4’s? Are you trying to hold up actual RR equipment! Y’all don’t require 1/2” thick plywood for a top. How about Masonite or even thinner material n pile styrofoam on top…that’s all y’all need! Really.
Thank you!!! Yours is just about the best video I've seen on benchwork. You included something near and dear to my heart, humidity control. I will have to re-watch your video to make sure I understand everything you said. Thank you again!
You’re very welcome!
James, I have height adjustable feet on the bottom of all the modules' legs. Firstly to correct my dubious carpentry and secondly because most floors are not flat. They made a big difference in setting up when I moved house.
The other things I would recommend are DCC Concepts Power Point alignment dowels. These are very good for keeping a lift up flap aligned and for feeding it with track power.
Great points, i forgot to mention the adjustable feet. Thank you for the comment!
We were going to put the adjustable feet on this layout but, the weight of the posts and benchwork crushed the plastic used to adjust the foot height. So it was abandoned. Adjustable feet will work on lighter tables and L shaped legs, James's layout is built like a deck that you can walk on, adjustments are made with the length of leg and a level to adjust when attaching.
@@DaBobsNScaleMancave Not all adjustable feet have plastic parts. I found some that were completely metal.
@@martinbatistelli In the time I had to find some, only Home Depot carried them in plastic. The way I did it still worked out overall.
@@DaBobsNScaleMancave There are a couple of good options to make your own leveling feet. Drilling a hole in the end and using a lag bolt is quick and easy. Drilling a hole and using a T nut with leveling feet or regular bolts with a jam nut to set the height. Either way won't break the bank, it just needs a little planning ahead to obtain the materials.
Just an FYI: The water from most dehumidifiers, like the one you showed, is not distilled water. Distilling water is a purifying process where the water is brought to a boiling point then condensed (cooled) back to water in a different container. This process purifies the water to a degree by leaving behind the impurities in the water that does not turn to vapor with the water. Therefor leaving the impurities in the original container.
Most dehumidifiers work similar to an air conditioner and the water collected is from condensation of the water in the air without boiling. Similar to the the water on the outside of a cold glass of ice tea or cold beer on a hot summer day. The condensation is cause by the difference in temperature between the inside and outside of the container. The water condenses on the warmer side without boiling. So it would still contain at least most of the impurities.
And alternative to the 4" x 4" legs would be an L-girder, made from two 1 x 3s or 1 x 4s, glued and screwed into an L-shape. Very strong, but lighter (and costs less).
I noticed you do not use gussets to stabilize benchwork. Good video. I do not drill for my feeders. I have installed little eye hooks and hang inexpensive shower curtain rings that I can open to slide an additional wire in or to add a feeder.
Thanks for the info!
I do the exact same thing!! I think it's easier to access the wiring if needed.
Love Looking Into Bench Working.👍
Me too!
any Experience with Foam bench work? I have seen a layout that essentially was 2x4 foot sections of foam board glued together and then the sides where routered out and plywood strips glued in. the entire section was then wrapped in oak 1/4 plywood glued and stappled to the Plywood strips. these modulars were then placed on metal self arms that were screwed into the studs in the wall.
Just started building my layout. Thanks for the tips. Looking forward to seeing more.
Welcome aboard!
This was very informative and well-explained. Looking forward to upcoming episodes.
Awesome, thank you!
Very well done. Looking forward to future ones.
Thanks Michael.
More to come!
Well done tutorial! Looking forward to the rest of the series!
More to come!
Thanks for the great info James. I'm just beginning to build my benchwork and am looking for as much info as possible. I've just ordered the book on benchwork you showed and looking forward to your next video. Thanks
Glad to help
Good stuff covered.
Much appreciated
You should instruct to predrill the 1x4 before putting in the screws because it will split
james is such a good father
Just rip some plywood to the size you need for your framing .. You can build a lot of modules from one 4x8 sheet
Wished I had done that.
The big problem I've run into is there is no straight lumber available anywhere around here. It warps and twists to no end.
Same issue. Unless you want to spend a fortune on cabinet grade. What I did was I built the modules and leveled best I could, them I leveled the foam using shims between the plywood and foam.
What video # did you build the drop down bridge
my daddyo!!!!
i prefer a torsion box build, but your method is not bad at all
At about 5:50 you talk about HO being finicky. I'm in N, much more finicky.
Hello friend..
Hello 😊
You mean. 4"x4" post not 4 ftx 4ft as you stated😅
Holy crap! 4x4’s? Are you trying to hold up actual RR equipment! Y’all don’t require 1/2” thick plywood for a top. How about Masonite or even thinner material n pile styrofoam on top…that’s all y’all need! Really.