: . . . What's even better, is that I discussed it with the wife, and she
: thinks it's a good idea. Probably helped that I mentioned I'd be
: able to reallocate a couple of shelves to her crafting station.
: It's amazing how she perked up with that little tidbit...

Well, here is another idea which I use. The frames are made of 8' long 2x4s and assembled like a wall in a house, with the short spacers put on 16" centers, and the epacers at the ends flush with the ends of the 8 footers. I use a top of 7/18 OSB because it is cheap and I have no concerns about cutting into it. When it gets too beat up I can flip it over. When both sides are bad it gets trashed. It is held on with a minimum number of fasteners, usually 4 drywall screws.

I cut parts for 2 frames at one time. After I made the first frame I put legs on it, then used it without a top as a work surface for assembling the 2nd frame. When I had two frames it was an easy matter to set them side by side and rest the 4x8 sheet of OSB on top. I clamped my straightedge to the OSG and cut it to size, running the saw between the two benches. From beginning to end of the cut the panel was well supported by the benches. it just took a minute or two to square the freshly cut top panels over the frames and drive in some drywall screws to hold them in place.

After I had the two tables, I set them end to end, clamped them together, and drilled holes so I could later bolt them together and use the combination as a 16' strongback, or a long, narrow, assembly table for S&G boats. when the benches are side by side they form a 4x8 worksurface. Space them 6 inches apart and you have a great setup for ripping plywood panels. Cut in the gap between the tables; the cutoff piece is supported by one table, and the rest of the panel is supported by the other table.

If you make the legs longer you can use these as long infeed and/or outfeed tables for a tablesaw.

The folding legs are shown on the next posting.

If the top isn't too beat up these things are nice for crafts, and you can even put out a buffet on it. Just cover it with a big table cloth and no one will see the legs.

Just some thoughts and ideas.

PGJ