[Boatanchors] Need Design Ideas for Test Bench Construction

[shoppa_boatanchors at trailing-edge.com]

Jim Hill <hro5-2 at cox.net> wrote:
> At 06:41 AM 1/1/2006, you wrote:
> >Hi To Everyone and Happy New Year!
> >
> >I need ideas on a good design for a test bench for
> >diagnosing, servicing and repairing several Boat
> >Anchors.
>
> Many have mentioned "tempered masonite" .  I'm assuming it is similar to 
> the hard material used on clip boards that could be used as a front panel 
> on simple radio projects.  If so, where do you find it?

I've seen it in art/craft stores in smaller-than-4'x8' sizes. One side
is hard and a little glossy, and the back is often rougher, and what
I see is rarely thicker than 1/8" or 3/16". I think it's used sort of
like a backing board or maybe they paint directly on it.

> The local home 
> improvement center has a softer material. Does it come in 4'x8' sheets, or 
> smaller sizes?

It seems to me that particle-board-with-a-Formica-type-surface is what's
in the big box stores around here. They have 4x8 sheets as well as
smaller standard shelf sizes. People who are really into make-it-yourself
speaker enclosures can go on and on about all the different grades of
particle board, I myself usually get bored and stop listening :-).

The best surface I ever used in a shop is 1" or thicker butcher block.
If you ever have to hammer/pound something it's a much better surface
than particle board. I hardly ever hammer on my radios, although it has
happened...

Tim.