Hi Cedar,

Early tables were nothing more than a planked table top sitting on top of trestles. Only one side of the table top was planed and it was on this side that the business of the day was conducted. In the early evening the table top was flipped over to expose the rough underside and it was upon this surface that people ate. This business / domestic practice gave rise to the saying to "turn the tables" on somone.

The reason that I mention this is that you probably don't need a workbench to make a table but instead could simply use trestles to support the planks being planed and joined to make the table top. Once made you can make any supporting legs, etc. on the rough underside of the table top.

Get yourself a roll of rubber gripper matt - this is excellent aid to stop items being planed from moving (skidding) along the supporting surface which ideally should also be left semi rough.

Regards

Ken Hume