Show Me Your Workbenches & Give Me Ideas - Page 2

Show Me Your Workbenches & Give Me Ideas · 11-20-2008, 02:49 PM

I realized early into my first project that my current workbench is not well suited for woodworking. It is "L" shaped and fitted into a corner, attached to the walls. There are shelves above it. The shelves limit my ability to work with tall pieces and I can't walk around it. It worked great for messing with fishing and hunting gear but not for woodworking. I am selling out all my fishing & hunting gear and redesigning my shop to make it more friendly to woodworking. I am going to tear out the shelves along one long wall to make room for a work bench. I want to be able to walk around the bench to make hand planing large panels easier. I have spent hours looking at bench plans and reading about them. I think I am suffering from information overload - the more I read the more confused I get about what I really want. Here is what I know:

1. I want to be able to walk around the bench.
2. I want to use it for hand planing and clamping.
3. I will be making furniture, cabinets, and some small items like boxes.
4. I would like to be able to slide it against the wall if I want more room for other projects in the shop.
5. I want good vises that give me lots of options.
6. I have plenty of room for a long & wide bench.
7. It would be nice to sit at it on a stool but I can use my other bench for that.
8. It would be nice to use it as an outfeed table for my table saw. My wife would appreciate that since she currently serves in that roll.
9. I want to be able to use holdfasts but I would also like some storage underneath for planes and hand tools. I could put these items in a cabinet on the wall it will be near.
10. I would rather spend more money on good vises (for the bench) instead of on nice wood to make the bench out of.
11. I have no experience with good vises for woodworking much less how to pick the out and what to consider when designing the bench as far as their installation goes.
12. I don't want to spend weeks on a bench that used lots of fancy joinery if there are quicker ways to do it that work just as well. I would rather put that time into remodeling my kitchen or finishing up the bedroom furniture.
13. I want it to be very solid. I don't care if it never leaves the shop.
14. I think I prefer an edge-grain top instead of plywood or MDF but I am not completely sure.
15. I am thinking construction lumber might be a good option but I don't mind using something else if the cost isn't too bad.

You all have lots more experience with this than I do. What can you tell me that will help me? How about posting some pictures of your benches and tell me what you like about them and what you would do different?

Thanks!

flatheadfisher · 11-21-2008, 07:05 PM

ankles!

I went back and read through Chuck's post again & I think it is M&T.

11-21-2008, 07:08 PM

Here's mine...

Gofor · 11-21-2008, 07:41 PM

Here is mine:

Lots of more pics of the construction in the album "Wood Bench". White Oak top and construction pine base. 23" w x 60" long. One of these days I will add drawers in the base for planes and chisels, etc. It is rock solid for hand planing and has seen a lot of it.

You are very wise to get the vises first and designing the bench around them (DAMHIKT!!)

I personally think edge grain rather than end grain would be better and easier to accomplish. I have never wished mine was wider, but I definitely wish I had built it at least 2' longer. If you go edge grain, try to put all the boards running the same direction. Makes it a lot easier flattening the top with a plane and avoiding tear-out.

Also, look at Monty's album. He detailed his very well and it is a very nice bench.

Hope this helps

Go

striker · 11-21-2008, 07:54 PM

I believe a number of folks have built benches similar to mine. It was a popular plan from FWW "workshops" several years ago.

DaveO · 11-21-2008, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by Gofor

Also, look at Monty's album. He detailed his very well and it is a very nice bench.

Hope this helps

Go

http://www.ncwoodworker.net/forums/f...ighlight=Bench

And it's already been moved to our new "How To" forum

Dave

cpowell · 11-21-2008, 08:32 PM

Originally Posted by flatheadfisher

ankles!

I went back and read through Chuck's post again & I think it is M&T.

Draw-bored M&T joints where the legs join the "feet" and the trestle tops.

I used bed bolts where the rails join the leg assemblies so that the bench could be broken down if I move.

Monty's post is a great read and his bench is awesome - just look at the workmanship! I learned a lot reading his post before starting my own project.

Take your time on the vise fitting. It took me longer to design around the vises than any other area of construction.

Gluing up and flattening the top is also pretty laborious.

Chuck

PeteQuad · 11-21-2008, 10:09 PM

I was going to suggest this but looks like I'm too late

.
http://www.blumtool.com/pages/benchhorse.html

I have two of these and they are awesome.

flatheadfisher · 11-21-2008, 10:59 PM

Gees, I spent the last hour or so reading the thread on Monty's workbench. I am worn out from reading and thinking through it. I can't imagine actually doing something like that! Absolutely amazing work. Thanks for the recommendation and the link.

striker · 11-22-2008, 01:13 AM

I was mistaken in my earlier post. Monty's, mine and I'm sure a host of others benchs are from Lon schleining's plan in the 2003/4 winter edition of tools & shops. The plan is available online from Taunton Press.

CarvedTones · 11-22-2008, 07:32 AM

Originally Posted by PeteQuad

I was going to suggest this but looks like I'm too late .
http://www.blumtool.com/pages/benchhorse.html

I have two of these and they are awesome.

Looks like a work mate was snuggled up against a bench and they had a litle unprotected joinery.

How thick is the steel in the legs?

I joked about the work mate, but even my knock off one is rock solid; it's just so light that I have to put a foot up on a cross piece to keep it from tipping if I plane something clamped in it. But I thought a lot of that stiffness comse from being small so the (square) steel tubing has no long spans.

I lke the use of pipe clamps. I may have to steal a little from that design.

Thanks for posting that!

Sully · 11-22-2008, 09:23 AM

Here's my bench with a "4 foot twin-screw vise". She ain't purty, but she was cheap to make, is very sturdy, and serves my purpose.

I've since added a 1.5" lip all the way around 3 sides for using quick grips on this bench and included a groove in the lip for mounting a movable tool tray.

J

flatheadfisher · 11-22-2008, 01:52 PM

I really tend to obsess about some things and this workbench is one of those things. I keep going back and forth like a pendulum on many issues. Yesterday morning, I ordered the hard maple and was determined to make the bench out of the maple. I spent hours yesterday pouring through plans and looking at designs. When I got to Wall's, they had the maple ready for me - it was the first thing I saw when I walked in the door. I took one look at that beautiful wood and almost immediately knew that it wasn't all going into this workbench. I got the wood loaded and just walked around the place for 30 minutes or so, enjoying all of the different wood - lifting it, rubbing it, smelling it - I hope they didn't have a hidden camera

! They have some beautiful stuff. I enjoyed the temporary distraction from my bench dilemma.

I paid for the wood and got to meet Steve. He seems like a stand-up guy and, true to his word, he didn't charge me for milling the lumber since I had the bad plywood. They picked out some beautiful boards for me. I will post pictures. later.

It was a nice drive, I chuckled every time I saw a frozen orange hat come out of the woods, glad that I have that out of my system. As I drove, I tried to figure out why I was having such a hard time making decisions about this bench. I think my problem is philosophical more than anything. I really like all of the super-nice benches I have looked at that show off excellent craftsmanship. These benches, however, are probably made by people who have made dozens or even hundreds of fine pieces over their years and they are a tribute to their abilities. Perhaps, they have made all of the things they want or need to make for their house, family, and friends and the bench is something they made to give them a chance to make something as a personal reward for themselves that perfectly suits their needs and their taste. I, on the other hand, have many projects that I want to work on for my house and family. Some of these I would like to accomplish by Christmas this year

. Also, I am just getting started in this hobby and I have much to learn. I am certainly not ready to create something that exhibits fine joinery and craftsmanship - these are skills I don't have yet; skills that I should probably learn on a smaller scale over time. It just doesn't make good sense to me to take the time and spend the money to build the bench of my dreams at this point. I have too much to learn and too many other things I want to spend the time and money on. All I really need right now is a better bench that I can use to help me work on the projects I have planned.

So, I am going to build something that works and not worry about making it pretty! All I need is something that is rock-solid with lots of options for holding pieces steady. On my way home, I stopped at a BORG and bought some "cheap" wood that I can use to accomplish this task. Hopefully, I can knock it out quickly and use that beautiful maple to start my kitchen project over my holiday break.

Sorry for the long post - it helps me to write out my thoughts. I am off to get the bench started. I will post some pics later on. Thank you for all your ideas - they will all come in handy.

CarvedTones · 11-22-2008, 03:04 PM

I hope you bought SYP at the borg and not the "regular" white construction lumber (generally spruce and fir). The regular stuff dents easy and bolts holes will enlarge over time, joiery won't stay tight, etc, under stress. That's the main reason I and others caution against construction grade. It isn't anything elitist at all, it is practicality.

flatheadfisher · 11-22-2008, 04:26 PM

I am heading back to the borg now. I will go through the SYP again. They didn't have much to choose from. But, now that I have a better idea of what I am doing, I think I can find what I need. You all are going to crack up when you see what I am using for the legs...

CarvedTones · 11-22-2008, 06:05 PM

Originally Posted by flatheadfisher

I am heading back to the borg now. I will go through the SYP again. They didn't have much to choose from. But, now that I have a better idea of what I am doing, I think I can find what I need. You all are going to crack up when you see what I am using for the legs...

I doubt it; my sturdiest bench has treated pine 4x4 legs. I am giving advice along the lines of what I wish I had done better. But those legs are not one of those things