Show Me Your Workbenches & Give Me Ideas - Page 3

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!

Bas · 11-22-2008, 06:09 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.

Patience stinks, but I suggest you wait until Tuesday. The construction crews purchase the SYP throughout the week, leaving the twisted, cracked and warped boards for the weekend warrior. Home Depot then removes the bad boards and restocks Monday morning. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are your best bet for straight, resin-rich boards.

flatheadfisher · 11-22-2008, 06:13 PM

So that is why it was all so terrible!

I had them bring another stack down and found some good stuff.

Tarhead · 11-22-2008, 09:45 PM

Michael,
Not sure if you're set on your design but I''ll throw this your direction just in case you need one more option

. I mentioned this on another bench thread but just in case you didn't see it is worth a look. The builder is a guy named Jameel and he has built a nice bench in the German/French style with detailed photos and descriptions. He used a skateboard wheel to steady the leg vise which is different and a cool idea. The photography is very good. He does some awesome work on stringed instruments too!
http://oudluthier.blogspot.com/2008/...h-3-finis.html

Documentation starts on his May 27th blog entry here:
http://oudluthier.blogspot.com/2008_05_01_archive.html

Good luck with your projects! Sounds like you've got a plate full

Matt Schnurbusch · 11-23-2008, 09:00 AM

Originally Posted by Sully

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.

J

Sully,

I really like the pipe clamp vise that you have there. Any pros/cons that you learned in use? How difficult is it to adjust the clamps and get them to the same length? How usable is it compared to a standard vise?
Matt

Sully · 11-23-2008, 10:06 AM

Originally Posted by Matt Schnurbusch

Sully,
I really like the pipe clamp vise that you have there. Any pros/cons that you learned in use? How difficult is it to adjust the clamps and get them to the same length? How usable is it compared to a standard vise?
Matt

Matt,

I've found that they more or less adjust themselves to the same length. It's very easy to adjust the opening.

I've never owned a standard vice so I'm not sure how it compares. Overall, I'm happy with how it works. On my next one, I would probably add a face vice of a similar design.

The only con is the relatively short travel length of the screws. I suppose one could replace them with longer acme screws, but I've never really had the need.

Jay

flatheadfisher · 11-23-2008, 11:18 AM

I was looking around, trying to figure out what I could get done on my top until the vises get here and I found a bench for sale. Now, I am not interested in buying a bench. But, this is a beauty and I am surprised he is asking $5,500 for it. If it were a piece of bedroom furniture this well made, wouldn't it cost more that? Maybe not, I don't know much about high-end furniture. Here is the link http://www.swigerwoodworks.com/my_workbench.htm

ErnieM · 11-23-2008, 02:43 PM

Bas

The construction crews purchase the SYP throughout the week, leaving the twisted, cracked and warped boards for the weekend warrior. Home Depot then removes the bad boards and restocks Monday morning.

I think they're "removing" the bad boards to my Home Depot.

Ernie

Andy Casiello · 11-24-2008, 11:06 PM

I just put this bench together this month. It's not done - no dog holes or vise yet. I needed to move on to some other stuff so this is where it is at right now. Stripped down version of the Schwarz "Roubo" bench...

Gofor · 11-24-2008, 11:19 PM

Originally Posted by enm

Bas

I think they're "removing" the bad boards to my Home Depot.

Ernie

Not really. You should see some of the stuff they are building $300k houses with around here!

Go

flatheadfisher · 11-24-2008, 11:28 PM

Originally Posted by Andy Casiello

I just put this bench together this month. It's not done - no dog holes or vise yet. I needed to move on to some other stuff so this is where it is at right now. Stripped down version of the Schwarz "Roubo" bench...

That looks nice. It is similar to what I am going to wind up with. I like your top better than what I am doing. I also like the way you joined the legs at the bottom. I did mine on the outside of the legs so I can store pieces of wood under there without it getting all over the place. I am glad to know I am not the only one who is using timbers for legs!