Workbench Build (Roubo/21st Century Mix) - UPDATE - Page 4

Workbench Build (Roubo/21st Century Mix) - UPDATE · 03-09-2009, 08:14 PM

Well, I still haven't decided on a design ... but I'm leaning to a Roubo-style bench, probably with more modern spins though ... maybe the 21st Century Workbench design Popular Woodworking put out. Not sure yet ...

However, one thing I do know is I want the top 6' - 7' long ... so this weekend I make the first two baby steps to prepping the lumber for the top. First I chopped them to just over 7' long, then I jointed one side in preparation for ripping on the bandsaw (that comes next).

The wood is 10/4 maple that I picked up from The Woodworking Source (thesource) in Mooresville. Some of it is a little ambrosia ... which should make for a pretty top where it shows thru. A few of the pieces are VERY heavy as they are 10/4 (2.5" thick) and 10" wide and 8-9' long.

I can tell this will be another SLOW moving project for me ... but where I can steal time, trust me I will! And I'll keep you all posted on the progress!

Alan in Little Washington · 05-16-2009, 09:46 PM

Wow! That thing is massive! My top is about 2-3/4 x 30 x 72 and it weighs a ton so I can imagine what your tank weighs. That thing is not going anywhere!!

MikeL · 05-16-2009, 09:50 PM

That is coming along very nicely Jeremy! Thanks for sharing the progess pics.

WoodWrangler · 05-16-2009, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by Travis Porter

How did you drill the holes? Drill press, router, hand held drill with stand? What type of bit did you use? My bench is finished, but I want to put some holes in it for some round dogs and a hold fast (Roy would be proud), but I have been undecided on what would be the best way to do the holes.

I did it on the drill press with a "Colt" bit from WC. Worked like a champ at 840 speed.

http://www.woodcraft.com/product.asp...&FamilyID=5566

cpowell · 05-16-2009, 10:10 PM

Man, that's really coming along now. Very stout looking.

Chuck

WoodWrangler · 05-17-2009, 04:35 PM

Alright, a little more progress! Got the Twin Screw installed. It was pretty straight forward, but I would make a few suggestions to Vertias (when they ask

).

I think it looks GOOD! Can't wait to use it!

And on the downside ... during the install one of the provided bolts snapped. Crappy quality bolts!

Alan in Little Washington · 05-17-2009, 05:18 PM

Nice- looks like you went with about an 1/8" chamfer?

Please tell me about the chamfers on the dog holes?

How about some more details on the LV twin screw installation- any suggestions, any thing you would do differently? I've got one waiting for me to get my butt in gear.

I am toying with a couple ideas - mounting the sprockets and chain on the opposite ends of the the lead screw and also add roller bearings to the jaw and free ends of the guides so the jaws will in and out easier.

Hey, thanks again for the PE on the air cleaner. I haven't hung it yet since I am going to take the control circuit out to see if my brother (a EE) can fix it first.

WoodWrangler · 05-17-2009, 05:26 PM

Originally Posted by Alan in Little Washington

Nice- looks like you went with about an 1/8" chamfer?

Dang, good eyes! That's right!

Originally Posted by Alan in Little Washington

How about some more details on the LV twin screw installation- any suggestions, any thing you would do differently?

The installation was pretty straight forward. I read the manual about three times "just in case", but that really wasn't needed. I had planned to document this process, but my new camera didn't arrive in time (though I ordered it two weeks ago) and decided to just skip all of that.

Feedback & Tips:

Add 1/16" inch to the overall height of the face so that you have a little more to plane off as you bring it even with the top.
Don't use an impact driver with the "soft" bolts Vertias provides.
Don't use the screws Veritas provides to install the cover. They were cheap too so I went with better quality Kreg stainless screws.
Pre-drill every hole (which I did)
The manual could use a few more photos to better explain things, but for the mostpart it was decent.
Center the cover (not top align, not bottom align ... dead center). Mine is rubbing a little and will have to wear in over time.

Shamrock · 05-17-2009, 05:30 PM

Looks sweet man-looks like that patternmakers vise was a fun job to install-can't wait to see it all done. All it needs now is a few fresh dings and a couple of drops of dried glue. Good work

.

Later

Alan in Little Washington · 05-17-2009, 06:49 PM

Have you decided what finish you will put on it? BLO & wax?

cpowell · 05-17-2009, 07:14 PM

Originally Posted by WoodWrangler

Dang, good eyes! That's right!

The installation was pretty straight forward. I read the manual about three times "just in case", but that really wasn't needed. I had planned to document this process, but my new camera didn't arrive in time (though I ordered it two weeks ago) and decided to just skip all of that.

Feedback & Tips:

Add 1/16" inch to the overall height of the face so that you have a little more to plane off as you bring it even with the top.

Don't use an impact driver with the "soft" bolts Vertias provides.

Don't use the screws Veritas provides to install the cover. They were cheap too so I went with better quality Kreg stainless screws.

Pre-drill every hole (which I did)

The manual could use a few more photos to better explain things, but for the mostpart it was decent.

Center the cover (not top align, not bottom align ... dead center). Mine is rubbing a little and will have to wear in over time.

just to add... wax on the screw threads (paste, paraffin, whatever) makes it much easier to drive them.

Bench looks great.

What kinda finish will you use?

Chuck

PeteQuad · 05-17-2009, 07:54 PM

This is a really nice bench Jeremy! I like the style a lot. One day I will do something similar to it I think.

WoodWrangler · 05-17-2009, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by Alan in Little Washington

Have you decided what finish you will put on it? BLO & wax?

To answer the finish question .... there is no answer yet. From everything I've read there are several good finishes, from nothing to plain old BLO, to just wax, and even poly (yikes!)

I am leaning towards the BLO/Wax "mixture" based on these instructions found on the 'net ...

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Shave a hen's-egg-size chunk of beeswax (about 2-ounces) into thin strips using a knife or food grater. Put the beeswax shavings into a pint (16-ounces) of pure gum turpentine and cover until the wax is dissolved into a butter-like blend. Next, add an equal volume of BLO and stir until the mixture is combined into a thick liquid. Brush or wipe the blend over your workbench and allow the "finish" to be absorbed into the wood for an hour or two before you squeegee off the excess. (Put the excess in a tightly sealed container—it is still good and can be used to renew the finish in the future.) Allow the finish to "cure" for a few days and then buff to a soft shine. The original version of this very old recipe called for raw linseed oil.
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dkeller_nc · 05-18-2009, 07:44 PM

"How did you drill the holes? Drill press, router, hand held drill with stand? What type of bit did you use? My bench is finished, but I want to put some holes in it for some round dogs and a hold fast (Roy would be proud), but I have been undecided on what would be the best way to do the holes."

Travis - If you've not already drilled your holes, there's a way to do this accurately without having to buy one of those "mini dill press" rigs for your electric drill - it will also work if you choose to use a brace and bit.

Start with a block of hard wood about 5" wide and about 10" long and 2" thick - square this carefully with whatever means you have at your disposal. Mark two centers lengthwise on the block at the spacing you intend for the holes in the benchtop - one will be drilled through, one will be stopped. Drill the the through hole with the bit you intend to use on the top, and drill the second one about 1/2 way through the block.

Mount a short piece of dowel into the stopped hole, preferably so that it can be removed.

Mark a line down your bench for the line of dog holes - you don't need to measure points along it for the holes (that's what the wood block does), you just need a center point for your first one.

Center the jig over your first hole, and drill it through the bench. Then move the block so that the dowel drops into the first hole and the centerline of the jig is lined up with your reference centerline for the holes, and drill the second one. Repeat until you've got all of the holes that you want.

The jig does two things - it steps off your distance perfectly without having to guess whether the center mark for the next hole is centered in the hole in the block, and it also guides your drill bit so that all of the holes are at 90 degrees to the benchtop (or canted 2 degrees towards the vice, as the case may be). You also don't have to measure, which I consider a big plus (I hat measuring!).

One final note on this - if you're going to use commercial metal bench dogs like the Lee Valley ones, and holdfasts, do yourself an enormous favor and drill your bench with 7/8" holes. The Lee Valley dogs will be tight in 3/4" holes, and I didn't find this out until I'd already drilled my top. Reaming out 50 dog holes with a rasp was a major pain.

dkeller_nc · 05-18-2009, 07:51 PM

Jeremy - If you do much hand tool work, I'd strongly recommend against putting BLO and wax on a workbench top. For that matter, I'd recommend against any finish even if you don't own a single hand tool. I made the mistake of doing this a few years ago because I'd just finished the bench and it was too purdy not to try to protect it. That was a bad mistake - it was a slip 'n slide for 5 months until I got sick of it and cut off 1/4" off of the top to remove the finish.

Glue's easy to wipe up with a wet paper towel, or lightly scrape off if it hardens overnight - way too easy to put up with a slick bench surface.

Alan in Little Washington · 05-18-2009, 07:57 PM

Originally Posted by dkeller_nc

One final note on this - if you're going to use commercial metal bench dogs like the Lee Valley ones, and holdfasts, do yourself an enormous favor and drill your bench with 7/8" holes. The Lee Valley dogs will be tight in 3/4" holes, and I didn't find this out until I'd already drilled my top. Reaming out 50 dog holes with a rasp was a major pain.

Wow, that is good to know. Thanks! Don't you get too much slop with 7/8"holes though? I have the 3/4" LV dogs and pups and Grammercy holdfast which are also 3/4" I was thinking maybe 13/16" or an even tighter 25/32" holes might be better. Comment? In any case I will now do some test holes first.