New benchtop

[Melinapex]

I made my workbench years ago from 2x and plywood. Limited space has me using the bench for storage as well. So it has always been a little flexy and I have wanted to replace the top with something more substantial. Almost a year ago Stuart (NC furniture school) traded me a pile of Jatoba for my akeda dovetail jig.
I finally got some time to work on this and had no idea how much work this was going to be! I am sore all over - lotsa planing - but it is starting to look like what I wanted.

Here's what I started with

I don't know how much it weighed but it was heavy!

Here's how far I got thru today

I will put a well at the back of the bench and I got the little veritas inset vise to install at this end. Put my old vise back on and back to work.

 

[Bear Republic]

Looks great and solid. Should be a complete difference working on it.

 

[marinosr]

Nice! Never seen a jatoba workbench. You'll be so much happier with how your bench behaves with the thick top. Keep on truckin' with that flattening! I did the same to mine and it sure did wear me out.

 

[red]

Very nice.

Red

 

[Bill Clemmons]

Very nice, sturdy top. Are the pieces just glued together, or is there a mechanical fastener (e.g. threaded rod) running through it?

 

[Melinapex]

Very nice, sturdy top. Are the pieces just glued together, or is there a mechanical fastener (e.g. threaded rod) running through it?

All glued together. Only metal is a lag bolt on each end coming up into it thru the top 2x to keep it in place.... not that it could move much, I would guess it weighs at least 300 lbs ....

 

[drw]

Mark, your bench is looking great! I have never worked with Jatoba, how is it to plane? Also, how long is it? Make sure to post a pic of the finished product.

 

[Phil S]

That is a great bench - congrats

 

[Melinapex]

Mark, your bench is looking great! I have never worked with Jatoba, how is it to plane? Also, how long is it? Make sure to post a pic of the finished product.

Thanks Donn, it is 8' long and almost 2' wide and is a bit over 2 1/2" thick. The stuff is hard as a rock and has given me lots of sharpening practice! It is pretty much flat now but there are still a few low spots and areas where the scrub plane did its thing. But I am thinking I will go with it for now and see how it works before spending a lot more time making it pretty. Odds are I will put a few more dents in it anyway so might as well get back to making stuff....

 

[Jeff]

Nice new bench. Just the top alone should weigh about 190 lb (8' x 2' x 2.5" t) with Jatoba weighing about 57 lb/cu ft. It's definitely hard wood with a Janka hardness of 2,690 compared to white oak at 1,350.

I doubt that you'll put a few more dents in that wood!