Replies

1. 
   Crunk | Nov 03, 2004 05:43pm | #1

   I haven't bought one of their tops but I've worked at more than one Sjoberg bench and the quality was superb.

   I would ask the supplier if the top if fingerjointed, I doubt it is, before you purchase.

   I would recommend a top with continuous individual laminations, not short pieces that have been fingerjointed end-to-end.

2. 
   jasonb | Nov 03, 2004 07:05pm | #2

   I've had one of their benches for about 3years, it's this one

   http://www.rutlands.co.uk/cgi-bin/psProdDet.cgi/SJ1422||@cSjoberg%20Wooden%20Benches@b|0|user|1,0,0,1|13|

   Very pleased with it, the laminations are full length, 1 1/2" thick in the center but 3" around the perimeter.

   Jason

3. 
   billballeza | Nov 04, 2004 12:20am | #3

   I purchased that very workbench from woodcraft about two years ago.

   It's a great value and, as Sgian Dubh says, it's better to spend your time making the things you need a bench for, than making the bench itself.

   I bought a plastic tub (like they sell for wrapping paper and stuff) at Costco.. put it on the shelf.. and filled it with off cuts to add weight and stability to the bench.

   One day I plan to buy the largest, heaviest sjoberg bench on the market.. but until then.. this one is fine.

1. 
   billsams | Nov 04, 2004 02:37am | #4

   I bought their largest bench in spring of 2003. Though it is heavy and stable the top is a peice of crap. Sjoberg and woodcraft make it sound as if it is solid beech top. IT IS NOT!!!! It consists of 3/4" x 3" boards edge glued over more edge glued PINE!. If you don't keep the humidity at a constant level the top will expand and lift up in the center in summer. So you think, ok I'll plane it flat, then when the humidity drops you now have a concave surface.

   The edge vise does not fit evenly against the edge of the top as the top is bowed along its length as well and I haven't taken things apart to replane.

   You are better off making your own bench then to buy their largest one.

   I was to say the least dissappointed.

   Bill

2. 
   SgianDubh | Nov 04, 2004 03:53am | #5

   Hi Bill. You said I said, "it's better to spend your time making the things you need a bench for."  

   I do tend to hold that opinion, but the rider is that it's true for myself and for certain other woodworkers-- the type that have to, or just want to get on with making furniture rather than spending time making a bench, and it sounds as if you fall into the latter category.

   For others, there is great pride in making their own bench customised to their needs or wants and it can become a statement of one sort or another.

   In my case I've always preferred to buy a good bench with dogs and the like rather than make an intricate or complicated bench. I own an Ulmia bench with an open framework underneath for instance as my main bench.

   I can make a lot of furniture and therefore money on a ready made bench, and that's money I wouldn't make if I took time out to make a complex bench.

   On the other hand, I've quickly made quite a few workshop table type things, and the relatively simple English pattern workbenches which don't take too much time to knock out, ha, ha. Slainte.RJFurniture

1. 
   billballeza | Nov 04, 2004 05:29am | #7

   Richard.. greetings! I remember that marvelous bench you had when you graced these precincts with your masterly skills and jaundiced eye.

   Surely you didn't haul that behemoth over choppy seas?

   The weather here has finally cooled.. the time of year you once favored (favoured) for furniture making.

   My eldest daughter has gotten herself engaged and has asked me to make her a dining room table. I'm in the process of gathering some walnut for that purpose.

   Cheers!

   Bill

1. 
   SgianDubh | Nov 04, 2004 11:32pm | #9

   Bill, I certainly did haul that behemoth over the Atlantic and back to Blighty. I guess that, assembled, it weighs about 250 lbs, and all it is is a top and an open framework underneath-- I'm not a fan of storage under my bench.

   Still, it's a good bench, I paid a lot for it, and it's in my garage where I use it for knocking out things whenever I get the urge-- I'm an amateur dilletante weekend furniture maker now, so I can take a leisurely approach to customer orders.

   I also hauled across my tool cabinets which sat behind the bench in my Houston set up, and all the tools in them including the US configured power tools. With a transormer those power tools all work just fine.

   I did like the Houston winters, mid- November to about March at the latest. That was the only season I liked. The rest of the year was just pure misery for me.

   Hope your daughters wedding goes well and she appreciates the table-- Mason's Mill should be able to supply the walnut, or maybe Hardwood Lumber at a higher price, and that your work is keeping you busy-- well, there is always news of some sort, ha, ha.

   Did the TV station manage to find buyers for those machines you said they were selling in a thread you started a week or two back? Slainte.RJFurniture

1. 
   billballeza | Nov 05, 2004 12:52am | #11

   Richard, the station decided to donate the machines to an outfit that works on homes owned by the elderly on fixed income.

   Thanks for the tip on Mason's Mill, as I've been using Hardwood Lumber exclusively.

   I ran across an ad for an Ulmia a bench in the Garrett Wade catalogue just last evening. It said the original outfit that turned them out.. "had to close".. but that someone else had reopened the shop and retained the original craftsmen.

   Their version is 325 lbs and goes for $1699. Been drooling ever since I saw it.

   I'll be out in the garage Saturday milling lumber.. and I'm looking forward to it already.

   Edited 11/5/2004 5:17 pm ET by bill

2. 
   Doobby | Nov 04, 2004 11:46pm | #10

   No matter how great a bench seems to be, I can't bring myself to spend $2K to buy one.  I chose to buy the bench plans from Woodcraft and build my own.  As I planned the project, the Woodcraft plan turned out to be a good guide. As I looked deeper into other benches and bench design, I found features that I wanted to build into my bench.

   I realize that if I were a full time craftsman money would be lost while I was making a bench.  I'm not a full time craftsman. Even if I was full time, I think that I would have to make my own.  Every time that someone visits my shop, they comment on my bench. It is a statement of the pride that I put into my work.

1. 
   billballeza | Nov 05, 2004 12:57am | #12

   Sounds like a great bench.. can you post some pictures?

4. 
   rod | Nov 04, 2004 05:20am | #6

   Bones,

      I have had one of the sjoberg benches for about 5 years and used it all the time.  On my bench the front vise  covers part of the left end breadboard.  When the top expanded in the summer the left end of the vise was not griping boards, and in the winter when the top contracted the end breadboard was skewing the vise.  I found it very annoying one winter so I trimmed the breadboard then the effectiveness of the vise was shortened in the spring, summer and fall as the top was expanded.  I finally decided to make a new top, but then decided to make a whole bench.  It took me a long time.  Life is full of compromises.

   Rod

5. 
   MTwood | Nov 04, 2004 02:49pm | #8

   I recently purchased the bench you are considering, and am very disappointed with the quality. The top has snipe, the vise support rods are weak tubing and were rusty. Woodcraft couldn't get replacements and finally gave me the ones from thier shop vise. All of the tennons on the bench work kit had to be extensively adjusted to make them fit.  Not at all the fine Swedish quality you are being led to expect. Was a good excuse to buy a new LN shoulder plane though.  If you buy one make sure you open and inspect all of the components before you leave.

6. 
   bradkansas | Nov 05, 2004 10:27pm | #13

   Bones, Several years ago I struggled with the idea of buying a stylish, state of the art top such as the one you are considering. Finally, tiring of vascillating, I simply built a strongly supported 2 x 4 (Half-lapped and carriage bolted), 3/4" birch plywood topped, work table (36" x 72"). It seemed to me if such tables have served shop classes so well for many years, it oughta work for me as well. It does in spades. Rock solid and big enough for anything I make (mission tables mostly). I can put tools to the side and out of the way. I even usually have a bench top 6" jointer on one end. If I need a bench dog in a particular place, I just drill a hole and pound in a peg. I can dink it, spill finish, leave a wet beer bottle on it, etc. Occassionally, I belt sand it. If you build one, don't varnish the top. I did and stuff slid all over the place and I had to sand off the varnish. It's not at all yuppyish but it sure works. Brad