Replies

1. 
   peters | Jan 30, 2004 05:46am | #1

   We have two of Diefenbach's large benches at the museum where I work. They are the model which is just a little shy of 8' long, by 24" wide, without a tool tray. They came about 6 months apart (that was the way we ordered them) and the first bench arrived with at least a 3/16" twist in the top, and a hump of at least 1/8" running down the middle. I called the Colorado office, and the woman said that the bench was within their specs (!) . The hardware for the tail vise had been installed crookedly and had to be removed and the mounting holes re-bored, as the vise was out of level with the bench top. I told her that I had been in the bench business, and had personally built and sold around 700 workbench kits, and that I would never have been able to send something like that out the door and hold my head up. She apologized and assured me that they would take better care of us when they shipped the second one. The second bench was better than the first, but they did not include the better quality vise handles (an accessory item) which we had ordered, and as of now, about a year later, we have yet to receive them. The standard vise handles are too small and flimsy for the bench, and have fallen apart. We had to run both benches through our wide belt sander to get the tops truly flat, and re-finish them. Now the benches are fit to use. On the positive side, they're sturdy, heavy, and should last a long time. The vises are smooth and positive. However, I believe that if the benches we received are truly indicative of their standards, then they have a lot of work to do on their quality control. I can't believe that someone actually looked at the first bench we received and thought that it was acceptable, certainly not for the amount of money that they are charging.

1. 
   Ricky_Yu | Feb 02, 2004 12:56pm | #5

   Peter,

   Might you be Peter Shapiro as featured in one of the chapters of Scott Landis' "The Workbench Book"? I hope I'm not blowing your cover if you'd rather travel these byways incognito, but that chapter was certainly memorable in an already excellent book that is a definite must-read for anybody who is planning to build (or even to buy) a workbench.

1. 
   peters | Feb 03, 2004 04:31am | #7

   Ricky

   Guilty as charged, and no, you didn't blow my cover. I did that myself a couple of weeks ago in answer to a query about new members. I'm glad you enjoyed the book - Scott did a wonderful job.

2. 
   Napie | Jan 30, 2004 05:24pm | #2

   Build your own! Save a lot of money and learn a great amount in the process.  I have about $250.00 in mine and that was for the hardware.  The wood was all left overs from other projects, having a walnut, cherry, paduk, maple, ash, rosewood, birch and baltic plywood bench is really cool. (I also found a Yost pattern makers vice for $50.00, that was the best!).

3. 
   Telemike | Jan 31, 2004 09:24am | #3

   I made my bench (that is, my third bench, the first "good" one) out of solid maple last year. It's pretty good and IT'S MINE in ways that a purchased bench can never be.

   We're woodworkers and making my own bench taught me a little more about design, wood selection, cutting, matching, epoxy, and my Kuntz # 80. If you're an experienced woodworker, sorry to mis-evaluate you - just ignore another amateur. If you not, consider researching and building your own bench. It'll teach you a lot about wood, big furniture, and design for function, and it'll give you an ownership that money alone can never buy.

   If you search for workbench threads on Knots, you'll find a picture of my bench and a lot of others and hear some good advice and lots of dialectic.

1. 
   rickles13 | Jan 31, 2004 06:12pm | #4

   I am an expereienced woodworker, I built my first real piece when I built my oldest daughters crib. she is twenty five now.

   I can appreciate building my work bench, I would love to build my own work bench, but there always the old time constraints. I have other projects that take up alot of my time, but can'yt find time to do.

   After 25 years or so of having to buy cheaper tools, and/or having to do without becaues of costs, I am at a time in my life when I can afford to buy the kind of tools I only once dreamt of having.

   I wan't a nice sturdy wookbench with heavy duty vises, that will last me for years.

   I don't want to hassle with buying (I don't have enough scraps) all the wood, buying all the hardware, then waiting maybe six months to a year to  finish my bench.

   I wan't a bench to last long after I retire from my job and can spend all my time woodworking, something my wife could sell after I gone.

   I do appriecate all the comments, tho

   Thanks

   R13

1. 
   Napie | Feb 02, 2004 05:57pm | #6

   I had a total of two long weekends invested in building my bench, they are not nearly as complex as a cradle or even a blanket chest.  And depending on vice options they could be even less work, lets face it, it is just a heavy duty table.  There is only about a 150 BF of lumber in a large bench and #1 common 8/4 maple is about $1.90 here, (Michigan).  So, less than 40 hours and less than $500.00 and you get a bench that fits you and the way you work.

2. 
   user-5880422 | Feb 03, 2004 06:04am | #8

   I hear you, I find it almost impossible to make time for shop projects. I did build my own workbench last year, but only the top which I put on an old base... it'll probably take me another 10 years to get a new base made!

   My wife gave me a patternmakers vise for Christmas, it's been sitting on the bench for a month... I might get it installed by summer!