Replies

1. 
   roc | Jan 29, 2009 09:14pm | #1

   Phil,

   As the robot in the movie called Short Circuit said to the farm girl. "Need input, MORE input. . .

   I have gone with both styles of bench, the beams with the horses and just built a Frank Klausz traditional bench, and can speak to what works best for how I work.

   What we need to know to go further is how do you intend to work? Hand work? Lots of power router work ? Windsor chairs ?

   And almost MORE importantly how do you envision yourself working a year or two from now.

   My quick answer is build both styles of bench; the beams and the traditional bench and a low finishing bench. I even built a little bench that I clamp to my welding table that I made just to hand cut dovetails on wide boards. ( I made it before the Klausz. ) it is the perfect hight for me to cut dovetails and has soft wood clamps. It holds the boards in the best way to transfer layout from tail board to pin board.

   Several benches if you have the room.
   roc

   PS: The beams are versatile but can never take the place of the Klausz for quick and efficient traditional hand tool cabinet making etc. cutting dovetails and lots of hand planing.

   Too much mucking about setting it up, not enough mass, lacks a way to clamp delicate drawers quickly and safely while making and fitting to cabinet, hard to get the two beams and horses so the top is flat all over . . .

   I could go on and on. Doesn't mean it isn't useful for some things.

   Edited 1/29/2009 1:23 pm by roc

   
   

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   Edited 1/29/2009 1:31 pm by roc

1. 
   manu31 | Sep 30, 2010 11:17am | #5

   "Too much mucking about

   "Too much mucking about setting it up, not enough mass, lacks a way to clamp delicate drawers quickly and safely while making and fitting to cabinet, hard to get the two beams and horses so the top is flat all over . . ."

   roc,

   i think about the building of a finn's bench but my shop's floor isn't flat...and i saw your comment about the flatness

   but do you have a solution ? an ajustable height of the horses ?

   thanks

1. 
   V9ZU76ZiyG | Dec 12, 2010 01:04am | #6

   here's my solution : i

   here's my solution (manu31)

   i built a mobile bench (the top is a little torsion box, flat) and i put my two beams on

    if planning is difficult, i put my bench near the wall ; the beam is in the direction of the wall and leans against the wall

   
2. 
   forestgirl | Jan 30, 2009 09:17pm | #2

   "...as opposed to building a more traditional workbench."  How about something inbetween?  Are you familiar with John White's New-fangled Workbench??  (Link will work if you're an on-line subscriber)

   View Image 

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   
1. 
   roc | Jan 31, 2009 11:03am | #3

   forestgirl,Do you use one of these NFWs?pat and scratch the horses for me,roc

   Edited 1/31/2009 3:05 am by roc

1. 
   forestgirl | Jan 31, 2009 07:10pm | #4

   I have one, but it's not assembled yet.  ROFL!!!  I bought the lumber quite a long time ago, but pattin' and scratchin' those horses took up all my time last year.

   Have been getting the shop in shape, New Year's Resolution.  The bench will be built soon, so as to shrink that lumber pile some.  A couple of people have posted their modifications, IIRC.  Will take a look at those, too, before building.

   I think it may have to serve as an outfeed table, we'll see.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 

1. 
   swenson | Dec 12, 2010 01:55am | #7

   NFWB

   I built the newfangledworkbench and I use it every day. I have other benches but this is the one I turn to more and more. I keep figuring out new ways to use it. Yesterday I needed an easel to hold the front of a puppet theater I made for my granddaughter, so I could do some lettering on the front. I clamped a couple of L shaped practice dovetails on the planing beam, lowered it to the right height, made a perfect  easel for holding a 3 ft by 3 ft piece of plywood at a slant.

   Below are two old pix, first one holding a drawer, second one just a wide shot.  Have since made some modifications.