I am getting ready to make a workbench and would like to follow some age old advice “I know you have to learn by experience but can’t you make it somebody else’s” (my Dad)
So what are your experiences on type of wood (I’m thinking ash – I have 125 bd ft in my shop),
Style of bench, I am looking at the Acorn bench and Matt’s Monster bench (other ideas?)
What recommendations do you have on vises?
WHat kind of glue would you use?
What recommendations on assembly – specifically gluing and leveling top?
What recommendations do you have on size of the bench.
Thanks in advance for sharing your insights.
Edited 11/18/2009 9:39 pm ET by kre8ted
Replies
I suggest the book by Chris Schwartz.
Look for John Nyquist's tail vice in both Landis' "Workbench Book" and in "The Workbench" by Lon Schelling(sp?). Easy to build, very effective and low cost.
I built the Frank Klauz type of bench from an old FWW issue. I made it about a foot shorter. I used cheap wood (free) from packing crates. They were heavy crates.
I didn't cut the nice looking dovetails, just big mortise and tenons. I got the vise hardware from Rockler and Lee Valley.
Someday I may get some hard maple and make a nicer version. For now the bench works great.
In my opinion, any hardwood would work.
Bill
I'm somewhat puzzled by workbench mania. 30 years ago I made a series of work benches and tables with 2" angle iron frames and legs and plywood tops. Steel is just a lot stronger and efficient than wood. I know I can replace the top with something new if it gets messed up beyond reason. I can add an additional layer of plywood if it really wasn't solid enough, but that hasn't been a problem. They are flat, strong and useful.
There is an interesting video at popular woodworking about making a work bench out of LVL lumber. In construction LVL lumber is a lot stronger and probably more stable than wood. So there are a lot of options and ash is definably one of them.
But isn't the idea to do woodworking and make something other than the equipment to make something? My older brother always joked that English sports cars were for those people who liked to lie flat on their backs, scruntched under a car, with a repair manual by their sides and dream about driving down the open road. I understand that the workshop is important, but only to the degree that it supports brining something out of the workshop...and between limited time and energy, I struggle to find a reasonable balance.
You do make some good observations there! Appreciate the candor. I have always wanted one and am thinking about making several for others so am trying to learn from the masters!
Edited 11/19/2009 4:30 pm ET by kre8ted
It's hard to fight wants... but do go over to popularwoodworking.com and take a look at the video. What I remember is that it is a traditional work bench with some interesting twists. The Garret work bench on the cover of Fine Woodworking is quite amazing, but I gather he found many other things to do before the editor's made it worth his while to build it. And its 300 pound top is more than I would want to handle. Peter
I agree with your many points and have a solid core door for a benchtop. Pretty tough act to follow and makes it easy to get up and running - and it stays flat on a solid base.
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
P,
I agree that makin' stuff is what it's all about, and having it go out of the shop, but I want to make good stuff that goes out of the shop.
I'm really new at all this and I just finished my first workbench. It tested every woodworking skill I never had, and made me develop lots of new ones. Halfway through the project I started reading more books and seeing more pictures and ideas, and I wanted an entirely different bench. I learned a lesson from that as well. But I just kept saying, "It's a learner bench, just keep going."
It was a big project, I completed it, and I'm proud of it, many mistakes and all (dog-holes to nowhere). It was a great place to start.
The stuff I make that goes out of the shop is now going to be better for what I made in the shop.
Also, like a nice tool cabinet, or chest, it's a rite of passage. We don't have many of those anymore, unless getting to level 19 in Mortal Combat counts.
With a little more confidence and a more realistic knowledge of what my skills are, and what they need to become, I can proceed to make stuff that goes out of the shop.
Except I have to do this wiring first.
--jonnieboy
P.S. Not to mention, very importantly, I made lots of great friends here on Knots in the process.
I too am in the process of building a new bench. I am using Ash for the bench top and hard Maple for the base. I mill the Ash to 3 1/2" X 7/8" the final size of the top will be 8' x 4'. I found that I am able to glue 12 pcs together before running close on time to clamp up the section. So I now have 3 very stout pcs to glue together. It should be interesting moving the bench top around once all 3 pcs are glued together. They are heavy enough as is in 3 sections.
I am going to try to get some pics posted when I can get my son to show me how to get the pics out of his camera & onto my computer.
I have to make a decision now on what I want for a vice. The problem is there are just to many ideas to pick from, I'm having trouble making up my mind. I want them all !!
Taigert
Taigert,
Man, that's goingto be one big bench! Maybe you can put big eyebolts in the each of the four walls and move it around with a come-along!
I said that as a joke, but it might actually work.
So, since you're in the deciding stage of vises, let me throw another in there, just to help muddy the waters. I know, it's mean.
These guys are at benchcrafted.com
View Image
Or this one, which I just drool over:
View Image
--jonnieboy
I have been banging my head trying to remember where I had seen this hardware for a wagon vice. Thank you for the info.
As for the bench I don't think I will have any problems with it moving around on me while working at it.
Taigert
jonnieboy:That Glide Leg is one very nice vise. That is going on my list of things to buy at some point.
I skipped over some lesser wants and put the vise at #9 on the list. So maybe in two or three years I may get it, wife willing. Thanks for the post.Jim
Taigert,
Be sure to let me know what you decide about the vise(s). Exciting!
--jonnieboy
I built the Roubo bench from Chris Schwartz's book using a Veritas, twin-screw vise as a face vice and it is wonderful. It is made out of hard maple with a 5" thick top and 5" square legs. The biggest problem I had during fabrication was maneuvering the bench to work on it due to its exccessive weight. I solved the problem by installing a 3/4" eyebolt in the ceiling rafter and using a chain hoist. I have attached a couple of pictures of the finished product...I hope.
Thanks for the info - great pictures - that is one massive table and I understand the need for the eye bolt!
I also used Chris Schwartz workbench book and made a variation on his english joiners bench. This is the same bench that the Hay shop in Williamsburg uses. I used 2 " ash throughout, and it seems fine.
My cabinet builder friend sanded the top level for me and the bench is heavy. I built a leg vise with a metal screw from Veritas and also added their twin vise to the end. I use hold fasts on the skirts and top to hold the work.
I have to disagree about it being a waste of time to build something to build something else. I have put up with a substandard bench for 30 years and finally decided to build a good, long one. It is great to use and its every bit a fine piece of furniture as the things that will be built on it.
Stevo,
How do you like the leg vise? I think of those would be great. That's one of the ideas I ran into too late, after mine was in the planning and construction stages.
-jonnieboy
Jonnieboy,
I like the leg vise. According to the plan from Schwartz, it has a screw about 12" from the top and a tenon at the bottom of the leg vise goes thru a block behind it. A pin goes thru the tenon which holds the bottom of the vise out when i crank on it. Im not sure how hard I can crank it without breaking, but for now it seems like it holds plenty well. I think if I was starting over, I might use the twin screw there so I could really crank on it. None of this might make sense without a picture. If you want more I can provide it.
Stevo,
That makes sense. I often wonder about the non-moving part of the leg vise, so to speak, and whether it would be a pain after a while or whether the better aspects of the vise outweigh it.
--jonnieboy
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