Dear All,
I just recently completed a new bench in which I wanted to share:
Length: 10′
Width: 28″
Height: 32″
Thickness: 4 1/2″
Screws: 2 1/2″
Distance between screws: 24″
Weight: Extremely Heavy
Wood: Ash (mostly); Purpleheart (vice)
See attached pics, comments welcomed.
Roderick
Replies
Beautiful! Wish I had the patience.
I took the liberty of resizing your shots for easier viewing.
Brian
Brian,
Thanks for doing the resizing; after posting, I realized that my skills at posting pics is not where I would like it.
Roderick
You bet. Not a problem at all. We try to be helpful here! Have you tried IrfanView? Alot of folks here swear by it cause it is very user friendly. It's also free software.
Here you go.
http://irfanview.downloadcenterz.com/
Brian
Brian. Very, very nice. I have a traditional cabinetmaker bench vice with two guide bars with a center and I think I'll use your vise next time. MikePS.....how do we reach Stephen Fee?Mike
Wow, that's a piece of art. Hope you aren't too shy to use it!
At first I couldn't see the dog holes, but I think they are going to work nicely.
I love the work you did on the face vise... that's not only functional,it's beautiful...
Tom Iovino
http://tomsworkbench.com
Tom,
Thanks for your kind words. Oh by the way...no I want be shy about using it, the only power tool used in contruction was an electric drill to bore those massive holes for the 2 1/2" screws, otherwise, everything else was done with a hand tool.
Roderick
Nice bench. How do you like the wooden threaded vise rods, and did you cut the threads yourself, or buy it as a set?
I like the 10 foot size. My next one will be the same.
Jeff
Jeff,
Regarding the screws....no I didn't cut them! I got them from Stephen Fee who did cut them by hand. I am too new of woodworker (< 3 years) to have acquired the skills to cut threads. The screws are great in which after the "screw nut," each board was bored 2 1/2" and then the lamination of the boards. This allowed not only the screw threads to be hidden from view while looking under the bench, but also allows good clamping pressure of the vice with minimum racking.
Roderick
That is awesome. My father in law just brought down a whole truckload of ash from Michigan and my first project with it will be a new workbench. I have built two workbenches so far and each top has been made from MDF due to cost.
This is good inspiration! BTW, what did you finish the top with? It looks pretty shiny.
Josh
Josh,
The entire bench received a 60/40 mixture of Boiled Linseed Oil/Turpentine; the top received three "soaking" coats and then the excess was rubbed off. The pics show when the oil was just applied and still wet.
Roderick
THat is one great looking bench what do you think the cost was do build it.. Z
This is almost exactly the same becnh I plan on building this summer. I can only hope mine comes out half as well. Have you considered a sliding deadman? Any thoughts about those massive screws: do they need to be that thick and are their rules of thumb regarding clamping force and wooden screw size? Did you put an end vise to go with those rows of dog holes or are those strictly for holdfasts? You sawed the whole thing by hand prior to lamination I assume? Also, how many boards did you clamp at a time, and how many clamps per foot?
Sorry about all the questions, and thanks in advance.
Best,
---Pedro
This is almost exactly the same becnh I plan on building this summer. I can only hope mine comes out half as well. Have you considered a sliding deadman?
Yes! There is a slot under the top adjacent to front edge for the deadman. The only reason that I have not installed it is because I have not located the 5/4 stock that I want to use.
Any thoughts about those massive screws: do they need to be that thick and are their rules of thumb regarding clamping force and wooden screw size?
No, they do not "need" to be that thick. Although, I would not go much smaller than 1 1/2". The reason that mine are 2 1/2" is that the person that I purchased them from is what he sells.
Yes, there are some rules that one should possibly consider....make the head of the screw as large as possible and attempt to get the screw as close to top surface as you possibly can, as both of these items will minimize racking of the vise jaw which is common on this style of vise.
Did you put an end vise to go with those rows of dog holes or are those strictly for holdfasts?
No....I simply don't care for end vises - I do many operations (i.e. sawing) on that end of the bench that would be hindered if a end vise is installed. The holes that are alingned with the planning stop are simply use for a Veritas "Wonder Dog"....I beleived that's the name of it.
You sawed the whole thing by hand prior to lamination I assume?
The entire bench was constructed with hand tools (chisels, saws, hand planes) with the exception of 2 1/2" holes that are bored through the end vise and first half of bench top - (I borrowed a 1/2" electric hand drill). The holes were bored into each board prior to lamination.
Also, how many boards did you clamp at a time, and how many clamps per foot?
I clamped 3 - 5 boards at one time - total of 16 boards for the top - until I had two massive slabs for the final glue-up. The clamps per foot spacing worked out to be approximately 12 - 15 inches per clamp.
Roderick
Thank you Roderick for your detailed reply! Can you email me the contact information for your source of screws? I'm debating between making my own and buying. How long did it take you to make the bench? Did you buy the wood S4S or did you buy rough lumber and surface each board with handplanes?
Congratulations on an enviable bench.
---Pedro
Contact Info for 2 1/2" Bench Screws:
Stephen Fee
[email protected]
Not sure if he does other sizes as well.
Roderick
That's a great bench. You should get a lot of use from it. I've been thinking about using ash as well. Did you run into any problems using ash or do you see any reason not to use it?
Problems with using Ash?
Here's what I've found.....the benefits of using Ash out weigh the negatives of:
Extremely hard on hand tools - particulary chisels; problem solved when using framing chisels that are really sharp.
Easily splits too much for my liking....which could be an advantage if you are "riving."
On the plus side:
Stiffness is incredible
Weight is heavy
Looks fairly descent when finished with oil
At this size, will probably last a very long time
Roderick
Your bench is clearly a feat of craftsmanship that bodes very well for your future in furniture-making.
Your bench is clearly a feat of craftsmanship that bodes very well for your future in furniture-making.
Thanks! I find these words very encouraging coming from someone of your experience as well as others here on the forum.
Roderick
This is a really nice bench. Are you happy with the number of bench dog holes? I find I have to keep adding more. Wish I had built this bench rather than mine but that's what happens when you're a begginer.
Neil
This is a really nice bench. Are you happy with the number of bench dog holes? I find I have to keep adding more. Wish I had built this bench rather than mine but that's what happens when you're a begginer.
Neil
I wouldn't fret too much about being a beginner.....I haven't been doing this that long (< 3 years). If you could see my first bench, it really showed my beginning skills as the joints were extremely "sloppy" and loose as I simply had not learned how to properly cut a mortise and tenon joint. Nevertheless, that first bench served me well for almost three years. Regarding the dog holes, I don't care for too many! One of ways in which I have practised improving my skills is the ability to plane a board with just the planning stop. Of course I still at times rely on the holdfasts with battens as well.
Roderick
Envy, envy!
Nice work!
David
Another source of wood vise screws (2" diameter):
BigWoodVise.com
http://www.bigwoodvise.com/index.cfm
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