Planning the workbench build
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- This topic has 7 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 6 years, 10 months ago by bigbrowndog.
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Hello folks,
I am planning to build a workbench like Mr. Sellers did in his Videos. I am already buying tools on eBay and looking for other nice tools. But I have a problem I can’t deal with because I lack experience in woodworking because I never touched a plane or a handsaw for longer than 10min.
The Problem is I have limited space, very limited space to be honest. The workbench needs to fit in a one-room apartment in a big city, so the length is limited to 100 centimeter and the width to 60 centimeter (metrical system because I’m german). The height is probably going to be around 80-85 centimeters, but thats not the problem right now. I wonder if the weight is enough with this small bench so that I can plane on the bench without moving it through my room.
I came up with the idea of a shelf at the bottom of the bench, so that I can place some weights down there to stop the bench from moving if that is the case.
For wood selection I would use spruce form a big box store or beech wood from a local reseller, I’m not sure yet because I don’t know the price difference and if the difference is worth it.Many question for such a small bench…
Regards
Maik4 May 2017 at 8:45 pm #311715Would it be possible to secure the bench to the floor or a wall? I think that’s probably the best way to stabilise it given the size constraints.
Rob.
5 May 2017 at 8:13 am #311726You might want to add an additional shelf very close to the floor and put 6 paving tiles in it (Waschbeton-/Gehwegplatten). This should add enough weight.
Ben (also from Germany)
Hello Maik,
I’ve just finished my workbench and in the beginning I was also contemplating if I can get away with a smaller footprint. Mine is 120 x 78cm. Sure it could work and it seems plenty sturdy to me. Paul on one of his blogs also addressed if 4ft can be a minimum for the space limited folks. Weights could be used to add more mass, but I find it’s not necessary at all.
Here’s a visual for you of what that size might look like.
Regards,
HR
- This reply was modified 6 years, 11 months ago by HR.
- This reply was modified 6 years, 11 months ago by HR.
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You must be logged in to view attached files.5 May 2017 at 10:48 am #311736Actually, perhaps not that much of a problem. Both the Lie-Nielsen and the Sjöberg Elite workbenches weigh more than 100 Kg in their 2 m versions. Made from beech with the same 100 mm worktop thickness, your’s would be somewhere around 50 Kg. Add then a fully populated tool cabinet beneath the top and the bench should be sufficiently heavy for most tasks.
Add a link to an example
http://www.sjobergs.se/en/products/hobby/239.php?id=1191&cat=30&lang=en&artnr=33365+33394Freundlichen
/sojThanks for your help guys, I appreciate it a lot. I think now I have the confidence to get into planning the piece. Although I can’t hit the recommended length of 4 ft (mine would be 3,2 ft long), the idea with the additional shelf near the bottom and to add some weight (or a toolchest) seem pretty good to me.
18 May 2017 at 3:36 pm #312067Hi Maik,
The workbench I use was designed for my previous life working with primarily machines, and is mobile with locking casters. While having a constantly moving workbench is NOT optimal, I still have managed to accomplish any planing task, including dimensioning, I’ve attempted. Lots of good advice here, but thought I’d add a little more reassurance that you dimensions will likely be fine.
Hoyt
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