Work Bench
Welcome! / Forums / General Woodworking Discussions / Projects / Work Bench
- This topic has 7 replies, 8 voices, and was last updated 9 years, 2 months ago by Lechuck.
-
AuthorPosts
-
It’s finally done and I am pleased with the result, enjoyed the process, and I thought I would share my experience.
I have been doing home improvement type projects for years and wanted to start wood working as a hobby. My initial research had me looking into power tools; the associated dust and noise that they produce was quickly dampening my enthusiasm. I stumbled across Paul’s youtube video while researching workbenches, and thought that hand tool methods might be a better choice for a hobby that I intended as a means of relaxation.
I bought the Working Wood book and DVDs, studied the tools and methods, and then set out to build a bench based on the designs provided. The entire bench was built with hand tools, except for the vice cutout, since I didn’t have a handsaw that would allow that type of cut, I cheated and used a power jig saw. Oh, and some screws were counter sunk and driven using a cordless screwdriver.
The bench is 72×28 and 40 inches tall, built using construction grade lumber that I purchased from the local Home Depot and Lowes. The legs where 4×4 douglas fir, the top and aprons where fashioned from 2x4s and the well board is a 1×12. If I were to do it again I would pay better attention to the “density” of the boards; some have widely spaced growth rings and a notably “softer” than others. The softer ones were used near the well.
The top lamination went together well, and I flattened the first side with my Stanley No. 4. Prior to doing the other side I reground an extra iron to use as a scrub plane, what a difference this made, flattening was much easier and faster.
The aprons were the most troublesome part of the build, but I eventually got the twist out of them and managed to keep them to a little over 1 inch in thickness.
Assembling the legs and aprons was another learning experience, during dry fit the whole thing seemed twisted and would rock. It was very frustrating since I checked all the individual components and they where square/flat, and correctly dimensioned. I put the tools down for a day to think, and it occured to me that I should check the floor that I was building the bench on, it turned out that the concrete floor was far from flat and level! I used a level to find a relative flat portion of the room and with a 1/4 inch shim under a leg the dry fit was rock solid.
The vise is a steel model that I got from Lee Valley, and as the build progressed I noticed that the front mounting holes would be impossible to access as they are located within the apron. I decided to mount the vise on a oak shim and used carriage bolts in the front holes and lag screws in the rear and to the sides to the vise.
I plan on adding a finish once the weather improves and I can open a window.
Now I need to start a project 🙂
Attachments:
You must be logged in to view attached files.31 January 2015 at 9:16 pm #124160Congratulations on completing your workbench. It will open up a whole new world for you. There is no substitute for a solid workbench.
1 February 2015 at 12:18 am #124168You will not regret making this bench, it is such a useful thing.
1 February 2015 at 3:43 am #124176Well done. That will be an investment in time and money that will give returns for the rest of your life.
1 February 2015 at 4:12 am #124177The bench looks great – really clean. Speaking of clean, that floor is way too clean. Let’s see some shavings in there soon.
-
AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.