Building The Holtzapffel Workbench #15: The Finished Bench!

I humbly bow before this great work!

Suweet!

-- Todd A. Clippinger, Montana, http://amcraftsman.com

the nech you attached to that vice is very nice. lol. This is a great project. I’m not even going to bother trying something this nice for a while. I’m so far from this skill level, but I still learn a lot from your blog. I’m sure I’ll reference to it several times in a few year (-:

GREAT workmanship and bench!!! The link to Jameel Abraham’s work is suburb if you are contemplating building such a bench.

-- Only the Shadow knows....................

great work

-- jeanmarc manosque france

I like the bench, it looks great! Thanks for the link to McMaster-Carr!

-- //FC - Round Rock, TX - "Experience is what you get just after you need it"

WOW!!!!!!

Congrats Mike,
Very very nice job.

-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon

First, GREAT WORK on the bench! Second, I seem to building to much furniture and stuff for other folks. Nothing for old Sawdustonmyshoulder. I guess the adage, “All work and no play, makes…”

I have got to get in the shop for my Shop’s sake! Well, at least for a little time. Right, Honey?

Enjoy your new bench,Mike. Makes some curls for us guy outside with our noses pressed against the window!

-- Makin' Sawdust!!!

Mike, Thank you.

Thank you for building such a great bench and blogging about it so the rest of us can drool and dream and maybe, just maybe someday build one of our own.

Also I appreciate the links you provided. Jameel Abraham’s bench is also a great reference.

-- Kevin, Wichita, Kansas

I’m all about not trusting those tailed apprentices! You’ll have to let us know if your crispy router plane does the job!

-- There's no tool like an old tool...

Tailed apprentices, I love it! I might add forked-tailed apprentices to that :).

-- http://theinquisitivewoodworker.com/

a great bench is worth its weight in copper :)

-- Do it right the first time. Becuase fixing it is a wast of time.

Nice bench Mike. I have always thought about making a nice workbench. You guys are putting the pressure on the rest of us. :)

-- Tim from Iowa City, IA

This has come out extremely well!

I’m thinking that, in addition to the mortise not being flat, is there the possibility that the garter screws are putting side pressure upon the wooden screws? Have you screwed the garters in place without the wooden screws and examined the inner walls of the chop?

The difference of the fir (practice chop) and the white oak final chop could be the factor if the screws have something to do with it… The fir would be able to compress easier and not push wood into the hole, thus exerting pressure on the wooden screws, whereas the denser oak may receive pressure from the screws and be displaced into the hole a bit…???

This could all be hogwash too…since I don’t really know the diameter of the holes and how close to the screws they are…

And, now that I think about it…this HAS to be hogwash, because you obviously have enough clearance in the holes to place the sleeves in!

I’d like to delete all of this nonsense, but will leave it because erroneous thinking is OKAY!

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

Great Job! Very nice bench. I hope to build one someday.

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †

Very nice Mike congrat on a fine bench enjoy…Blkcherry

Mike,

Congratulations on finishing a fine workbench. Now, enjoy it for many, many years!!!

-- Al Navas, St Joseph, MO, http://sandal-woodsblog.com

Great work, Mike. Do you think the vise binding is caused or exacerbated by the application of finish and or the season? Just curious. I caught Mr. Abraham’s blog, WOW, what a bench! It’s got me thinking about the next one. Hmmmmm….

always,
J.C.

-- "Imagination is more important than knowledge" -- Albert Einstein

J.C. – You are funny, but I was a little concerned about displaying my tools in such a public forum. Luckily my house is equipped with a an alarm system :). I have acquired a few tools lately, I should make sure my insurance is up to date just in case.

-- http://theinquisitivewoodworker.com/

This blog is my absolute favorite. I have loved watching you build this and reveal all of the “hidden” secrets that you turned up. I’ve been looking at Chris Swartz’s book in anticipation of a bench upgrade and your blog has been invalable. Thanks, great job!

-- Every cloud has a silver lining

J.C. – I got my posts mixed up :). I don’t think it was anything to do with the finish or seasonal expansion. The screws had about a 1/4” of clearance through the chop. The problem really shows itself when I tighten down on the screws for the garters. I really think they aren’t sitting flat. I don’t think it’s a big deal and can easily be fixed.

Kenn – It has been a fun long process, I recommend it to anyone who wants a nice bench for hand tool work.

-- http://theinquisitivewoodworker.com/

Mike, have you used anything on the screws for lube? I’ve had luck with the old beeswax/turpentine/BLO formula on hickory screws. Dries enough not to transfer to anything else but remains soft enough to lube the wooden threads and garter. Also, I made my garters and wears out of lignum vitae. Any kind of metal down here in the subtropics is likely to rust without continual due diligence.

Again, great blog, Mike.

always,
J.C.

-- "Imagination is more important than knowledge" -- Albert Einstein

Great job, Mike! I’m glad you got the vise working well. Your blog was extremely helpful when I was building my workbench. Thanks for all the work you put into the series.

-- Kevin

Nev’ mind, I just realized you used paraffin on an earlier installment. I’m sure the hi-tech approach will help as well. Great bench.

always,
J.C.

-- "Imagination is more important than knowledge" -- Albert Einstein

Looks nice!

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker