Bench Top Work Bench #1: The Process

This is my first woodworking project. I built it to enter in a student competition. I placed 4th at Regional’s and 6th at International’s with students from around the world. My Inspiration for this project come from an article from issue #176 of Fine Woodworking magazine.

My choice of subject for my bench top work bench was because I wanted something useful that I knew I would use often. My project is basically a miniature work bench. Its purpose is to bring the work your doing up higher for easier accessibility and comfort. I used hard maple for my project because it is traditionally used for workbenches. It is a good hardwood and very strong. Walnut is also a good hardwood and accented the hard maple well.

I used mortise and tenon joints to attach most of my project because they are very strong and durable. I used box joints for the breadboard end to allow for expansion and contraction as the moisture of the wood changes. I used butt joints reinforced with biscuits for alignment and strength. I sanded and scrapped it with cabinet scrappers. I used a natural oil finish because it is best suited for a work bench because it protects the wood while allowing to re-coat as wood is worn.

See the my viewer project posted on The Wood Whisperer

http://thewoodwhisperer.com/jordans-benchtop-workbench/

My Build Order and Tools Used

Steps to complete project

2. I cut several of the bigger pieces down so I could mill them.
3. I ran them all through the jointer and planner till they were the correct widths and heights. 4. I then took my leg and feet boards and cut their mortises with a hollow chisel mortis. 5. I cut the tenon on the table saw with a tenoning jig. 6. I used a chisel to clean up the mortises and a block shoulder plane to fit the tenon. 7. I glued two hard maple and one walnut board together to make the surface of my table. I also cut biscuit holes in them to make them stronger. 8. I cut the box joins in the breadboard ends on the table saw.
9. I attached the side vice. 10. I attached the top to the base. 11. I used a brace and bit to drill the dog holes in the vice chop and the table top. 12. I sanded and finished the bench with Boiled Linseed Oil

1. I started by selecting the wood I thought would best suit my project. I chose hard maple and walnut because I knew they would access each other well.

Tools used
Table saw.
Hollow chisel mortise
Jointer
Planer Chisel
Chop saw

-- Jeff Waggoner, http://www.planeoldwood.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/Plane-Old-Wood