Bowling Alley Workbench #1: Conceptual Design 1 - feedback appreciated

Left handed are you? I am currently building a workbench myself and am pretty much convinced that I won’t be using any permanently fixed vise at all. T-track on the face, legs and sliding deadman plus dog hole mounted clamping accessories sorta like what they sell(for too much) for the Festool MFT should take care of all the possible clamping orientations. I will leave what amounts to a gigantic dog hole on one side for various purposes like mounting an inverted jig saw, clearance for a pulley belt for the dog-mounted lathe, etc. that could also be used to mount a removable vise. Only suggestions I might make on the design you’ve posted is make the front legs flush with the front apron and possibly the feet might get in the way of a large workpiece, sliding deadman setups are really nice to have.

-- Ooo, er.

Looks like a good design.

You may want to put the horizontal pieces across the front on the flat. This will make room for some cabinets below the top. Then use wider ones on the back to prevent racking. I think I used 2×12’s and have no problem with racking.

For the base of mine I used Southern Yellow Pine. A lot cheaper than hard wood and very strong. My bench hasn’t moved one inch no matter how much force I use. This allowed me to use more wood for a more substantial base. for example the legs are three 2×6’s laminated together.

Check out mine to see what I am talking about:

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

Looks like a good design. If yours is half as good as Garys you’ll have a winner.

-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon

With people mentioning your lack of space, how about replacing the bottom stretchers with a row of drawers for tools etc. Other than the fact you work backwards ( joke ) it looks like this design would serve you well.

-- if the hand is not working it is not a pure hand

Thanks for the responses. I chose this type of legs as opposed to the Roubo flush look because of esthetics- I like this look. and I’ll probably have a workbench helper that will hold the other side of long boards/panels when clamped to the side of the bench. I know I’m sacrificing functionality with looks here, but I’m ok with that aspect.

Kiwi – you are wrong, everyone ELSE is working backwards. I’m the only one that’s right! (errr…. Left that is).

As far as space – yes I will have a set of drawer cabinets between those stretchers (similar to FWW the Essential workbench boxes of drawers) – I like the idea of keeping it off the ground so that I can vacuum under the bench, or pass DC pipes under if I need to. but I might try to go with GaryK’s suggestion and do the horizontal support on the flat and have freestanding drawers cabinets under the bench – GaryK – how did you get those cabinets under the bench? are they butting against the flat support? or are they overlapping on top of it? I also might change the 2×3 hardwood legs, with something more stout after considering GaryK’s 6×6 legs…

P.S. the reason I’m out of space, is cause I have 2 bowling alleys in my garage… once I have this thing setup, I can relieve the space where I have my current bench, and reorganize a bit to clear a lot of space… just need to start with ‘step 1: make new workbench’

Thanks again for the ideas.

-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

that bench looks great!
Both vises have an excellent performance….in my last project, when I was working with the mortises at the top (heavy top!) I really saw the need of this shoulder vise, I love the simplicity and effectiveness of this vise.

Keep in mind this vise works with a long threaded rod that crosses the slab all the way, as a buttress, to support all the forces.

-- Francisco Luna, San Francisco Bay Area.

and when you are not woodworking…can we find you bowling????

-- Ellen on Cape Cod

Thanks Francisco. I do play to have 2 3/8” threaded rods that will go through the bench and support each of the vises.

Ellen – what do you mean “not woodworking”? is that even allowed? (I think I missed that part in the manual)

-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

Purp,

The flush look of the Roubo are there for more than asethicts, they provide places for both clamping and dog holes. Plus with flush stechers you can add a sliding deadman. It really depends on your plans for working with hand tools. Other than having flipped the bench in Sketchup, everything else looks great!

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

Purplev-

Kiwi – you are wrong, everyone ELSE is working backwards. I’m the only one that’s right! (errr…. Left that is).

Give it up man they will never understand us “right minded” lefties! I am also building a bench in the correct configuration.

Are you planning on working more with hand tools on this bench?

-- Tim: Remember, if it doesn't say Binford, someone else made it.

haha, Tim, everyday I find that we have more and more things in common – I’m still pretty sure we are 2 difference people though :)

most of my work on this bench will involve freehand-router work, and handtool work which will mainly be planing/jointing by hand, and also mortising, and dovetail work. I will probably also use this as an assembly table when I can for smaller projects (drawers/boxes/etc)

based on suggestions here- I have already beefed up the legs to 4×4 lumber (from the original 2×3) and added a sliding deadman (still not finalized whether it’ll ride the upper stretcher, or run on a 3/4” pipe) – while still keeping the original base/legs design.:

-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

Purp, check out this video http://www.khalafoud.com/media/Roubo.wmv a little over half way through you will get to see how a removable leg vise works, a deadman could work the same way. I went with 5”x5” legs like the Roubo bench then mortise and tenon the stretchers with drawbore.

-- Tim: Remember, if it doesn't say Binford, someone else made it.

Damn Tim, thats the same bench that sIKE send me a pic of – I must admit – it looks pretty incredible, but:

1. I already have the maple top – and don’t want to mess around with that – so It’ll be hard to get that 4” top from my 2” plank.

2. those screw vises look like $$$$ – not to mention the handcrafted wagon vise – thanks a lot – I’m really trying to avoid seeing it, cause everytime I do I find it harder and harder to resist – but I really should, as all of those are just completely out of my budget. right now I’m trying to make the best with what I’ve got without having to go overboard (pun intended).

But I do like that bench – looks extremely efficient and convenient. and I’ll take to heart that removable vise/deadman idea and see how best I can incorporate that into my current design.

-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

Told ya she was purty!

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

PurpLev – To answer your question. It’s one big cabinet resting on that bottom stretcher on the bottom and against the one in the back. It’s bolted to the one in the back only.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

You lefties are so militant! I actually write left handed, everything else I do is right handed. No idea why. good luck with the build, i,ll be watching.

-- if the hand is not working it is not a pure hand

that bench is great but the planes are even greater thats all i had my eye on was how tuned they were wish i can get mine as tuned as that but anyway the vid was a good one thanks tim! also purplev from one lefty to another nice bench go for it!!! i had the same idea to make a lefty too but my shop is too small right now so i have a door on some 2×4’s to get me through for now but keep us posted on your work?

-- Ike, Big Daddies Woodshop,www.icombadaniels@yahoo.com

kiwi – since you write with your left… you might be able to get accepted to our militia – just fill in the form and send it over ;)

bigike- thanks. I already did some modifications, and I think I’m gonna go with my later own design. I finally have some room to expand – and as blogged lately got a little bowling alley treasure – so although wasn’t planning on it- all of a sudden I find myself in the midst of a sudden workbench project. I wish I had more time to plan it out and think if through – but I ain’t complaining. I’m fortunate enough to have gotten what I was waiting for :)

-- When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.

Going to be a nice workbench.

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker