Workbench Build #3: Vises Installed

Looks AWESOME.. Nice Job Steve. BTW, I grew up in Northfield too. Northfield New Jersey… LOL.

-- I love the smell of sawdust in the morning....

Nice looking dovetail! Great bench.

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

Very tight looking dovetails. Love the contrasting colors.

Dalec

Hey Steve,

Very nice looking bench – also great first dovetails! Looks like you’ve been doing them for years.

With respect to the dog holes, I think I would try to do it with a router. When I did mine I used a Forstner bit, an Electric Drill and a portable guide. It was a long laborious process that I would not recommend!

I’ve seen a couple of different methods with the router but they seem to center around starting a hole with either a Forster bit and a drill and then following up with a smaller diameter straight bit and a bearing to follow the hole with the router. Of course you could always get a 3/4” straight bit for the router as well but, because of the thickness of the top you will probably have to still use a bearing guided bit as well. I guess you could also make a jig that has the correct diameter hole and follow it with a top bearing router bit or guide bushing. The thickness of the bench top is going to be the challenge. If you do make a jig, put two holes in it spaced the distance that you want them in the benchtop then put a dowel in one and use it to index from hole to hole as you drill/rout the next one.

Two rows of holes opposite the vises is a good idea so that the vise does not rack when you clamp something between it and the dogs. Though I guess you could also do a single row aligned with the center of the vise and that would work as well.

Food for thought.

-- Mark, Webster New York, Visit my website at http://thecraftsmanspath.com

This is one biffy top… me likey!

Nice dovetail work, looks beautiful.

I just started my workbench last week, and had the top + vises installed (next would be the legs) and was surprised at how not-so-easy of pa process it is to setup those vises to be perfectly straight, and have the faces perfectly parallel, and flush with the table top… you live and learn everyday. – NICE job with the vises, and faces, looks good

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

Nice bench!
I have been “drilling” holes (3/4” and 1”) in my new work table and work bench I built. I have been using a router and router bits for the work surfaces. And Forstner bits for the dog holes in the vises.
My advice is:
Turn the router speed down and proceed slowly.
CLAMP THE ROUTER DOWN, CLAMP THE ROUTER DOWN, CLAMP THE ROUTER DOWN, DAMHIKT
Do any work possible in a drill press with Forstner bits.
The router will want to jump and grab if it’s not tied down you won’t be able to keep the router from grabbing and skipping around.
PRACTICE, PRACTICE, PRACTICE doing the holes on the same species wood before you ever start on the bench.
MCLS Has both 1” and 3/4” straight router bits priced reasonably and Woodcraft has straight bits also and their brand is on sale at this time.
Good luck,
John Gray

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

That looks great!!

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

Thanks guys. It has been a fun project, but more work than I first thought.

The vises were installed by a lot of trial and error. A template from the mfg would have been really nice (Arrrgh!!). I am not extremely impressed with the quality of these cheap vises. A lot of slop. They even had the nerve to cast CHINA into the face of them upside down!

The dog holes have scared me a bit. I guess from some of the posts that it is a bit of work getting them drilled. And yes, the thickness of the top is going to present its own challenge. I planned on using a 3/4 inch router bit to get them started, and then wing it from there when the bit depth is reached. My Forstner bit of this size does not have the serrated teeth, so it is real slow going, and pretty dull by now. Time to upgrade. I think I have decided to run them down the sides and make some ‘beams’ with attached dowels to act as movable stops across the width. Then if I change my mind, I can always drill some holes down the middle later.

Steve

-- Stevethepeeve -- I'm no rocket surgeon

Steve,

If you have the 3/4” router bit, you can go as deep as possible with it and then drill a smaller diameter hole through the approximate center of each dog hole to the other side. Then turn the top over and use a flush trimming bit with a bottom bearing in the router. Insert the bit into the smaller hole and follow the inside of the dog hole with the bearing to clean that side of the hole. Make sense?

-- Mark, Webster New York, Visit my website at http://thecraftsmanspath.com

I like the idea of the bench holes along the edges and the “beam”. I hadn’t thought of that, but it makes sense.

I’ll second the great looking bench and dovetails.

-- Kevin, Wichita, Kansas

Here's a video tutorial by Glen Huey of Popular Woodworking using a router to drill dog holes.

Steve:

Here is a mini bench that I built. Toward the bottom of the post is a jig that I used to drill the bench holes using a 3/4” forstner bit. I used a tractor hitch pin from the tractor supply as my allignment pin. I also use them as stop blocks because there is a ridge on the pin that keeps them from going all the way through the bench.

I can cut some wood to match the curve on any pieces that I want to hold or flat pieces. the small piece turns to match the surface of the wood that I’m holding.

Very nice looking dovetails.

I’d suggest a sharp forsner bit. I never had a bit of problem going through the 3” maple/walnut

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

Nice bench Steve…the detail to attention show through out the whole bench…the feeling of accomplishment make the whole process worth while…also the story of the walnut makes it even more over the top…congrats and may all your projects shine as well as this bench…Blkcherry

Nice workbench & vices Steve & a great piece of local memorabilia.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Very nice looking bench

-- jeanmarc manosque france

Thanks Rymann for posting that video! That will make quick work out of my benchtop holes. Excellent looking bench Steve! It looks strong and elegant too!

-- Bill, S.E. Iowa

Very nice