Workbench Update
I have some spare time between projects, so I have decided to make some long-needed changes to the workshop. This short series will log the events as they have and as they happen.
The first thing that needed to be done, which I started some time at the beginning of May, was to update the work bench. The drawer system I am still not happy with for the following reasons.
1. When working at the bench, I tend to leave the drawer open partially (bad habit) and the drawers tend to fill with sawdust.
2. The drawer containing my planes and scrapers has become too full - but even with only the hand planes in the draw - it is too heavy and does not slide that easily - it really needs some full extension runners, but the design does not allow for this. - I have tries various things to make the drawers slide easier, but only the reduction in weight works.
3. I am getting older and the drawers are getting too low and all the constant bending is not doing my back much good.
I will update the tool storage system sometime in the near future, but not in this make over.
The update to the bench is a new work surface/Top. The old one I made about 3 years ago, but it was a lamination of different materials- it stayed nice and flat, but the actual work surface was made from Alder (that's all I could get at the time) and it was definitely too soft. I could have skimmed the top ½" off and re-surfaced it, with a harder wood, but then I would have all the trouble with realigning the "bench dog" holes so I decided to make a new top.
The new top is made from 8/4 Beech, the dimensions are exactly the same as the old one (2m x 0.86m {76 ¾ " x 34" } . There are a couple of pieces of White Oak and Birch, but these are from the vices, I did not want to remake these as they were in good condition (I remade these in April).
I also reduced the number of bench dog holes (round) - hopefully less sawdust will fall into the storage space beneath the workbench.
The top was surfaced machine planed, then glued together. The final levelling was hand planed and scraped - and finally had hand sanded down to 120g to remove the shine.
The top is finished with 2 coats of poly, thinned with 40% White Spirit (mineral spirit) and a thin coat of paste wax. I just wanted some protection against glue spillage or stain.
The new workbench top
Just another view of the work bench and part of the layout of the current shop.
Part 2 will be the table saw Upgrade.
I have some spare time between projects, so I have decided to make some long-needed changes to the workshop. This short series will log the events as they have and as they happen.
The first thing that needed to be done, which I started some time at the beginning of May, was to update the work bench. The drawer system I am still not happy with for the following reasons.
1. When working at the bench, I tend to leave the drawer open partially (bad habit) and the drawers tend to fill with sawdust.
2. The drawer containing my planes and scrapers has become too full - but even with only the hand planes in the draw - it is too heavy and does not slide that easily - it really needs some full extension runners, but the design does not allow for this. - I have tries various things to make the drawers slide easier, but only the reduction in weight works.
3. I am getting older and the drawers are getting too low and all the constant bending is not doing my back much good.
I will update the tool storage system sometime in the near future, but not in this make over.
The update to the bench is a new work surface/Top. The old one I made about 3 years ago, but it was a lamination of different materials- it stayed nice and flat, but the actual work surface was made from Alder (that's all I could get at the time) and it was definitely too soft. I could have skimmed the top ½" off and re-surfaced it, with a harder wood, but then I would have all the trouble with realigning the "bench dog" holes so I decided to make a new top.
The new top is made from 8/4 Beech, the dimensions are exactly the same as the old one (2m x 0.86m {76 ¾ " x 34" } . There are a couple of pieces of White Oak and Birch, but these are from the vices, I did not want to remake these as they were in good condition (I remade these in April).
I also reduced the number of bench dog holes (round) - hopefully less sawdust will fall into the storage space beneath the workbench.
The top was surfaced machine planed, then glued together. The final levelling was hand planed and scraped - and finally had hand sanded down to 120g to remove the shine.
The top is finished with 2 coats of poly, thinned with 40% White Spirit (mineral spirit) and a thin coat of paste wax. I just wanted some protection against glue spillage or stain.
The new workbench top
Just another view of the work bench and part of the layout of the current shop.
Part 2 will be the table saw Upgrade.