Project Information
This workbench is my 60-th birthday present (Today September 14, 2015). I worked all through the summer to build it. Now that I know what I am doing I think I could build it in 3 or 4 weeks if I had no distractions, all the lumber, and the hardware.
The top measures 8'.5 to 9' long and is made of a center 15" by 4" slab on each side of the slab two (true) ash 2" by 4" have been laminated, making it 23" wide in total. It is Ash with Cherry ends. The face vice is Spalted maple. The leg vise and deadman are cherry. The legs, shelf and short stretchers are ash. (Some spalted Ash and a couple pieces of Oak.) The short stretchers are attached to the legs via draw-bores. The long stretchers are made of birch and attached to the legs using 1/2" bolts, that can be removed for transport. The Top sits on the legs via blind mortise and tenons. I am very happy with the design and construction. It breaks down so that it can be moved and is rock solid when assembled.
Recommendations for the beginner.
Acknowledgments. There have been so many LJs who have been patiently answering my questions I am sure to miss and offend someone. So I'll just say Thank you…. you know who you are. It has been a great learning experience.
Now I have to dust off my 55 and catch up in Mos's class.
Addendum.
While building I had a dog hole/hold fast hole epiphany just as I was about start drilling lots of holes.
Wait until you need them. That way there won't be holes everywhere
Then I found the Chris Schwarz Lost art press article on holdfast hole theory.
I thought he gave excellent reasons for these holes so I drilled 7 of them. Also when you look at the picture in Roubo's book you will see there are not all that many holes. So my plan is to drill dog holes when and where I need them when the need arises.
Some assembly photos. (Added July 9, 2017)
Top sits on tenons, its massive weight hold it in place.
Short stretchers and legs are a single unit joined by draw bore mortice and tenon joints.
Long stretchers are attached via bolts:
Note the wide slot to accommodate the wrench and the use of the magnet to hold the nut while threading it into the bolt.
- Front view
- End view
- Made some shavings.
- Holes
- Bondo pose
The top measures 8'.5 to 9' long and is made of a center 15" by 4" slab on each side of the slab two (true) ash 2" by 4" have been laminated, making it 23" wide in total. It is Ash with Cherry ends. The face vice is Spalted maple. The leg vise and deadman are cherry. The legs, shelf and short stretchers are ash. (Some spalted Ash and a couple pieces of Oak.) The short stretchers are attached to the legs via draw-bores. The long stretchers are made of birch and attached to the legs using 1/2" bolts, that can be removed for transport. The Top sits on the legs via blind mortise and tenons. I am very happy with the design and construction. It breaks down so that it can be moved and is rock solid when assembled.
Recommendations for the beginner.
- Don't do as I did. First learn how to use all your hand tools long before having a real bench as fellow LJ Mosquito did.
- Don't try to make it out of one slab as I originally tried to do, unless you really know what to look for.
- I think buying pre-dimensioned lumber is the way to go on this project.
Acknowledgments. There have been so many LJs who have been patiently answering my questions I am sure to miss and offend someone. So I'll just say Thank you…. you know who you are. It has been a great learning experience.
Now I have to dust off my 55 and catch up in Mos's class.
Addendum.
While building I had a dog hole/hold fast hole epiphany just as I was about start drilling lots of holes.
Wait until you need them. That way there won't be holes everywhere
Then I found the Chris Schwarz Lost art press article on holdfast hole theory.
I thought he gave excellent reasons for these holes so I drilled 7 of them. Also when you look at the picture in Roubo's book you will see there are not all that many holes. So my plan is to drill dog holes when and where I need them when the need arises.
Some assembly photos. (Added July 9, 2017)
Top sits on tenons, its massive weight hold it in place.
Short stretchers and legs are a single unit joined by draw bore mortice and tenon joints.
Long stretchers are attached via bolts:
Note the wide slot to accommodate the wrench and the use of the magnet to hold the nut while threading it into the bolt.