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I read about this bench in FineWoodworking back in 2006 and have wanted to make it ever since. Having tried to build a couple of things on my rickety 2×4s with plywood on the top, I finally tackled it last week. It was a lot of fun to build, is about a thousand times more sturdy than my old setup and is now the same height as my table saw.

The plans called for 2 sheets of plywood, but if you read more closely you'll see you need an additional 1/2 sheet for shelving. So, if you look closely you'll see the bottom shelf is a scrap wood I took back from my son who had stolen it to build his bike jump (and then left abandoned in the orchard - which is why there is a tractor tire print across it.) So when I look at it, I laugh thinking about the abandoned bike jump. And it is a good reminder to make sure you get your parts list right!

Thanks to everyone at lumberjocks for getting me inspired to get into woodworking. Time to start thinking about what projects I can make on it…

If you are curious, the FineWoodworking article can be found here.

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Nice Table, love the tread involved !!!

Welcome
 

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looks solid
 

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I would find a saw table height too low for a bench, although I'm on the tall side.

And looking at those plans, I would have pocket-screwed (and glued) the edging. It would be stronger and more attractive, IMO.

And why MDF for the top layer of the bench? I see that fairly often, but I'm not sure why MDF is a better work surface than plywood. I suppose it does save you from buying a decent grade of plywood for the top face.

The real question is whether you're going to lose your shelf when your son suddenly remembers about his bike jump :).
 

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I used the same plans for my workbench, except I bought a 30"x60" maple top from Woodcraft. It really is a rock-solid design for a bench.

My only real panic was after dry-fitting it all together to make sure the tenons would fit together was late one night trying to glue up four tenons from the two stretchers into two of the back legs. After slathering up everything in glue the last tenon got stuck half way in. I started to panic when the glue was really starting to set up. No matter how much I wailed on it with a 2lbs dead blow rubber mallet that tenon just wouldn't budge.

I ran out to the truck and grabbed some of those 12' long 3" wide ratchet web straps from Harbor Freight. Strung two sets of two together to go around the top and bottom stretchers. And another two strung together diag to square things up & used the ratchets to pull the stuck tenon home and pull EVERYTHING together square. But to break the stuck tenon free I REALLY had to ratchets things tight to get it to move.

Next time I'll used the extended time version of Tite-Bond.

-Dave
 

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I personally used MDF since it is more flat and heavier than plywood. Just my opinion, but it seems to be a fairly common sentiment. Also, it doesn't seem to dent as easily since it is more dense.
 

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Nice bench
 

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a good Bench ,it should last a long time.
 

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this turned out good, any plans for some dog holes?
 

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Yeah, I need to put in some dog holes. I was so excited to be done putting it together that I didn't realize I wasn't actually 'done'.

As far as the MDF goes, I was just following the plans since I had no thoughts one way or the other about it. I do like that it is perfectly smooth - which makes moving things around on the top very nice. My last 'bench' surface was just rough plywood and there is a huge difference between that and MDF, but a higher grade plywood might be fine. The cost for the MDF is very attractive too, compared to a hardwood top.
 

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that's hilarious; I just finished commenting on your mitre stand which I built the same one; then I see your bench which is identical to the one I made a couple months ago. You have good taste in projects!
 

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How has the bench held up over the years? Is it still rock solid? Does it handle hand planing well? Would you do it again?

-Tony
 

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Hey KyesDad -

It's been great. I haven't touched a thing. The top is in pretty good shape. The edges are a bit beat-up, but not so much that I would do anything to them.

I don't do much hand-planing, but I might add clamp to the front. I only have the side clamp on it now.

The other piece that I miss is having a "tool tray". I had an old workbench with a small trough in the back to put chisels, sandpaper, etc. Now they sit on the top, so if I move stuff around the tools can be in the way. But that is minor. Maybe adding a drawer would be good.

All in all, I have been thrilled with the way the project came out.

- S
 
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