Time to modify the workbench.
I built the bench a year ago. Currently it has a simple shelf for storage.
The plan is to build a simple cabinet with drawers to store hand tools, possibly my routers, and other “stuff”
Here is a pic of the plan from Matthew Teague’s Setting up Shop (same place I got the bench plan).
The drawers are weird. The bottoms are glued and stapled up onto the box. The bottom then becomes the runners.
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I drew out a quick sketch of the box, set to my bench dimensions. I always measure off projects if possible instead of using the plan’s dimensions.
Progress Pics
Last week I cut the parts to size using my new panel sled. Sweet!
More of the leftover ply from the outside of the shop. I will miss it when it’s gone.
Today, I cut the dadoes using my new Freud stack. Very nice, though it took me a while to install in the saw, due to the learning curve of changing out the blade cartridge and cutting through the new insert.
Check out the new auxilary fence and Universal fence clamps from Rockler. The clamps are $14 a pair. I love the little fellers. You can clamp a stop block or a fence. Just drill a few 1/2” holes in the top edge.
I dry fit the carcase in the bench
Glue up and staple time.
I switched to a 1/4” setup and cut the slots for the drawer runners/ bottoms.
After it dried, I cut the drawer botttoms.
Then I ripped some ply for the drawer parts.
Fitting to the drawer height.
Next up
I need to get a bit more ply for the drawers, and then build them.
Tomorrow…..
-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne
11 comments so far
GaryK
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9521 posts in 882 days
posted 639 days ago
Very ambitious project you got going there. Looking good so far!
Those fence clamps are pretty cool, huh? I just happened to be in a Rockler when they first arrived and picked up a pair. Well worth the price.
What kind of joints are you going to use for the drawers?
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
gizmodyne
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1674 posts in 984 days
posted 639 days ago
Hi Gary.
I am going to just rabbet the fronts/backs and glue/staple em. Quick and dirty. I thought about dowel and even bought some walnut dowel, but I am just going to go for functional.
-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne
GaryK
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9521 posts in 882 days
posted 639 days ago
Hey Giz – You can dowel the drawers anytime you have time in between projects.
That’s the nice thing about them. You just have to make you rabbets deep enough to accomodate them.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
gizmodyne
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1674 posts in 984 days
posted 639 days ago
Good point. Hmmm..
-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne
GaryK
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9521 posts in 882 days
posted 639 days ago
Oh, yea don’t put staples where you might want to put your dowels. Brads put in opposite angles to each
other would work as well.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Dorje
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1767 posts in 891 days
posted 639 days ago
That’ll be a good looking case when you’ve completed it. Nice work so far! Doesn’t it feel good for things to come together relatively quickly?
I have a case under my bench right now. I’m trying to figure out what to do with its contents. I want to get rid of it. It’s interfering with how I want to hold work on the top (use of holdfasts and what have you). I’ve been frustrated on more than one occasion. But, it really all depends on how you use your bench I suppose.
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
Tomcat1066
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776 posts in 690 days
posted 639 days ago
Looks good so far Giz.
-- "Give me your poor tools, your tired steel, your huddled masses of rust." Yep, I ripped off the Statue of Liberty. That's how I roll!
gizmodyne
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1674 posts in 984 days
posted 638 days ago
Dorje:
I love it when a plan comes together….quickly. I am not a perfectionist, so that helps too. The big saw has been great too. I would not have been able to build this quickly with my old saw. (Also I never had a dado stack prior).
.This design has enough space between the workbench top and the cabinet for hold downs, etc. (I had to think about it for a second once you mentioned it.
The advantage is this should give me a huge amount of storage. I had only 5 power tools or so in the base of this thing. They were all in those massive plastic cases. I am going to redistribute them around the shop.
Tomcat: Thanks.
-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne
Mario
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882 posts in 945 days
posted 638 days ago
Very nice work. I look forward to seeing the finished project, thanks for the post.
-- Hope Never fails
PanamaJack
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4447 posts in 971 days
posted 636 days ago
Good goin’ Giz! I gotta a set of those universal fence clamps from Rockler also. They look good to me.
-- Carpe Lignum - Seize The Wood,
gizmodyne
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1674 posts in 984 days
posted 636 days ago
Thanks Mario and PJ
PJ:The clamps are great. I did not want to drill my fence.
-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne