Well, it’s finally done. The workbench base is done and has been mated to the top.
I gave the finished base three coats of finish. The first was equal parts turpentine, BLO, & spar urethane. The next two were just BLO & spar urethane 50:50. All were applied with a rag & then rubbed dry like all finishes of this type. This gave me a good seal for the wood, and gloss wasn’t really a consideration. Yes, I know lots of folk will go for a proper finish, but I’ve already dinged the base a few times just moving it around. It IS a workbench, after all.
We then inverted the base onto the upturned top & checked for any gaps between the top of the legs and the top. There was only one, & I applied a shim to it rather than sand the other five down. I also plan to shim the gap in the foot mentioned in the previous installment.
Once this was done, I drilled the top of each leg to accept a 3/4” oak dowel to a depth of 2”. The dowels were then cut to extend 1” above the top of the leg. These locations were then transferred to the underside of the bench top, which was drilled with 1” holes. This gap was to allow for wood movement, but (hopefully) no play in the top.
Finally, we cleared everything away, set the base in position, and added the top. As hoped, the top slid easily into place on the dowels, but had absolutely no lateral movement once in place. This will make it easy to disassemble the top from the base if I ever need to move the bench. The end product is below:
The 38” total height ended up being perfect. I’ve gotten used to working on “standard height” structures for so long that it felt strange at first. However, I quickly realized that it would save a lot of strain on my back. I highly recommend customizing your bench & counter heights whenever possible if you’re taller or shorter than average.
The 30”w x19”h x23”d spaces between the legs are just begging for a pair of storage cabinets, so I guess that’ll be the next phase of construction. It’ll have to wait awhile, however, while I work out the details of drawer layout & design. Till then, it’s time to clean up the shop.
-- Robert from Raymond, MS. "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is therefore not a practice, but a habit." - Aristotle
10 comments so far
RobS
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1011 posts in 708 days
posted 354 days ago
Wow! I enjoyed the journey, thanks for sharing and great job!
-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX
oscorner
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4576 posts in 713 days
posted 354 days ago
Great bench and posting. You should have many years of productive work on this bench.
-- Jesus is Lord!
VTWoody
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95 posts in 459 days
posted 354 days ago
Robert,
I love your bench and will be building one in a similar way as soon as my lumber dries out a little more. I have a few questions, though.
1. I may have missed the overall dimensions, but how long is your bench, and with that in mind, did you have any particular reason for adding the the third leg unit?
2. This question is for you and for all those who already have workbenches…Round dogs, or Square, or a combination of the two? And the reasoning behind that choice, of course.
3. Did you offset the locations of the holes on the underside of the bench top, or is it just so heavy that it doesn’t move?
Great work!
TheGravedigger
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184 posts in 426 days
posted 354 days ago
Woody,
The benchtop is 74” long, 26” wide, and 3 1/4” thick. The surface is 38” high to match my 6’4” height. The third leg served two purposes: First, it provided additional support for the spruce top. Despite the thickness, I was afraid the soft spruce would sag over time, making a flat top difficult to maintain. The second was that it would reduce the run of the stretchers, which should cut down on bowing when force was applied along the length of the benchtop (as in planing). This should in turn put less stress on the mortise and tenon joints. The center legs are thicker to allow opposing 2” long tenons.
I used round dogs for one reason – I could easily bore round holes after the top was assembled, & didn’t have to make provisions for square holes during construction. As for which is REALLY better, we’ll have to rely on the experience of those that have had them for a while.
I’m not sure what you mean by “offset”. The 3/4” pegs were inserted into holes in the middle of each leg, and then went into 1” holes in the top. If by “offset” you mean that they were placed to bear against one side of the hole in the top, no. The holes are concentric to the pegs, and theoretically have 1/8” clearance all around. I have experienced no shifting so far. The top weighs about 150 pounds with the vises installed, and the top of the legs were left a little rough, and the top just stays in place.
-- Robert from Raymond, MS. "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is therefore not a practice, but a habit." - Aristotle
Dorje
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1704 posts in 399 days
posted 353 days ago
You made it to completion! Turned out super!
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
Jeff
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943 posts in 496 days
posted 349 days ago
Great bench, Gravedigger. Congrats on the completion. What the first project to break it in?
-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN
TheGravedigger
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184 posts in 426 days
posted 349 days ago
Hmm… not sure yet. I need to make a drill press stand, but my wife wants a movable plant rack (guess who’ll win that one?). For right now, though, I’m putting a lot of energy into finishing the loft over my woodshop area. Those who have seen my shop tour know how much I’ve got left to do. At least now my new Gorilla Gripper makes getting the plywood decking up the ladder a snap!
I figure the drill press stand and (also needed) grinder stand will give me a chance to hone my drawer-building technique prior to doing all the matching drawers needed for the cabinets that will go under the bench.
-- Robert from Raymond, MS. "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is therefore not a practice, but a habit." - Aristotle
Jeff
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943 posts in 496 days
posted 346 days ago
I’d be interested in seeing your stand for the drill press. I need to do the same thing. I want to build a some sort of a combination stand for the small drill press, grinder and possibly the planar. Lots of ideas in the noggin’ but nothing on paper. Maybe we should compare notes/ideas?
-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN
Hersh
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31 posts in 117 days
posted 115 days ago
Robert,
I’m new to LJ, and just finished your whole blog. I have to tell you that your story of the workbench is a pleasure to read and ponder. I’m strating a 24’ X 24’ shop and a maple work bench is my first real need when I get moved in.
Really a great job. I love this site. Thank You,
-- Hersh from Port Angeles, WA - Gotta Complete That Project!
HallTree
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563 posts in 169 days
posted 115 days ago
Very nice, well done.
-- Ron in Osseo, Minnesota