Some of you were interested in how I built my workbench. Here are a few more details.
The Top
The top is 1 3/4” x 24” x 60” prelaminated maple. Super cured infrared style. From woodcraft. $200
The Legs
Here you see the legs. They are made from 4×4 home depot material fir. I passed them trough the planer for a crisp look. They are biscuited with #20’s. In this pic. Witness me drilling out for the lag bolts and screws.
The short one is setup material.
Here I break the sharp corners of the legs before assembly.
Assembly
The diagonal clamp is to keep the side assemblies square. I glued one up per day. Then glued up the long stretchers on a separate day.
Vise
The vise is an Anant 52 1/2 copy from the Record mold. 
In order to install it to the proper height I added filler material. 
To install the maple skirt I routed out material so that the vice face is enclosed in maple. The gouges are where I tipped the router on accident.
Here is the skirt bolted in place with vise lined in maple
Finishing
After installing the worktop to the base by bolting from underneath through the stretchers, the bench was a mess. I had every tool out. 
More to Come
I still need to apply finish and benchdogs.
-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne
11 comments so far
WayneC
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5684 posts in 625 days
posted 608 days ago
Cool! (I could say more, but why? Cool pretty much says it all)
-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov
gizmodyne
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1479 posts in 618 days
posted 608 days ago
Thanks Wayne. It is functional too.
-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne
Ryan Corrigan
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59 posts in 611 days
posted 608 days ago
That’s a great idea with the enclosed vise. I just double stick tape some 1/4” ply to the faces. You’ve got the better idea.
Ryan
-- Ryan Corrigan Sadieville, KY http://www.CelticCrossWood.com
gizmodyne
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1479 posts in 618 days
posted 608 days ago
I saw it in a book. There are about 6 ways to do it. I have never seen double stick tape used for this. But live and learn.
-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne
David
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1830 posts in 667 days
posted 608 days ago
Giz – Very nice! And I must say timely for me as I need to build a bench myself. A right of passage we all navigate at some point . . . I greatly appreciate the photos and description. Looks like a great addition to a great shop!
-- http://foldingrule.blogspot.com
gizmodyne
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1479 posts in 618 days
posted 608 days ago
Yes. I wish for more pictures in blogs on this site.
I took a shortcut with buying the top, but I was not ready to learn to flatten large planks.
You should definitely build one David. Now I have more space to stack junk.
-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne
Jeff
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967 posts in 622 days
posted 607 days ago
Thanks for the pics! Did I read in another post somewhere your bench was inspired by the one in Matthew Teague’s book? I have that book and the prefab top reminds me of that… It may have been another jock.
I lucked into an industrial strength door last fall that I plan to convert to a table top. This baby easily weighs 85 – 100 lbs! It has a maple veneer finish over some super dense wood composite. It was meant to be hung in a steal frame in an office. Not sure how I’m going to trim it down yet (it’s 74” tall; too big for my shop space) but I can’t wait to try. It seems a shame to trim it but I need a bench worse than I need a door…
Where did you get the Anant vise? I’m not familiar with them.
-- Jeff, St. Paul, MN
gizmodyne
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1479 posts in 618 days
posted 607 days ago
Hi,
Yes the bench is based on his. Although I took a few liberties. You should do it.
The vise is from highlandwoodworking.
Supposedly Anant bought the molds for a bunch of Record vises and planes. Made in India, I believe.
I like it.
-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne
Sawdust2
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868 posts in 616 days
posted 564 days ago
Nice legs, fir sher.
If you take the 3/4 ply off the filler you could probably use the bench dog on the vise.
Just an observation, not a criticism. I probably wouldn’t want to drill holes in the top, either.
-- No piece is cut too short. It was meant for a smaller project.
PanamaJack
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4452 posts in 605 days
posted 564 days ago
Nice Bench, Dog…I mean Gizmo!
Really nice job here Giz!
-- Carpe Lignum - Seize The Wood,
gizmodyne
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1479 posts in 618 days
posted 564 days ago
Sawdust: Thanks for the idea. That’s not a bad idea. (That’s solid maple.. no ply.) However, I want to keep the vise lined to protect the stuff I clamp. I guess I could lower it. But then I would be limited to the vise opening. I will drill soon( summer). Just have not gotten around to it.
Panama: Thanks.
-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne