After three trips to two different Home Depots over a week and a half, I think I’ve found enough decent boards for the bench. I ended up with (8) 2×12x12’ and (4) 2×8x12’ boards. I started looking through the 2×12x16’ boards but they were too unmanageable for me to pick through by myself. Most of the 12’ boards had the pith running in the middle of the board. I tried to pick the ones that were clear on both sides of the pith, so I could at least rip two top pieces from the sides. The total cost of the boards was $135. Here they are sandwiched between the cars:
I went through and rough cut the boards. From left to right, they are the top pieces, leg pieces, and stretcher pieces. The scrap is in the back. There was still some nice wood left in the offcuts. There might be enough to make this sawbench/sawhorse combo . I also ended up with a full extra board, but I might need it if any of the pieces behaves badly while drying.
The moisture content of the boards ranges from 9% to 15%. I can probably start working on the drier boards this weekend. It was interesting feeling the difference between the boards. The wet boards are so much heavier and feel cool to the touch. I think I know now how to get a feeling for the moisture content by touch.
I also ordered the hardware (twin screw vise, quick release vise, bench dogs, and hold down) from Lee Valley. The total cost of the hardware was $500. The only other thing I’ll need to buy is the hardwood for the vise chops. I’ll need to stop by a real lumberyard for that.
-- Kevin
10 comments so far
GaryK
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9537 posts in 886 days
posted 611 days ago
Looks like you have the makings of a great bench!
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Scott Bryan
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20754 posts in 720 days
posted 611 days ago
Hi Kevin,
This is looking really good so far.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
Dorje
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1767 posts in 895 days
posted 611 days ago
I like following you guys doing the Holtzapffel benches…keep up the posts – we’ll be watching!
The wood looks really good. You stated that the MC was 9-15%...you also stated that you’re getting a feel for the moisture content for the wood based on feel – which I can totally support. Do you have a moisture meter? If so, which kind. I’d imagine that the feed back you get from the meter and the physical feedback could tell you a lot!
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
GaryK
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9537 posts in 886 days
posted 611 days ago
I can’t get a good look but is that douglas fir or SYP?
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Mario
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882 posts in 949 days
posted 610 days ago
keep the updates comming.
Looks good so far, thanks
-- Hope Never fails
kem
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56 posts in 616 days
posted 610 days ago
Hi Dorje,
I have a Wagner L606 analog moisture meter. Using it has been a revelation in understanding wood. Last weekend, I pruned a tree and it’s been interesting watching the MC on one of the larger cut branches!
-- Kevin
kem
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56 posts in 616 days
posted 610 days ago
Hi Gary, it’s Douglas fir. Out here in Colorado, we only have pressure treated SYP in Home Depot and Lowe’s. So far the fir has been easy to work with. I was a little worried about ripping the boards without jointing an edge, but with only a couple of exceptions, I didn’t have to fight to get them through the table saw. Most of them cut like butter.
-- Kevin
toph
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1 post in 608 days
posted 608 days ago
Kevin,
Bench looks good so far! Are you planning on mounting the twin-screw vice on the tail?
I got the Schwartz book and am enjoying it so far. I like his definiion of a bench as a “three-dimensional clamping surface.” I find my current benches lacking in the number of ways that I can clamp work. I really want to build one now!
—Christopher Butler
-- -- Christopher Butler, Westminster, CO
kem
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56 posts in 616 days
posted 608 days ago
Hey Toph,
I’m gonna mount the twin-screw on the front and the quick-release as an end vise. With the wide 24” spacing of the twin-screw on the front, it can hold boards against the face of the bench for edge work. I chose the veritas because it has the chain drive for one-handed operation and costs only a little more than two wooden screws. Schwarz seems a bit critical of the twin-screw face vise in the book (p. 25), but seems to be a proponent of it with the Holtzapffel design. I think the wide spacing of the screws addresses most of his criticisms in the book.
-- Kevin
GaryK
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9537 posts in 886 days
posted 608 days ago
I miss douglas fir. I used to live in California and that’s all we got there.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.