LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner

Project Information

Finally finished ( well almost ) a Nicholson Bench. This is my first real bench. Learned quite a bit about hand tools. Flattening the top taught me to let the hand plane do the work you just need to move it in the right direction. Its interesting moving more towards hand tools. At first I seemed to want to fight them but after a while I started to get the hang of it.

Couple of deviations. I couldn't stand all that empty space behind the front apron so I made my bench 27.5 inches deep and used the middle part to put in some tool storage. 5 Box containing, marking, measuring, and planes ( 3 block, rabbet skew, small plow, large shoulder, router ). These turned out to be very functional. Also poor a saw storage area on the back right side for Dovetails saws, and carcass saws, Will probably add a few as I move forward. Large shelf underneath for bench accessories I need to build yet ( i.e. Bench Hooks and Shooting Boards ). The more I move towards hand tools the more I like working with wood. Go figure.

SYP for the bench, except for some Walnut highlights here and there. Threw a couple of coats of Waterlox on it to just protect it a bit from stupid stuff I do constantly.

Used 3 Evans Wood Screws. Two for the face vise and one for the wagon vise. Face vise has 18.5" between the screws and 5 inches on either side. Wagon vise can easily hold a 2 X 12 with room to spare. I made some mistakes along the way but none proved fatal. Actually started out doing Schwarz's design and changed midway ( Schwarz has an tendency to angle everything and I don't think it really adds any functionality. Made me nuts ). Made for a few missing holes on the front apron but oh well. Sturdy, heavy, and very useable.

Gallery

Comments

· Registered
Joined
·
47 Posts
great looking bench!
you'll always remember your first one :)
 

· Registered
Joined
·
652 Posts
nice…

I also like working with hand tools. It just feels really satisfying being able to do it by hand.
I remember long ago, thinking I needed power tools to get accuracy, but that's not true.

It should serve you well, both the bench and your new found hand tool skills…

Good luck with your new bench.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,819 Posts
Nice work WW. I've always liked the large aprons on Nicholson's. All the storage you put in is great to have frequent tools at hand.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,156 Posts
Very Impressive! You must feel proud and rightly so
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,217 Posts
Great looking and capable. What's not to love?
 

· Registered
Joined
·
16 Posts
Great looking Bench and congrats on such a great first build. I'm hoping to tackle the same kind of project this coming spring/summer when I get my Garage complete. Keep up the great work!
 

· Registered
Joined
·
66 Posts
Nice job. I also have a nicholson and love it. I built mine before seeing Schwartz's angled legs and I agree that they just complicate a simple design. I used a drawing from an old book showing Nicholsons plan. Also very clever to store tools under the top. I have been using mine without finish and need to get some on and then i will post.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
140 Posts
Fantastic craftsmanship sir, man at first glance that beast looks super heavy, I thought it was solid 10" wide or whatever width those boards are.

This is another to-do project this spring or summer. I have a few questions about your build if your up for it.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
41 Posts
Feel free to ask away.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
29 Posts
Wow an amazing bench, nice and solid and should last a lifetime of woodworking. Awesome job.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
177 Posts
I like the storage bins down the center. Most benches don't have that and I think it's a loss of useful storage space. An observation though; I bet the finger holes let in a lot of saw dust, wood chips, etc. in to those storage bins….which will require frequent cleaning. Have you thought about using a solid piece of wood and cut away a portion of the lid support beneath the lid near one end so all you have to do is push down on that end and it will pop up?

Just a thought.

Nice bench.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
41 Posts
I had the same thought on the holes in the Storage Bin Tops. I will update after using the bench for six months and let you know my results. One thing to keep in mind is the storage bins come out. They are not fixed. They have a 1" holes on each end that I use to pop them out. That makes the cleaning simple. Also, it allows me to get at any tools that are hard to reach.
 

· In Loving Memory
Joined
·
8,391 Posts
Looks like a wonderful bench and a great build too. I like your idea with the storage in the middle and also the large size.
 
Top