| Project by mzmac | posted 40 days ago | 686 views | 11 times favorited | 22 comments | ![]() |
I have wanted to make a bench for some time now. The problem was I couldn’t settle on a good plan. I was discouraged by the price and availability of components for the benches. And I didn’t want to end up with a flimsy unusable bench.
After many hours of thought this is what I came up with.
I used 4×6 landscaping timbers for the legs and cross-members. $34.00 There size, price, and weight were just the ticket. I glued up the top out of 14 2×4s and 4 2×6s $35.00 I put a simple box/finger joint on the corners backed up with a 3/8 oak dowel. It isn’t the hardest top, but it will work great in my shop and on my wallet. The hardware for the end vise was purchased from Grizzly for $31.95. The hardware for the shaker inspired side vise was pieced together at the local hardware store for less then $10. I built my own bench dogs. I can’t see why anyone would want to buy dogs when building your own is this easy. Its not the prettiest bench out there, but for under $120.00 total, it leaves you with leftover money to buy what we all really want….....more woodworking tools.
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22 comments so far
GaryK
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8541 posts in 515 days
posted 40 days ago
That’s one stout looking bench!
Nice job!
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Denappy
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60 posts in 209 days
posted 40 days ago
Wow, that is an awesome bench, and I really like how you pulled it off with those materials! You have inspired me to add something like this to my list! Great work!!
-- -=Den
SwedishIron
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13 posts in 168 days
posted 40 days ago
Great job, that bench looks like a real beast and will server you very well indeed.
-- Scott, Colorado
mtnwild
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285 posts in 54 days
posted 40 days ago
Like your way of thinking and your craftsmanship. You did yourself proud. Many years of use ahead of you there.
-- mtnwild, It's not what you see, it's how you see it.
Rxmpo
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68 posts in 272 days
posted 40 days ago
Great work!!
Max
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6430 posts in 800 days
posted 40 days ago
Very nice sturdy bench. I do like your bench dogs!!!
-- Max "Desperado", Salt Lake City, UT
BarryW
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198 posts in 434 days
posted 40 days ago
great bench…and the price is right….
-- /\/\/\ BarryW /\/\/\ Stay so busy you don't have time to die.
woodworm
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927 posts in 118 days
posted 40 days ago
I second Barry’s compliment.
-- Regards, Woodworm
thetimberkid
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1680 posts in 230 days
posted 40 days ago
Very nice bench!
Thanks for the post
Callum
-- Look great, get your TTK merchandise now! http://www.printfection.com/thetimberkid/ Check out my site http://thetimberkid.blogspot.com/
snowdog
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674 posts in 510 days
posted 40 days ago
The price is right and it sure as heck beats the bench I have not made yet since you have one and I still don’t due to my over thinking how and what I want to make :)
It looks like a great job. Don’t forget to put your name and a date on it.
-- "so much to learn and so little time"..
CelticDreamer
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30 posts in 181 days
posted 40 days ago
I agree with Gary, that is one stout looking bench! The joinery is fantastic and the price is unbeatable. How long did it take you to build it?
-- last night I played a blank tape at full volume - the mime next door went nuts!
n7doc
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8 posts in 65 days
posted 40 days ago
Great job Gary, I too am not flush with money like so many woodworkers. I have hesitated to get too involved in woodworking because I may not be able to generate enough excess cash. You have inspired me with this bench. Where there is a will there is a way. You’re an inspiration for all of us who watch our pennies.
-- Bob in Western Michigan -- Have you hugged your tools today?
Karson
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13159 posts in 928 days
posted 40 days ago
Great using bench. The fuctionality is all there. A great job.
-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com
scarpenter002
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29 posts in 432 days
posted 40 days ago
Great bench at a great price. Very nice job. I am sure you will get many great years out of that bench.
-- Scott in Texas
CharlieM1958
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4468 posts in 745 days
posted 40 days ago
Great job at a bargain price! I’ve been thinking about a bench for a long time, and this looks like one I could afford and possibly even build. Thanks!
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
Hawgnutz
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505 posts in 603 days
posted 40 days ago
Very nice build! Economy without scrimping on the important details. I like your bench dogs, too, and agree with your comment on how expensive they can be to buy! I love your side vise, too. I have been planning to put one on my table using an old pipe clamp setup. You should have years and years of use out of it!
God Bless,
Hawg
-- Saving barnwood from the scrapyards
PaBull
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243 posts in 192 days
posted 40 days ago
Very nice bench, I think work benches should look more like this and less like coffee tables….
-- http://www.twinoaksgrowers.com
SCOTSMAN
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529 posts in 112 days
posted 39 days ago
I commend you on you bench.I was thinking along the same lines myself but was always put off the idea by others saying the wood would be too soft etc.What does it matter this bench is fantastic well done you have now inspired me to do this for pine. from the home depot or b and q as they are called here anyway what matters it a jot if you scrape the surface it is cheap enough to relplace the tope ecvery few years tyour’s is tyhthe right way to go kindest regards Alistair
-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease
Texasgaloot
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419 posts in 227 days
posted 39 days ago
Now, as a card carrying member of Bottom Feeding Woodworkers Intl’, that is appealing to me. Snowdog went a long way to summing up my feelings on benches, and here I am building a foot-powered lathe from dimensional lumber for under $50 (so far.) This gets worse: My daddy is a woodworker. When he was in Jr. High, he was given a bunch of old tongue and groove flooring and a speed vise. He turned the T&G sideways, ran through-bolts, and handplaned the tongues off, bored dog holes, and built a stand for his new bench top. I grew up using that bench, and he’s still using it today, 60 years later. Soft, shmoft. I say, well done, you! Inspiring!
-- There's no tool like an old tool...
Don Newton
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136 posts in 146 days
posted 39 days ago
Am I the only one who sees the hidden benefit to this bench? Since the base is made from landscape timbers, if his wife throws all his stuff out into the yard the bench will survive intact!!! Strong and functional, well done.
-- Don, Pittsburgh
woodworm
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927 posts in 118 days
posted 39 days ago
It looks heavy enough for one man to move it.
I think he needs his wife’s assistance to move it out into the yard. In either case, she will not.. LOL
-- Regards, Woodworm
pedrorc
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68 posts in 484 days
posted 36 days ago
well done, fantastic
-- Pedro Rodrigues da Costa, Sintra, Portugal