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My Workbench

Project by mzmac posted 404 days ago 1578 views 21 times favorited 33 comments Add to Favorites Watch

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.

http://www.grizzly.com/products/Cabinet-Maker-s-Vise/H7788


33 comments so far

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

9520 posts in 880 days


posted 404 days ago

That’s one stout looking bench!

Nice job!

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

View Denappy's profile

Denappy

62 posts in 574 days


posted 404 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

View SwedishIron's profile

SwedishIron

79 posts in 532 days


posted 404 days ago

Great job, that bench looks like a real beast and will server you very well indeed.

-- Scott, Colorado

View mtnwild's profile

mtnwild

2013 posts in 419 days


posted 404 days ago

Like your way of thinking and your craftsmanship. You did yourself proud. Many years of use ahead of you there.

-- mtnwild (Jack), It's not what you see, it's how you see it.

View Rxmpo's profile

Rxmpo

119 posts in 637 days


posted 404 days ago

Great work!!

View Max's profile

Max

14333 posts in 1165 days


posted 404 days ago

Very nice sturdy bench. I do like your bench dogs!!!

-- Max "Desperado", Salt Lake City, UT

View BarryW's profile

BarryW

871 posts in 798 days


posted 404 days ago

great bench…and the price is right….

-- /\/\/\ BarryW /\/\/\ Stay so busy you don't have time to die.

View woodworm's profile

woodworm

8135 posts in 482 days


posted 404 days ago

I second Barry’s compliment.

-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.

View thetimberkid's profile

thetimberkid

1944 posts in 595 days


posted 404 days ago

Very nice bench!

Thanks for the post

Callum

-- For wood working podcasts with a twist check out http://thetimberkid.com/

View snowdog's profile

snowdog

808 posts in 874 days


posted 404 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"..

View CelticDreamer's profile

CelticDreamer

35 posts in 546 days


posted 404 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!

View n7doc's profile

n7doc

10 posts in 429 days


posted 404 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?

View Karson's profile

Karson

25792 posts in 1292 days


posted 404 days ago

Great using bench. The fuctionality is all there. A great job.

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

View scarpenter002's profile

scarpenter002

93 posts in 796 days


posted 404 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

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

7597 posts in 1110 days


posted 404 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"

View Hawgnutz's profile

Hawgnutz

522 posts in 968 days


posted 404 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

View PaBull's profile

PaBull

292 posts in 556 days


posted 404 days ago

Very nice bench, I think work benches should look more like this and less like coffee tables….

-- http://www.twinoaksgrowers.com

View SCOTSMAN's profile

SCOTSMAN

2238 posts in 477 days


posted 404 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

View Texasgaloot's profile

Texasgaloot

467 posts in 592 days


posted 404 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...

View Don Newton's profile

Don Newton

528 posts in 510 days


posted 404 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

View woodworm's profile

woodworm

8135 posts in 482 days


posted 403 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

-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.

View pedrorc's profile

pedrorc

69 posts in 849 days


posted 400 days ago

well done, fantastic

-- Pedro Rodrigues da Costa, Sintra, Portugal

View John Gray's profile

John Gray

1743 posts in 777 days


posted 296 days ago

First time I’ve seen this project. Great idea and construction keep up the good work.

-- Only the Shadow knows....................

View roman's profile

roman

1106 posts in 785 days


posted 296 days ago

View Cantputjamontoast's profile

Cantputjamontoast

172 posts in 324 days


posted 294 days ago

do you have a drawing of this bench?

-- "Not skilled enough to wipe jam on toast!"

View mzmac's profile

mzmac

76 posts in 559 days


posted 293 days ago

no sorry I do not the top is 24×60 and it is 36 tall

View DaveR's profile

DaveR

1516 posts in 612 days


posted 293 days ago

mzmac, this is a great looking bench. I like the look. If you’re interested in sharing the design, I’d be happy to make a SketchUp model of your bench for you. We could get together via e-mail or something to work out the details. Of course if you don’t want to do it, that’s fine, too.

-- Until you spread your wings, you'll have no idea how far you can walk.

View Mark Shymanski's profile

Mark Shymanski

1554 posts in 604 days


posted 293 days ago

Great looking bench.

-- ...it's rennovation time!!!

View Bob A in NJ's profile

Bob A in NJ

521 posts in 890 days


posted 224 days ago

I wish I had room in my shop for one of these, I love it.

-- Bob A in NJ

View Christopher's profile

Christopher

563 posts in 812 days


posted 201 days ago

This is a massive beauty! This is the first time I have seen this beast, should last through world war 3 and 4!

-- "That Government is Best that Governs The Least."-Jefferson

View anthony's profile

anthony

22 posts in 662 days


posted 196 days ago

Great job! your workbench
Tony

-- anthony pelton

View EricR's profile

EricR

10 posts in 133 days


posted 118 days ago

Very nice! I like the chunky/sturdy look – should last a good long time. I think something like this will be my next project.

-- Eric, Oklahoma

View Tony Ennis's profile

Tony Ennis

71 posts in 28 days


posted 20 days ago

Very nice. Tell us more about the front vise.

-- Tony

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