LumberJocks
DAILY DEALS Rockler 3-Pc. Roundover/Beading Bit Set at Rockler  |  DeWalt Gauge Narrow Crown Stapler at Tool King

Workbench

Project by Branden posted 391 days ago 2100 views 12 times favorited 27 comments Add to Favorites Watch

Hello All, it’s been a long time!

For those of you who knew I was building this, here it is a year later! I started it just after my daughter was born and did not realize how much my time for woodworking would decrease. Now I have a good reason to escape to the shop more often.

This bench was a lot of fun to build! I researched hundreds of designs for the last few years and then discovered this one. I replicated the design from Lon Schleining and his 2004 book, ”The Workbench: A Complete Guide to Creating Your Perfect Bench”, Taunton Press. Lon was also kind enough to consult with me over e-mail as I moved through construction. It is almost an exact replica except I used some Jatoba inlays for the top and vices and Lon actually took the time to create hand-cut dovetails for the aprons, something I have not perfected yet. I used my Inca-Jig.

What you might find most interesting is that 75% of the wood used was salvaged. I work for a housing program at a local University and we were about to take a load of wood to the dump. The top is an old 2” thick maple food prep table from the dining commons and the base of the bench is old oak butcher block lounge chairs and maple bed rails that were resawn and glued. The base is all solid wood, no hardware, as the plans called for through mortises with wedge reinforcements. The only wood I purchased was for the aprons, front vice and twin screw vice. All vice hardware and bench dogs are from Veritas.

Although it was a long process and sometimes painful, I would not hesitate to build another one! I’ll also look to updating my website soon now that I am getting into the shop more often.

Don’t hesitate to drop me a message if you have any questions!

-- Branden - Sacramento, California - www.ShopDogUSA.com


27 comments so far

View ChicoWoodnut's profile

ChicoWoodnut

894 posts in 693 days


posted 391 days ago

Nice Bench Branden. I’m working out a design for one and might have some questions soon.

Your not too far away.

-- Scott - Chico California http://chicowoodnut.home.comcast.net

View Max's profile

Max

13957 posts in 1151 days


posted 391 days ago

What a wonderful bench. Looks to nice to scratch up!!!!!

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

View 3fingerpat's profile

3fingerpat

881 posts in 546 days


posted 391 days ago

Beautiful bench, excellent work, congratulations on a job well done, hope you enjoy years of use on it.

-- "You get what you inspect, not what you expect"

View woodworm's profile (online now)

woodworm

7826 posts in 469 days


posted 391 days ago

A beautiful and most importantly rock-solid workbench.

-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.

View thetimberkid's profile

thetimberkid

1944 posts in 581 days


posted 391 days ago

Very nice work bench!

Thanks for the post

Callum

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

View jaxx's profile

jaxx

38 posts in 395 days


posted 391 days ago

Gee Wiz, i would be frightened to use this perfect bench. send fotos after hard use. its stunning

View Denappy's profile

Denappy

62 posts in 560 days


posted 391 days ago

Outstanding work, pretty enough to put in the house, and functional enough to use in the shop! Well done!

-- -=Den

View CharlieM1958's profile (online now)

CharlieM1958

7459 posts in 1096 days


posted 391 days ago

Great save on the salvaged wood!

Now, c’mon….. are you really going to use this beautiful thing and risk scratching it up? :-)

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

View scarpenter002's profile

scarpenter002

93 posts in 783 days


posted 391 days ago

Beautiful bench. Very nice contrast of woods and the dovetails look great.

-- Scott in Texas

View Rob Drown's profile

Rob Drown

324 posts in 711 days


posted 391 days ago

Beautiful, very nice work. Do you have more pictures? I’m building one similar to it. You are close. I’m in Roseville

-- Sharp tools and thin whispy shavings make woodworking a joy.

View woodnut's profile

woodnut

269 posts in 930 days


posted 391 days ago

Great bench. If you would like to build me one I would not care to pay for shipping. LOL!!!!!!!

-- F.Little

View Hawgnutz's profile

Hawgnutz

522 posts in 954 days


posted 391 days ago

Very nice bench. Good score on the used wood, too! People sometimes don’t realize just how much work it takes using used wood. Great job! I echo Jaxx’s comment. I would be too hesitant to use such a beautiful bench.

God Bless,
Hawg

-- Saving barnwood from the scrapyards

View Texasgaloot's profile

Texasgaloot

467 posts in 578 days


posted 390 days ago

Ooooooooooo…

Hey, what finish did you use?

Thanks for posting!

Mack

-- There's no tool like an old tool...

View Don Newton's profile

Don Newton

521 posts in 497 days


posted 390 days ago

I guess my wife was right….you can do a better job if you take your time. Nice bench!

-- Don, Pittsburgh

View jcees's profile

jcees

545 posts in 677 days


posted 390 days ago

Gorgeous looking bench. I’m a big fan of Mr. Schleining. Does it do the job you believed it would? Any changes you might make on a version 2? How about working height? Again, gorgeous execution. Can’t kick about the money for wood either. Gotta love that.

always,
J.C.

-- "Imagination is more important than knowledge" -- Albert Einstein

View SCOTSMAN's profile

SCOTSMAN

2226 posts in 463 days


posted 390 days ago

Very well done looks good enough to eat .As nice a bench as you’ll find how exactly did he help you with the dovetails ? And what incra jig do you have? please tell Alistair

-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease

View mreza's profile

mreza

28 posts in 406 days


posted 390 days ago

That looks very classy! Nice job!!

View mot's profile

mot

4901 posts in 914 days


posted 388 days ago

Smokin! A classic, man…just a classic!

-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)

View Wingstress's profile

Wingstress

206 posts in 393 days


posted 384 days ago

That table is so awesome! I don’t know how you can bring yourself to use it. I’d be so scared of scratching it. I currently use my old kitchen counter top in my shop. If I run out of clamps or I can’t strap it down, I just pull out my drill and screw a piece of wood to the table and wallah, I have a clamp, dog, fence, you name it.

But, enough about me, your bench is spectacular. I wish you many nights of creative woodworking.

-- Tom, Simsbury, CT

View ericandcandi's profile

ericandcandi

82 posts in 396 days


posted 377 days ago

AAAAHHHHHH….....My new coffee table…Great Job

-- ericandcandi, Louisiana- Home of the "LSU Tigers"

View Brent Livingwell's profile

Brent Livingwell

54 posts in 636 days


posted 373 days ago

Sweet, I built mine 6 months or so after my daughter was born and you will find out just how much wood work you can do with a baby in one hand and a hand plane in the other. Enjoy, and teach her to be a wood worker. In fact, I just cut a dovetail with her in one arm the other day, (it was in pine so pretty easy) just keep the sharp end away from you little one, and don’t tell your wife.

-- Things of the greatest worth are from the Earth. If you tell yourself that something is "close enough" it is not...do it again.

View Matthew Weatherly's profile

Matthew Weatherly

26 posts in 321 days


posted 318 days ago

Nice inlay detail. I also like that you used the Veritas bench pups.

Cheers,

-- Matthew Weatherly

View Cantputjamontoast's profile

Cantputjamontoast

169 posts in 310 days


posted 283 days ago

very nice bench

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

View Dusty56's profile

Dusty56

3392 posts in 566 days


posted 237 days ago

Very nice bench design…after more than 100 days now , are there any changes that you have considered ?

-- You know you're getting old when you know the difference between you're (you are) and your (belonging to you) AND how to use them in a sentence .

View Branden's profile

Branden

320 posts in 1014 days


posted 236 days ago

So far I would not change anything Dusty. This was 2 years in the maiking and planning which greatly aids with any skeptism. I have even knicked is a couple of time which was nice to get that over with. I am still trying to find the best spot in my shop as I am still designing and rearranging my space.

-- Branden - Sacramento, California - www.ShopDogUSA.com

View dustygirl's profile

dustygirl

730 posts in 607 days


posted 236 days ago

Wow what a great looking bench.

-- Dustygirl..Hastings,Ontario.. How much wood can 1 gal chuck if 1 gal can't cut wood?

View Dusty56's profile

Dusty56

3392 posts in 566 days


posted 233 days ago

thanks for the feedback ….sorry about the nicks

-- You know you're getting old when you know the difference between you're (you are) and your (belonging to you) AND how to use them in a sentence .

You must be signed in to post the comments.

  • View all advertisers
  • Advertise with us

DISCLAIMER: Any posts on LJ are posted by individuals acting in their own right and do not necessarily reflect the views of LJ. LJ will not be held liable for the actions of any user.

Latest Projects | Latest Blog Entries | Latest Forum Topics

HomeRefurbers.com

Latest Projects | Latest Blog Entries | Latest Forum Topics

GardenTenders.com :: gardening showcase