Workbench Evolution

That’s a neat, well-organized space you’ve made for yourself. It looks like it’d be a pleasure to work in. Thanks for sharing!

-- Robb

Lookin’ good.

-- Thos. Angle, Jordan Valley, Oregon

T-Track in a workbench? I’ve never seen that before, but that’s a brilliant idea – especially if you don’t have bench dogs.

That is one great looking bench that should be around for quite a while.

-- Hope Never fails

After spending the last 4 weeks building/setting up my shop I am almost ready to reveal to the world. My last major project is my central work bench. I have the top sorted but still deciding on the base structure. I hope it looks and works as least as good as your!

-- The wood slayer - Yes dear I did plan to make more kindling out of that wood I have been drying for the last year - honest!

Great project. I like the idea of using the hold-down clamp on the workbench – flexible, functional and looks very neat. Your workshop is also great! – very conducive if I can use the word.

-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.

Every thing is exactly as said above, BUT the big thing has to be your use of T-track. You may well be on to the 21st Cent replacement for bench dogs.

-- RTB. stray animals are just looking for love

i actually like version one…but its great that you are learning and growing—-so i have a chance?? haha…one of my goals is to rip everything out of my one car garage this summer and make it a functional and dedicated woodworking space…so these are all great ideas…

-- Matt--Proud LJ since 2007

nice bench. interesting support design – on the horizontal frame members why did you do it that way? to clarify: in the 3rd pic, the long side facing the camera has its horizontal support on the bottom, whereas the side facing away from the camera has its support further up.

also, how does the t-track work vs. bench dogs?

I like to sit on a stool when I’m laying out or designing stuff, so the horizontal support on the bottom serves as my foot rest (I know, you can’t believe I’d actually design it with a foot rest). I think it would’ve been fine had I moved it up even with the other one. The clamps work better then bench dogs in my opinion. If I want them to behave like a bench dog, I just clamp a piece of oak across the table with the hold-downs. The t-track gives me a simple, no hassle solution to hold work pieces or equipment (jointer, planer, etc…) on the workbench.

Napaman: I should probably have added upper cabinets to make for more storage, plus my cabinets have shelves which limits me to how much I can store (pile) in them. Maybe this summer I’ll expand on my workshop!

Bhack: I haven’t forgotten about you I promise! I take my GRE on Tuesday, and I’m working on making a sketch up file of this workbench. You will be the first person I send it to I promise!

-- Always keep a stash of band-aids in your workshop!

ok, thanks.

good luck on the GRE.

Thank you, I’ve been studying about my rear of for the last 2 months (got to love having a slow job!). AaronK, I just looked at your profile. Are you attending West Virginia University? If so, thanks for the football coach you gave us…would you like him back? This season was painful!!!!

-- Always keep a stash of band-aids in your workshop!

I too, am finishing up my shop and loved the idea of the t-track. Can you get them wide and deep enough to double as a miter gauge track….because I could also see where this would second as a mack-daddy outfeed table!

I would also love to see your sketches if you wouldn’t mind?

-- Semper Fi, Randy Sr.