| Project by Rick Coker | posted 504 days ago | 687 views | 3 times favorited | 12 comments |  |
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I finally got tired of constructing projects on top of my tablesaw and decided to construct a workbench like I had seen in a woodworking magazine. It was another good project allowing me to get my twin sons (age 15) involved in woodworking. The workbench is constructed out of solid maple with an oak apron. The vice came from Lee Valley. The only think left to do is cut and install the drawer fronts, and drill the dog holes.
The tabletop looked so good after we finished, I hate to bang it up. I put several coats of polyurethane on it and it seems to be a very tough finish. Anyway, its a workbench and is meant to be used.
Overall dimensions are 26” x 55” .... it is very heavy and dead flat so it should be a joy to build on.
Other Photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rickcoker/sets/72157600909633072/
-- -- Rick Coker
Your Online Shop - Your Support Is Greatly Appreciated - Your Woodworking Showcase - 3 Ways To Help, Financially - Your Woodworking Community
12 comments so far
woodspar
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684 posts in 639 days
posted 504 days ago
Nice work – looks like you had some good help. I need a bench…someday. I like the storage.
-- John
Bob Babcock
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1807 posts in 626 days
posted 504 days ago
Very nice Rick. Just one problem….you’ll need to build another so they won’t fight over who gets this one….:)
-- Bob, Carver Massachusetts, Sawdust Maker http://www.capecodbaychallenge.org
Dorje
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1749 posts in 537 days
posted 504 days ago
good looking bench! Did you glue up the top? How thick is it?
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
Greg Mitchell
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1378 posts in 609 days
posted 504 days ago
Great job on the bench Rick. You will many years of use out of it.
-- Greg Mitchell--Lowell, AR--gdamitchell@sbcglobal.net
Damian Penney
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733 posts in 531 days
posted 504 days ago
Great looking bench Rick, I so need to build myself one…
-- I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso
Max
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6627 posts in 813 days
posted 504 days ago
Looks like you helpers enjoyed themselves. Nice bench, will last for generations I am sure…
-- Max "Desperado", Salt Lake City, UT
jockmike2
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4506 posts in 787 days
posted 504 days ago
Nice looking bench, Looks like it’ll give you years of service and then some. mike
-- Mike. Profisher50@yahoo.com
MsDebbieP
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12282 posts in 701 days
posted 504 days ago
wonderful bench
15 and in the shop with Dad. That sure says a lot. :)
Well done (on both accounts)
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
Rick Coker
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12 posts in 556 days
posted 504 days ago
I wanted to build the top from 8/4 maple, but the local supplier only had a couple of boards so I decided to build it up out of 5/4 lumber. It turned out to be just over an inch. I backed it from below with 3/4 plywood to make it a little more solid. It turned out to be very solid. Here is a photo of the slab:
-- -- Rick Coker
Tony
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624 posts in 570 days
posted 504 days ago
Hi Rick – Nice looking bench – lovely finish, it seems a shame to use it.
You will have to watch the top carefully, if you bonded/glued the planks to the plywood you will have created uneven stresses in the work top, the plywood will not change much with the humidity, the planks will, you may find, as I did that the work top will curl or split as it dries or becomess wetter. If you have a stable environement, then you should not get too many problems. Something to remember for next time!
-- Tony - All things are possible, just some things are more difficult than others! - SKYPE: Heron2005 (http://www.poydatjatuolit.fi)
Dorje
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1749 posts in 537 days
posted 503 days ago
Do you have a sheet of plywood the same size as the top under there? And, how did you fasten what you do have under there?
-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA
Rick Coker
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12 posts in 556 days
posted 503 days ago
The plywood was used on the side with the vice to give me something more solid to attach it to … it is connected with screws only … I did seal all sides of the top before attaching it hoping that expansion would be minimal … the wood was also left in the shop area for a couple of weeks to adjust to the humidity level … hoping for the best. I attached the plywood with screws only and left a little room for expansion by using oversized holes thru the plywood. I’ll let you know how it goes!
-- -- Rick Coker