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Planktop Workbench

Project by booyeah posted 479 days ago 731 views 1 time favorited 12 comments Add to Favorites
Planktop Workbench Planktop Workbench Planktop Workbench Click the pictures to enlarge them

A coworker asked I help him build a workbench for his garage. I, of course, jumped at the opportunity to get more time in the shop. It’s especially fun when it’s somebody else’s project and materials and they are learning alongside you.

The workbench is very simplistic and from a plan in ShopNotes. As the description eludes, it is built with three 10” planks for the worktop surface. What is interesting is the use of mortise and tenon joints in a non-traditional buil up method. Instead of drilling the through mortises with a dedicated mortiser or other method, the legs are split down the middle and using a dado blade, I was made cooresponding half laps. The legs were then glued up and the matching half laps created mortises!

Next Steps: Finish cutting and attaching the 8’ stretchers for both the top and bottom of the bench. Cut and install bottom shelving. Cut and bolt the top to the bench. Sand everything, then finish with some protective coating.

Cutting Half Laps

Legs Built

More Legs

Lower Stretchers Installed

Machine Screws

Down the Line

Through Tenon

8/6/07 Update

All the stretchers are installed and I’ve dry fit the top planks. Need to finish with some cross supports for the top and then cut and install the bottom shelving. Once everything is where it should be, I’ll disassemble to add some chamfers, fine tune anything, sand it down and finish it up.

10/29/7 Update

The bench is now completed and delivered to customer, he chose to not have me finish it so the look is a bit incomplete.

edit: got my Zooomr account back up and running so the images are now hotlinked. Enjoy!

Finished Project in the Customer's Garage

-- James, SE Michigan, novice sawdust creator


12 comments so far

View Bill's profile

Bill

2524 posts in 688 days


posted 479 days ago

I am looking forward to seeing the top for this workbench. Looks good so far though.

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

View mot's profile

mot

4851 posts in 564 days


posted 479 days ago

Doing a great job!

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

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

12244 posts in 688 days


posted 478 days ago

yes indeed… lookin’ GOOD ! :)

-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View Joel Tille's profile

Joel Tille

200 posts in 771 days


posted 478 days ago

Should be a sound bench when completed. Keep us posted.

-- Joel Tille

View Aubster's profile

Aubster

114 posts in 555 days


posted 478 days ago

Look like it going to strong. Can’t wait to see it when it’s finished.

-- A man who moves mountains starts one stone at a time.

View TheGravedigger's profile

TheGravedigger

199 posts in 551 days


posted 478 days ago

Looking good! The bridle joints and through-tenons are a nice touch. I’m curious to see how the top goes on.

-- Robert from Raymond, MS. "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is therefore not a practice, but a habit." - Aristotle

View booyeah's profile

booyeah

10 posts in 479 days


posted 472 days ago

I’ve not yet decided on how to finish the worktop. Any suggestions?

-- James, SE Michigan, novice sawdust creator

View oscorner's profile

oscorner

4573 posts in 838 days


posted 471 days ago

Nice work.

-- Jesus is Lord!

View TheGravedigger's profile

TheGravedigger

199 posts in 551 days


posted 471 days ago

I used Watco on mine, then found out that a 50:50 mix of boiled linseed oil & spar urethane would work just as well for a LOT less money. If you go that route, just be sure to add turpentine to the first coat to make it 1:1:1 so the first coat will penetrate.

A good coat of paste wax over the last coat will help keep glue etc. from sticking.

-- Robert from Raymond, MS. "We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence is therefore not a practice, but a habit." - Aristotle

View Dorje's profile

Dorje

1749 posts in 524 days


posted 471 days ago

Looks like a fun project!

-- Dorje (pronounced "door-jay"), Seattle, WA

View booyeah's profile

booyeah

10 posts in 479 days


posted 390 days ago

Gravedigger, I’ll let my client know, sounds like a great finish.

-- James, SE Michigan, novice sawdust creator

View Bill's profile

Bill

2524 posts in 688 days


posted 384 days ago

Looks like the bench came out well. Good job.

-- Bill, Turlock California, http://www.brookswoodworks.com

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