| Project by langski93 | posted 1311 days ago | 2430 views | 7 times favorited | 17 comments |  |
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This workbench replaces my first one, built with 2×4s and plywood then mounted on wheels for a small shop. I got a lot of use out of my original, but the minute I got into hand planning, I realized I could not have a bench that did a hula dance when I applied the smallest amount of elbow grease. This is a step up.
So, here it is. 80”x 31” (#4.5 and #7 Bailey’s shown) top made from 1.25” x 2.75” laminated strips of soft maple set on edge. Each end of the top is 1.75”x 3.5” hard maple, breadboarded with pins. The front three courses are 1.75”x 3.5” hard maple to accomodate the wagon vice and I figured this area will get the most wear. All perimeter edges are beveled save a 17” area to the left front left square in anticipation of a face vice. I am concerned I will lose my nice long runway for planing with a vice there. Any thoughts or comments?
The top is mounted on 3.75”x 3.75” legs and bases. All mortise and tenoned, including the 1.75”x 6” stretchers with hardware. I am able to knock it down in case I get crazy enough to move it.
The top was laminated in small sections, using 10 K Besseys, assorted quick, pipe & Jorgensen wooden clamps for alignment. I built it up in small sections until I had two sections that had become too wide to run through the power planer. Finished it with the handplanes, the two Baileys and a Lie Nielsen #5.5 (sweet). Three coats of tunge oil gave it a nice patina.
The vice hardware is pretty straight forward, though I reverse mounted the flange on the right, the one closest to the handle, so as the resistence on the end of the bench increased it would not strip out the screws that held the flange. Now the flange and the screws move in the same direction as the load, with the pressure against the end piece. I am not sure how clear that will be in the photo.
All in all a worthwhile project that I must admit took longer than I thought, but a project I should have done 8 years ago. Thanks for looking.
Langski93
-- Langski, New Hampshire
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17 comments so far
Cantputjamontoast
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306 posts in 1604 days
#1 posted 1311 days ago
Very nice job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
-- "Not skilled enough to wipe jam on toast!"
bigike
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4023 posts in 1460 days
#2 posted 1311 days ago
sweet very nice job i like the tail vice i want to do a bench just like this but with the vice on the other end cuz im a lefty
-- Ike, Big Daddies Woodshop, http://www.icombadaniels@yahoo.com
DocK16
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1124 posts in 2258 days
#3 posted 1311 days ago
Very nice, I have been working on a bench of almost same design for the past 2 weeks. This gives me incentive to get it done.
-- DocK, WV
mjlauro
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244 posts in 1932 days
#4 posted 1311 days ago
What is it about a great workbench that gets me excited?.....I don’t know, but great job!
a1Jim
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87312 posts in 1748 days
#5 posted 1311 days ago
Looks good, nice planes super bench
-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/
Rob Drown
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639 posts in 2004 days
#6 posted 1311 days ago
Absolutely beautiful!!!!
-- The expectations of life depend upon diligence; the mechanic that would perfect his work must first sharpen his tools. Confucius, 经过艰苦的努力的梦想可以成真
woodworm
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14104 posts in 1762 days
#7 posted 1311 days ago
Beautiful workbench!
-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.
Splinterman
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23060 posts in 1533 days
#8 posted 1311 days ago
Very good attention to detail….....great job.
Scott Bryan
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27262 posts in 1993 days
#9 posted 1311 days ago
That is a gorgeous bench. Any of us would be proud to have a bench like this in our shop.
-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine
Walnut_Weasel
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360 posts in 1394 days
#10 posted 1311 days ago
Nice work. I have to build myself a nice bench when time and money permit. I hope mine turns out this nice.
-- James - www.walnutweasel.wordpress.com
woodenships
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33 posts in 1341 days
#11 posted 1311 days ago
Sweet…I can see the Hardwood edges.
My bench is a maple hardwood floor on top of 1” Baltic Birch…I’ll be posting pics as soon as I clear off the tool cabinet I’m finishing.
I think one day I will rebench in a couples years.
Looks real good!!.I need a few good hand planes now.
Dave
-- "Safety is habit you start and always keep!"
skeeter
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233 posts in 1512 days
#12 posted 1310 days ago
nice bench. If you don’t want to lose the “runway” then put a face vise on the other side of the bench. It seems like you have alot of room.
-- My philosophy: Somewhere between Norm and Roy
Bob A in NJ
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1095 posts in 2170 days
#13 posted 1310 days ago
Very nice bench indeed!
-- Bob A in NJ
langski93
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62 posts in 1604 days
#14 posted 1310 days ago
Skeeter,
I thought about that, but I beveled around the entire bench except for that area on the front. I would not have the two top edges, one from the face of the vice and the other from the bench itself mating. The second issue is that there is not as much room as it looks, although I could probably swing it if issue #1 did not concern me.
Thanks for all kind words.
-- Langski, New Hampshire
Jim Bertelson
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3337 posts in 1336 days
#15 posted 1310 days ago
Fine looking bench. About to start looking for planes myself. Just have an old Stanley I bought new probably about 1971, it probably needs a new blade.
-- Jim, Anchorage Alaska
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