| Project by langski93 | posted 36 days ago | 917 views | 5 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
17 comments so far
Cantputjamontoast
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173 posts in 328 days
posted 36 days ago
Very nice job!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
-- "Not skilled enough to wipe jam on toast!"
bigike
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209 posts in 184 days
posted 36 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,www.icombadaniels@yahoo.com
DocK16
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710 posts in 983 days
posted 36 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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239 posts in 657 days
posted 36 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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16862 posts in 473 days
posted 36 days ago
Looks good, nice planes super bench
-- Jim from Heirloom Woodshop Southern Oregon
Rob Drown
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324 posts in 729 days
posted 36 days ago
Absolutely beautiful!!!!
-- Sharp tools and thin whispy shavings make woodworking a joy.
woodworm
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8255 posts in 486 days
posted 35 days ago
Beautiful workbench!
-- masrol, kuala lumpur, MY.
Splinterman
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4826 posts in 257 days
posted 35 days ago
Very good attention to detail….....great job.
-- I will just keep doing it till I get it right.
Scott Bryan
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20707 posts in 718 days
posted 35 days ago
That is a gorgeous bench. Any of us would be proud to have a bench like this in our shop.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
Walnut_Weasel
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246 posts in 118 days
posted 35 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 - What's your excuse this time??
woodenships
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20 posts in 65 days
posted 35 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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78 posts in 237 days
posted 35 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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530 posts in 895 days
posted 35 days ago
Very nice bench indeed!
-- Bob A in NJ
langski93
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22 posts in 329 days
posted 35 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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280 posts in 60 days
posted 34 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
Beginningwoodworker
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4187 posts in 569 days
posted 33 days ago
Nice workbench!
-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker
David White
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5 posts in 176 days
posted 3 days ago
Now that is one nice bench. I am planning one of my own and I’ll be happy if it turns out half as good!
-- Any day that I come out of the workshop with the same number of fingers as I had when I went in is a good day!