Project Information
This workbench was inspired by a truckload of free oak boards that I ended up with. I don't like oak furniture, but I thought it would be perfect for a bench. Its my first real bench, and I built it to be practical more than beautiful.
The entire top is laminated with 3/4" boards with varying widths from 2 1/2" to 4". The top is about two feet by four feet. Its small, but I barely have room for it as it is. The last photo (above) shows a piece of curly-figured Oak (which I've never seen before) that I used for the tool tray.
The base is construction grade 4×6 Doug Fir painted black.
I installed two large vices and a hold down for chopping dovetails. The front vice is a really nice, old Craftsman with a quick-release mechanism that I bought from the flee market years ago. The vice I used as a "tail" vice is unmarked except for "U.S.A." The Hold down is marked "Sheffield England 146" and was a gift from my boss.
Both vices got 8/4 solid oak jaws to facilitate the use of Veritas brass bench dogs, which I ordered from Lee Valley. I made the tail vice jaw extend the entire width of the bench for clamping large and irregular pieces.
I went to Home Depot for 7/8" dowel stock for temporary vice handles because I know it only comes in some cheap semi-hard wood. But I found a dowel in the pile that was spalted-whatever wood and I decided I liked it enough to make it permanent. So I gave it Bubinga caps and black leather cushions to protect it from the impact of sliding back and forth (thanks for the idea Todd).
I still have several bench accessories that I want to build including a chest of drawers built into the base for tool storage, bench hooks, chuting boards, etc. But the first of the accessories I made was a movable lamp stand. I can place it in any dog-hole so I always have light where I need it for hand tool use. Or I can remove it completely when it is in the way.
I have been researching, collecting, restoring and sharpening an accumulation of beautiful hand tools that I haven't had much opportunity to actually USE since I haven't had a proper bench. I think this will be a turning point for me as a woodworker as well as my work. I can't wait to cut my first hand-cut dovetails.
I blogged the building process of this bench HERE in my series Hand Tool Journey if you would like more information.
UPDATE: Here is a link to the completed chest of drawers I installed in the bench:
The entire top is laminated with 3/4" boards with varying widths from 2 1/2" to 4". The top is about two feet by four feet. Its small, but I barely have room for it as it is. The last photo (above) shows a piece of curly-figured Oak (which I've never seen before) that I used for the tool tray.
The base is construction grade 4×6 Doug Fir painted black.
I installed two large vices and a hold down for chopping dovetails. The front vice is a really nice, old Craftsman with a quick-release mechanism that I bought from the flee market years ago. The vice I used as a "tail" vice is unmarked except for "U.S.A." The Hold down is marked "Sheffield England 146" and was a gift from my boss.
Both vices got 8/4 solid oak jaws to facilitate the use of Veritas brass bench dogs, which I ordered from Lee Valley. I made the tail vice jaw extend the entire width of the bench for clamping large and irregular pieces.
I went to Home Depot for 7/8" dowel stock for temporary vice handles because I know it only comes in some cheap semi-hard wood. But I found a dowel in the pile that was spalted-whatever wood and I decided I liked it enough to make it permanent. So I gave it Bubinga caps and black leather cushions to protect it from the impact of sliding back and forth (thanks for the idea Todd).
I still have several bench accessories that I want to build including a chest of drawers built into the base for tool storage, bench hooks, chuting boards, etc. But the first of the accessories I made was a movable lamp stand. I can place it in any dog-hole so I always have light where I need it for hand tool use. Or I can remove it completely when it is in the way.
I have been researching, collecting, restoring and sharpening an accumulation of beautiful hand tools that I haven't had much opportunity to actually USE since I haven't had a proper bench. I think this will be a turning point for me as a woodworker as well as my work. I can't wait to cut my first hand-cut dovetails.
I blogged the building process of this bench HERE in my series Hand Tool Journey if you would like more information.
UPDATE: Here is a link to the completed chest of drawers I installed in the bench: