| Project by GrumpaJeff | posted 860 days ago | 3262 views | 26 times favorited | 20 comments |  |
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I always wanted a nice solid bench to prepare projects and this fills my needs. It may look somewhat familar to others as it is a compilation of many bench ideas rolled into the bench that suits my needs. The top is comprised of 22 2×4 doug fir capped with 3/4” hard maple with everything laminated together. The finished thickness is 3 1/2” after milling and sealed with tung oil and several coats of paste wax. In fact after a project I clean it with paste wax to freshen it up. The skirt is full dimension 2×6 purpleheart finished with General Finishes water based poly satin. The vices are quick release types from Rockler. The legs are birch ply over a double 2×3 frame with solid maple feet. The cabinet is birch ply with purpleheart drawer fronts rolling on 100lb glides. A nice feature is that the legs are lagged from the top and the chest is screwed between the legs making the entire bench very sturdy with no racking but can be broken down into four components for moving. Weight is over 300lbs but two people can slide it on furniture glide pads under the feet. Total cost was $700.
As good as it looks it is still a tool and I look forward to the bungs and scrapes that will give it more character like my grreat-grandfather’s tool chest from 1907 which has been past to me.
Some have asked why use exotic woods on my work pieces. The simple answer is it looks good but more importantly it gives me the opportunity to work with and evaluate some of these woods for experience. I am a novice having only ramped up my work product three years ago.
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20 comments so far
DonH
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482 posts in 986 days
#1 posted 860 days ago
Wow – nice piece of work. Looks like you have a new bench and first piece of furniture made with it all in one project!!
Don
-- DonH Orleans Ontario
bigike
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4023 posts in 1457 days
#2 posted 860 days ago
Very nice, that is alot of purpleheart.
-- Ike, Big Daddies Woodshop, http://www.icombadaniels@yahoo.com
superstretch
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1457 posts in 862 days
#3 posted 860 days ago
Gorgeous.. how did you finish the PH?
-- Dan, Rochester, NY
Manitario
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1862 posts in 1052 days
#4 posted 860 days ago
Wow, a purpleheart bench. This is the Mercedes Benz of work benches! Looks beautiful.
-- Rob, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
rozzi
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309 posts in 1491 days
#5 posted 860 days ago
Real nice looking bench. Welcome to LJ’s. Hope you enjoy it.
-- Duane, Iowa
woody57
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639 posts in 1596 days
#6 posted 860 days ago
wow
great bench
that’s nicer than my dining room table
-- Emmett, from Georgia
Knothead62
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1692 posts in 1130 days
#7 posted 860 days ago
What woody57 said. I would be afraid to use it for fear of scratching it. Good idea for portability!
-- Regret- the feeling you get just after you do something really stupid.
CiscoKid
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309 posts in 1043 days
#8 posted 860 days ago
Wow! I really like that. Nicely done.
-- Al, Culpeper VA
GabrielX
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231 posts in 1000 days
#9 posted 860 days ago
Wow, 22 2×4’s eh?! Great investment!!
-- GX
GrumpaJeff
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29 posts in 860 days
#10 posted 860 days ago
To answer a couple of questions. Yes 2×4 are a lot of stock but after capping with maple and milling along the way the finished thickness is 3” x 27” wide x 67” long. The purpleheart is coated with water based poly and is holding up really well. I used a mahogany stain on the purpleheart and got a nice deep wine color.
majeagle1
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1382 posts in 1665 days
#11 posted 860 days ago
Wow, a “purpleheart workbench”, now that is something!
Beautiful and sleek looking, yet looks totally functional. Actually, just the bench I want to build!
Did you do plans for this at all?
Just noticed your other 2 standalone pieces…....” Zebrawood”, now wait a minute!
Go ahead and tell me that you now have a bandsaw stand out of “bloodwood” and a
miter saw station out of “birdseye maple”, or maybe “ebony”.............
Welcome to LJ’s and I look forward to seeing more of your wonderful work.
-- Gene, Majestic Eagle Woodworks, http://majesticeagleww.etsy.com/, http://www.flickr.com/photos/majesticeagle/
groland
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107 posts in 1581 days
#12 posted 860 days ago
A handsome, striking, bench visually with well thought , useful storage underneath. Congratulations on a fine job!
George
Kent Shepherd
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2690 posts in 1455 days
#13 posted 860 days ago
Obviously you have a lot to contribute here on Ljs. Great looking bench.
Welcome. I look forward to more from you
Kent
-- She thought I hung the moon--now she just thinks I did it wrong
NormG
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2579 posts in 1173 days
#14 posted 860 days ago
I thought it was a billiards table until I read the header. Real nice work
-- Norman
cwdance1
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1139 posts in 1428 days
#15 posted 860 days ago
That is way to nice to get dirty. Maybe you should store it at my house for a few years. HaHa
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