Heavy-duty Workbench

Looks like a really nice heavy duty workbench that will get years of use. I love the Veritas tail vice(Im jealous).

Only thing I can think of is you need more bench dog holes at the very least going along the face vice towards back of table. More in the middle along the length of the table would help as well for smaller sized pieces. other than that it looks beefy and a job well done!

-- - Eric Indianapolis, IN

Nice workbench!

-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker

Great looking work bench! There was a work bench build on Woodsmith Shop this morning and it looked to be a fairly straight forward build but not as nice as yours. Great job!

-- www.thepatriotwoodworker.com Proud Supporter of Homes For Our Troops

This is a great looking bench. Very nice! Thanks for sharing and welcome back to woodworking. Look forward to more projects.

-- Duane, Iowa

That’s one sturdy bench

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

Hey, I know that bench! I didn’t bother making mine as pretty as yours but it still works. ;-) Great job!

-- Marc, http://www.logicallymarc.com/

I built my bench with 3 sheets of 3/4 MDF sandwiched together as you did. Rock solid. I left the top MDF so I can run a orbital sander over it as needed to clean it up. Your design style looks great…....

-- mike...............

Thanks for the comments all! Eric – You’re right. I looked at the plans earlier today and I did indeed leave a couple holes out on the left side of the bench to go with the Jorgensen vise. I guess I’ll be picking up a 3/4 straight bit to start those two holes. Also, one of my “Oops” moments was drilling my original dog holes. You can see some inconsistent spacing on some of the dog holes. I made a jig to space out the dog holes. Trouble is, I wasn’t supposed to start using the jig until drilling a couple dog holes to match the Jorgensen vise. I just ended up drilling matching holes in the front so it didn’t look completely weird. Better than re-sandwiching three sheets of MDF!

Marc – looks great! I almost wish I’d have done something more like yours. I’ll bet it would have been way cheaper than the $700+ of red oak + the veneer I bought after blowing through the veneer on the plywood.

Looks like the folks at ShopNotes designed a cabinet/drawer setup to go along with this bench. I think I found one of my next projects.
http://plansnow.com/shopcabsn.html

redryder – Do you run into any flatness issues by sanding the top from time to time? I’d like to use this top as a flat reference for things like chairs, etc.

Wow Rydell, I’m really liking what you’ve done here, until I get to the part that you dropped seven bills on it, ouch! But I guess if you want quality and something that lasts, that’s what you have to do. With three sheets of 3/4” MDF and all the red oak trimming & vises I bet the top alone is pushing 200lbs! That’s a bench that will be the most valuable tool in your shop, grats. BTW, if you need some $ you can always take that keg back for it’s deposit ;-)

Can’t wait to see what to see how your next project turns out!

-- I don't know what this is going to be like, but there's only one way to find out..........

Man that is really well done! One to be proud of for sure. I wish my shop had room for one of these monsters!

One day we will tear down the garage to build a 2 story and put the game room up stairs and make the whole main level a wood shop. In case your wondering most Southern California people dont use the garage for the cars.. LOL

-- Ken, "Everyday above ground is a good day!"

I want your bench – now!

-- Stanley generally struggling

Hoosier – Yeah, I was wondering if anything would notice the keg in the background!

Thanks again all…Can’t wait to get goin on more projects.

Nice bench Rydell, Any idea how many board feet you used? I have a bunch of red oak and I’m thinking of making a bench. Thanks.

-- Mauricio - Woodstock, GA - "Confusion is the Womb of Learning, with utter conviction being it's Tomb" Prof. T.O. Nitsch

Very nice bench, Rydell. I’m sure that this will serve you well for mnay many years! thanks for sharing.

-- Skip from Batavia, purveyor of fine and exotic sawdust & chips.

Oh, BOY !!!!

What you get when Beauty AND The Beast have a child, together !!

Wonderful job. Enjoy using it !!

-- -- Neil