| Project by Moral | posted 247 days ago | 982 views | 2 times favorited | 28 comments | ![]() |
Hi there, I’m fairly new to woodworking and this is my first major project. I was inspired by Marc Spagnolo (The Wood Whisperer) to get into woodworking again. I set myself a goal to build a workbench using only handtools, and using only wood joinery. I quickly found the hardest thing about building a workbench is not having a workbench. At least it was motivating. The third picture is the makeshift surface I used to clamp boards to while I hand planed them down. It took me six months of relaxing afternoons here and there. The rails join the legs with peg draw bored and wedged tenons (dovetail shape inside). The results aren’t perfect, this was mainly to practice handtool and joinery techniques on something I didn’t mind stuffing up… it’s just a workbench. The top was left over oak from a kitchen renovation. The rest is recycled Jarrah from an old table I found out in the rain. I just finished oiling it with Tung oil.
Thanks very much Marc for the inspiration.
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28 comments so far
Zuki
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851 posts in 559 days
posted 247 days ago
that is one FINE looking table.
welcome Moral.
we have a couple of other LJs from down under.
-- The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them
CharlieM1958
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4170 posts in 700 days
posted 247 days ago
I guess “fairly new to woodworking” covers a lot of ground, because there are some pretty advanced techniques here as far as I’m concerned.
Very nice bench!
-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"
FrankA
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136 posts in 261 days
posted 247 days ago
Thats a great looking bench. If there are any flaws they are not noticeable.
That is someting that should last for generations, you should be proud.
-- Frank Auge---Nichols NY----"My opinion is neither copyrighted nor trademarked, but it is price competitive."
mot
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4837 posts in 518 days
posted 247 days ago
I love a good bench! Great project! Did you take some more construction photos?
-- You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation. (Plato)
gizmodyne
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1479 posts in 572 days
posted 247 days ago
Sweet!
-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne
Moral
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3 posts in 247 days
posted 247 days ago
Thanks for the comments, unfortunately I didn’t take any contruction photos. I have some other photos of the joinery (legs) but I don’t know how to post them.
Frank, the flaws aren’t noticeable because I didn’t take photos of them !
I’m definately a hand tool fan after this. I have a table saw but it scares me, I don’t like the noise or the dust. I need this hobby to be something relaxing I can do to unwind from work.
Tim Dorcas
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48 posts in 340 days
posted 247 days ago
Let me add to the glowing reviews. What a great sense of craftsmanship!
-- www.responsetolight.com - A Woodworking & Renovation Blog
gene
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2132 posts in 365 days
posted 247 days ago
Looks like you did a great job. one problem though, Too nice to work on. (LOL) A power tool is only as dangerous as its user. Practice good shop safety, and wear ear protection. Looking forward to seeing what you are going to build on it.
God bless
-- Gene, a Christian in Virginia
dustynewt
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330 posts in 344 days
posted 247 days ago
Beautiful job Moral. The color is outstanding as well as the design. Shop furniture was invented to display our mistakes. A constant reminder as we grow in the craft.
-- http://dustynewt.webs.com/
Scott Bryan
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9039 posts in 304 days
posted 247 days ago
Hi Moral, that is one fine work bench. You should be proud of it. I agree with Gene’s comment. This should be sitting in your family room. Throw some 2×4s and a sheet of plywood together for a work bench. This is a piece of furniture.
I do like the way you finished it out. I tend to be lazy, when it comes to my shop furniture in that I generally leave them unfinished, unless of course if I happen to spill some poly on them. But I am beginning to see how the other half works and am slowly learning to mend my ways.
thanks for the post.
-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.
Critterman
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479 posts in 292 days
posted 247 days ago
Beautiful table….and “THAT’S A VICE”..LOL I envy a guy with such a great workbench. Excellent job.
-- Jim Hallada, Chesterfield, VA
mrtrim
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1545 posts in 362 days
posted 247 days ago
well i wont bother showing you my work bench ! heck i wont even show my dinner table after this ! lol great job
bobdurnell
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161 posts in 379 days
posted 247 days ago
Very nice, it reminds me when I built my last top. Maple and walnut. I kept it covered, then decided that it should be used as a workbench and it should be shown. I’m sure you’ll want to show your bench off. I really like that through tenon.
-- bobdurnell, Santa Ana California.
Dano
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215 posts in 513 days
posted 247 days ago
Outstanding, welcome, lets see more!
-- Dan in Central Oklahoma, Able to turn good wood into saw dust in the blink of an eye!
DocK16
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432 posts in 569 days
posted 246 days ago
First table? What are you going to do for an encore? Would be hard to top this.
-- DocK, WV
GaryK
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8482 posts in 470 days
posted 246 days ago
Very nice bench! Great job.
-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.
Davesfunwoodworking
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222 posts in 357 days
posted 246 days ago
Great looking work bench! Keep up the great woodworking.
-- Davesfunwoodworking
MsDebbieP
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11909 posts in 642 days
posted 246 days ago
beautiful AND functional…..... well done
-- "Functional WoodArt" by Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)
schroeder
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474 posts in 607 days
posted 246 days ago
Wow! – What a great project and story! beautiful workmanship! – Looking forward to seeing more of your work!
-- The Gnarly Wood Shoppe
ratchet
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86 posts in 268 days
posted 246 days ago
Sweet! That is truly a functional work of art! Very commendable.
Now get all that stuff off your tablesaw.
DustyDave
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56 posts in 429 days
posted 246 days ago
Very nice bench. Welcome.
-- Dave _-^-_ Baltimore, MD
Lakey
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100 posts in 254 days
posted 246 days ago
Very nicely done – congratulations!
-- "No Board Left Behind"
hap
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164 posts in 270 days
posted 246 days ago
i wood be scared to work on that beauty.
-- hap, gunbarrel city tx.
Karson
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12889 posts in 882 days
posted 245 days ago
Great looking bench. A nice color. Looks useful. How’s the tail vise?
-- Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com
Brent
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16 posts in 439 days
posted 220 days ago
Wedged through tenons. Drawboring. Your starting off just fine. Very nice bench sir.
-- Brent - Shreveport, Louisiana
etivancic
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10 posts in 256 days
posted 208 days ago
Inspiring bench. Love the vice…
I see your Triton router in the background. I’ve been eyeing one – How do you like it?
rikkor
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7604 posts in 356 days
posted 208 days ago
I am very impressed with your bench. You should generate a lot of nice projects from it.
-- Maplewood, MN
SteveKorz
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1335 posts in 196 days
posted 195 days ago
Wow. Very inspiring. Great job!
-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)