Project by Moral | posted 02-03-2008 11:47 PM | 3547 views | 7 times favorited | 28 comments | ![]() |
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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.
28 comments so far
Zuki
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1404 posts in 4040 days
#1 posted 02-03-2008 11:54 PM
that is one FINE looking table.
welcome Moral.
we have a couple of other LJs from down under.
-- BLOG - http://www.colorfulcanary.com/search/label/Zuki
CharlieM1958
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16274 posts in 4181 days
#2 posted 02-03-2008 11:57 PM
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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139 posts in 3742 days
#3 posted 02-04-2008 12:00 AM
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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4911 posts in 3999 days
#4 posted 02-04-2008 12:13 AM
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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1776 posts in 4053 days
#5 posted 02-04-2008 12:27 AM
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 3728 days
#6 posted 02-04-2008 12:43 AM
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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188 posts in 3821 days
#7 posted 02-04-2008 12:53 AM
Let me add to the glowing reviews. What a great sense of craftsmanship!
-- www.craftedbytim.com - A Woodworking & Renovation Blog & www.craftedbytim.com - I make. You buy.
gene
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2184 posts in 3847 days
#8 posted 02-04-2008 01:06 AM
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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671 posts in 3825 days
#9 posted 02-04-2008 01:13 AM
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.
-- Peace in Wood ~ http://dustynewt.com/
Scott Bryan
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27250 posts in 3785 days
#10 posted 02-04-2008 01:21 AM
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.
-- Challenges are what make life interesting; overcoming them is what makes life meaningful- Joshua Marine
Critterman
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599 posts in 3773 days
#11 posted 02-04-2008 01:30 AM
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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1696 posts in 3843 days
#12 posted 02-04-2008 02:08 AM
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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315 posts in 3860 days
#13 posted 02-04-2008 02:29 AM
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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222 posts in 3995 days
#14 posted 02-04-2008 05:20 AM
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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1184 posts in 4050 days
#15 posted 02-04-2008 06:33 AM
First table? What are you going to do for an encore? Would be hard to top this.
-- Common sense is so rare anymore when you do see it, it looks like pure genius.
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