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Introduction - First post, my workbench.

Project by Moral posted 664 days ago 1443 views 3 times favorited 28 comments Add to Favorites Watch

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

View Zuki's profile

Zuki

1234 posts in 976 days


posted 664 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

View CharlieM1958's profile

CharlieM1958

7675 posts in 1117 days


posted 664 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"

View FrankA's profile

FrankA

135 posts in 678 days


posted 664 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."

View mot's profile

mot

4904 posts in 935 days


posted 664 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)

View gizmodyne's profile

gizmodyne

1679 posts in 989 days


posted 664 days ago

Sweet!

-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne

View Moral's profile

Moral

3 posts in 664 days


posted 664 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.

View Tim Dorcas's profile

Tim Dorcas

130 posts in 757 days


posted 664 days ago

Let me add to the glowing reviews. What a great sense of craftsmanship!

-- www.responsetolight.com - A Woodworking & Renovation Blog & www.craftedbytim.com - I make. You buy.

View gene's profile

gene

2165 posts in 782 days


posted 664 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

View dustynewt's profile

dustynewt

450 posts in 761 days


posted 664 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.

-- Please visit me at http://dustynewt.com

View Scott Bryan's profile

Scott Bryan

20784 posts in 721 days


posted 664 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.

View Critterman's profile

Critterman

546 posts in 709 days


posted 664 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

View mrtrim's profile

mrtrim

1698 posts in 779 days


posted 664 days ago

well i wont bother showing you my work bench ! heck i wont even show my dinner table after this ! lol great job

View bobdurnell's profile

bobdurnell

197 posts in 796 days


posted 664 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.

View Dano's profile

Dano

217 posts in 931 days


posted 664 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!

View DocK16's profile

DocK16

712 posts in 986 days


posted 664 days ago

First table? What are you going to do for an encore? Would be hard to top this.

-- DocK, WV

View GaryK's profile

GaryK

9549 posts in 887 days


posted 664 days ago

Very nice bench! Great job.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

View Davesfunwoodworking's profile

Davesfunwoodworking

259 posts in 774 days


posted 664 days ago

Great looking work bench! Keep up the great woodworking.

-- Davesfunwoodworking

View MsDebbieP's profile

MsDebbieP

14174 posts in 1059 days


posted 663 days ago

beautiful AND functional…..... well done

-- ~ Debbie, Canada (http://www.execulink.com/~yohan)

View schroeder's profile

schroeder

514 posts in 1024 days


posted 663 days ago

Wow! – What a great project and story! beautiful workmanship! – Looking forward to seeing more of your work!

-- The Gnarly Wood Shoppe

View ratchet's profile

ratchet

301 posts in 686 days


posted 663 days ago

Sweet! That is truly a functional work of art! Very commendable.
Now get all that stuff off your tablesaw.

View DustyDave's profile

DustyDave

69 posts in 846 days


posted 663 days ago

Very nice bench. Welcome.

-- Dave _-^-_ Baltimore, MD

View Lakey's profile

Lakey

99 posts in 671 days


posted 663 days ago

Very nicely done – congratulations!

-- "No Board Left Behind"

View hap's profile

hap

235 posts in 688 days


posted 663 days ago

i wood be scared to work on that beauty.

-- hap, gunbarrel city tx.

View Karson's profile

Karson

25811 posts in 1299 days


posted 662 days ago

Great looking bench. A nice color. Looks useful. How’s the tail vise?

-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †

View Brent's profile

Brent

16 posts in 856 days


posted 637 days ago

Wedged through tenons. Drawboring. Your starting off just fine. Very nice bench sir.

-- Brent - Shreveport, Louisiana

View etivancic's profile

etivancic

14 posts in 673 days


posted 626 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?

View rikkor's profile

rikkor

11335 posts in 773 days


posted 625 days ago

I am very impressed with your bench. You should generate a lot of nice projects from it.

View SteveKorz's profile

SteveKorz

2030 posts in 613 days


posted 612 days ago

Wow. Very inspiring. Great job!

-- As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17) †

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