My Workbench

We all have to start somewhere and a bench is the logical first project right after the saw horses. But always remember, no matter how far you go, when you get there, there you are. Welcome to the rapturous damnation that is the working wood. Welcome, mon ami. Good luck and do remember to sharpen well and often.

all the best,
J.C.

-- "Imagination is more important than knowledge" -- Albert Einstein

Very nice looking bench. I like the vice addition. This is an essentially element of of bench. This one looks rock solid as well.

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.

My last workbench had a door for the top. Good job!

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

Looks good! As for a top, I kinda lean toward MDF. It is sturdy, stable, and it won’t hurt your pocketbook to much to replace it when the top gts chewed up some. Of course, if you can afford it make the top of beech or maple. Don’t forget to make a jig to plunge route those dog holes you will need. Check for some old posts here on LJ.

Welcome to our monkeyhouse!

God Bless,
Hawg

-- Saving barnwood from the scrapyards

I’ve always been of the thought, it doesn’t matter what the top is made of, as long as the bench performs to your expectations and is sturdy. Fantastic design, and execution!

Once you’ve used a tail vice on a couple projects, it’ gets hard to imagine how you ever got anything done
without one.

Agree with the above sentiments, a replaceable top is handy at times.

-- Still learning everything

Welcome to Lumberjocks Mark. My bench has a lower centre section runnig the full length about 12” wide and 2.5” deep down the middle. That helps to hold timber firmly when its not practical to use the vice. It still allows for using the top for larger sheets & timber. Also helps to leave the odd tool on the bench without clearing everything for large sheets. Good drawing, was that sketchup?.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Yes, the 3D model was done in sketchup and is to scale with “perfect” wood sizes… dimensions on the components in the sketchup drawing are not based on finished lumber sizes… but it got me close enough :-) Since I don’t have any exact measurement for the radius for the front of the legs, it was traced using the bottom of a coffee can(Don Francisco’s Hawaiian Blend to be exact.) Having the front vice has already proven to be amazing, I can’t wait till I get the top and apron finished, add the hardwood pads to the vice and bore out some dog holes… then I’ll be cookin!

P.S. Something I found out this weekend… even the top edge of a thin kerf backsaw is sharp! (got my first WW injury! :-) luckily I noticed the blood before I made the cut any deeper!)

-- Looking for free wood working plans? Visit us at www.AwlFreePlans.com

I”ve been woodworking for 10+ years now and still have yet to build a workbench. I’ve always relied on a wall mounted “bench” and it’s worked ok, but I think it’s high time I actually build something that will resemble a workbench! Thanks for some inspiration.

-- I love woodworking. Except sanding, gluing, cutting long stock, finishing, detail work, sawdust, the cost and loss of time. :)

I’m glad I can be an inspiration as a beginner to someone so experienced! I can’t wait to get this puppy finished but now that the bulk is done I’m happy to have something to work with… This thing is SOLID it doesn’t move an inch…

-- Looking for free wood working plans? Visit us at www.AwlFreePlans.com

I’ve considered building a torsion (sp?) box for my top as I want something absolutely flat for the top. I’ve also considered building a base and buying a maple top from Grizzly, but I just need something.

Has anyone built a top from layers of MDF, but with bench dog holes? I’m assuming over time that the holes would wear out, but maybe if you cut them larger than needed and then insert a hardwood sleeve. Or maybe too much work.

-- I love woodworking. Except sanding, gluing, cutting long stock, finishing, detail work, sawdust, the cost and loss of time. :)

Awesome looking bench! This is exactly what I am looking for. Just a curious note: Do I dare ask where you found the plan for this? I am in dire need of two of these guys. One would be more of a drafting table amd the other the work bench in the shop. This bench looks rock solid!!

-- Boomer - The finer things smell of cedar!

Take this for what it’s worth…

Your bench looks awesome as it is, but the vise is mounted funny…

As I understand the purpose of a woodworking vise versus say a top mounted machinists vise, a woodworking vise is supposed to be out of the way of the bench top, but offer clamping options for large objects using a series of dog holes and bench dogs in the workbench top…

The jaws should sit flush, or just shy of the bench top.

Measure it up, and create a mount block to position the vise properly. On my bench project that calls for a 1.25” thick spacer that is 10.5” wide x 5” deep.

Once the spacer is in there, make some jaw faces from hardwood. A thinner one for the rear, and one about 1.25” for the front. Drill bench dog holes into it, line up dog holes every 6” on the bench top lining up with the jaw face holes, and you will have one heck of a great clamping system!

I am NO EXPERT in this, but I have done quite a bit of research into the subject while I was planning my bench build, and am just hoping to share what I learned with another beginner…

-- Trying to follow the example of the master.