| Project by RS Woodworks | posted 592 days ago | 4981 views | 33 times favorited | 31 comments |  |
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Well guys and gals, My bench is in working condition and has been essentially finished. I say it’s still only half done because I will be adding a full set of tool drawers underneath it and I need to add a few more finishing touches. The end vise needs the cover, there will be a couple 2011 pennies put in the saw handle support to commemorate the year of completion and look like saw medallions, and a few other little touches.
If you look at my blog (click near my avatar) you’ll see that I kinda gave up on the blog a while ago. This was basically because of time constraints. But I did continue to take pictures and will post them as I go. I will try to answer any / all questions you have on the build, and will describe some more of it below.
The bench top is 3” thick maple and walnut. The legs are 3”x5” maple posts and the side panels are fir. The lower stretchers are birch. Part of the goal of this bench was to use existing materials I had on hand, and the legs, stretchers, and side panels are from reclaimed barn beams. The leg vise is birch and walnut, and the end vise is oak and walnut. The vise handles were custom turned for me from bubinga. I put wheels on the bottom of the leg vise so that it moves easily and all the weight is not on the vise screw. The sliding deadman is 2” thick oak and slides very easily on the lower stretcher and a groove in the underside of the top. I wanted a little extra support between the rear jaw of the end vise and the legs because the rear jaw is just attached with a full width sliding dovetail, so I decided to make those supports look like saw handles. I used one of my old Disston saws for a template.
Thanks very much for looking.
Ryan
-- I restore the finest vintage tools! If you need a nice plane, saw, marking tool or brace, please let me know!
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31 comments so far
jumbojack
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681 posts in 789 days
#1 posted 592 days ago
WOW!
-- Made in America, with American made tools....Shopsmith
Smitty_Cabinetshop
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6374 posts in 783 days
#2 posted 592 days ago
Ryan – Very nice build! Love the way those legs finished out; lots of character that scores big points visually. Same with addition of walnut in the top. End vice with matching holes in the benchtop should provide all kinds of clamping options, too. Finally, the plan to add a cabinet below will add tremendous usability, provided it is kept low to allow for the use of holdfasts.
-- Don't anthropomorphize your handplanes. They hate it when you do that. -- OldTools Archive
Don W
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9928 posts in 732 days
#3 posted 592 days ago
wow, if you gave me that bench I couldn’t put it in my shop. It’d more likely go in my kitchen. I just couldn’t picture myself spilling glue on it, beating parts together on it, etc. Really really beautiful design AND execution.
-- There is nothing like the sound of a well tuned hand plane. - http://timetestedtools.wordpress.com (timetestedtools at hotmail dot c0m)
blackcherry
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2900 posts in 1988 days
#4 posted 592 days ago
Oh what a beast, you should be proud to have this in the shop main stage. It should take on plenty of wonderful projects well in to the future. Great work enjoy your new workmate…BC
Sodabowski
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1790 posts in 998 days
#5 posted 592 days ago
Congrats mate.
-- Thomas - There is no such thing as a problem, there only are solutions.
Tomcat1066
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942 posts in 1961 days
#6 posted 592 days ago
OK, I have to agree with Don. There’s no way I could work on something that nice. I’d be terrified I’d ding it or something. Really nice looking bench.
-- "Give me your poor tools, your tired steel, your huddled masses of rust." Yep, I ripped off the Statue of Liberty. That's how I roll!
Tomcat1066
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942 posts in 1961 days
#7 posted 592 days ago
Oh yeah, are those legs spalted?
-- "Give me your poor tools, your tired steel, your huddled masses of rust." Yep, I ripped off the Statue of Liberty. That's how I roll!
ray470
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20 posts in 1005 days
#8 posted 592 days ago
great looking bench should last a life time.
-- ohio
smitty22
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528 posts in 1112 days
#9 posted 592 days ago
Gets my vote for ‘Bench of the Month’! Wonderful work.
Dale
-- Smitty
mbfunke
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37 posts in 824 days
#10 posted 592 days ago
How about some shop shots, between this and the walnut router table you must have one of the prettiest shops around. I am uber jealous.
-- Mike Funke
Beginningwoodworker
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13225 posts in 1838 days
#11 posted 592 days ago
Beautiful workbench.
-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker
RS Woodworks
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446 posts in 1416 days
#12 posted 592 days ago
Thanks very much for the kind comments guys. The legs are not really spalted, they just have some age spots and a few cracks and splits that give them some charachter. They are very solid though.
Ryan
-- I restore the finest vintage tools! If you need a nice plane, saw, marking tool or brace, please let me know!
tom427cid
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299 posts in 635 days
#13 posted 592 days ago
Very nice.The contrasting colors make it a real standout. The first dent or mark in the top will make you a little sad.After that the marks and dents add character after all it is a work bench
Job well done.
tom
-- "certified sawdust maker"
dubsaloon
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619 posts in 959 days
#14 posted 592 days ago
It’s art, no it’s tool…. hum it’s both. Nice bench.
-- The works of evil people are not the problem. It is the "Good" people standing by and watching not speaking up. Dubsaloon
horsch
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36 posts in 830 days
#15 posted 591 days ago
The bench looks great. I especially like the dovetailed breadboard ends. Could you give some explanation on how you did that? Thanks
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