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Workbench

Project by John Ormsby posted 611 days ago 2008 views 18 times favorited 26 comments Add to Favorites Watch

Hello, I didn’t realize my workbench would get so many comments. I thank all for your interest. I will try to answer some of your questions regarding this bench. I have included 2 more photos. I built it around 3 years ago. I was really needing a long bench so decided to build one instead of buying one. The timing was right as I had some wood left over from some jobs that was taking up space. I bought a set of Ulmia plans at woodcraft and based the design and construction from their plan. I thought a lot about the height and went with 38” because I work a lot with the router, jigs, sanding, and general planing and scraping. I am about 6’ tall. I tested different heights for these tasks and found 38” served me well. I imagine the height for anyone’s particular bench will vary. The finish is just many coats of wipe on poly that is on the top, bottom, and sides. That way I can just sand it and freshen it up with another coat when needed. The table was built in sections and run through jointer and planer to true them up. Then they were glued into wider sections. I have a 16” jointer which allowed me to make the top almost perfectly flat in 2 main sections. The base legs are normal mortise and through tenons with the stretchers mortised and bolted. The top is 4” thick in some places and 2 1/2” thick in others. This is to accommodate a twin screws vise in the future if it is needed. The bench weighs so much that I used an engine lift to flip it over when putting on the finish. I think it is over 400 lbs. I’ll see how many BF of wood is in it and do a rough calculation later. I do take care of this bench and always put some mdf or other protection when sawing, routing, carving, or finishing. The bench looks as good today as when new. It might actually look better because the wood has started to get more deep in color over time. There are many benches that are really true pieces of art. I consider this one more of a utilitarian tool than a piece of furniture. It’s main purpose is to provide me a flat even sold surface to work wood.
One of the photos is of a Lie Nielsen bronze 4 1/2 anniversary plane working some ebony inlay into some lacewood for some boxes. John

-- Oldworld, Fair Oaks, Ca


26 comments so far

View Jarrod Zion Murphree's profile

Jarrod Zion Murphree

348 posts in 616 days


posted 611 days ago

Nice bench, and nice plane. I got one as well…. We’re lucky. :-)

-- Jarrod, Taos, NM http://jzmurphree.wordpress.com/

View Dadoo's profile

Dadoo

1725 posts in 883 days


posted 611 days ago

It’s a beauty, that’s for sure.

-- Bob Vila would be so proud of you!

View Scott Bryan's profile

Scott Bryan

20564 posts in 714 days


posted 611 days ago

Hi John,

Again this is a gorgeous bench. Thanks for the update on the construction.

-- With God's help all things are possible- even woodworking. Woodworking is not just a hobby, it is an (expletive deleted) expensive hobby.

View grovemadman's profile

grovemadman

558 posts in 664 days


posted 611 days ago

Very nice job. I wish I had room for a real woodworking bench!

-- --Chuck

View FlWoodRat's profile

FlWoodRat

582 posts in 802 days


posted 611 days ago

Gorgeous work bench. At 38” tall, I am sure it helps ease the discomfort from bending over. Btw, did you estimate the cost of those Ebony shavings? LOL.

-- I love the smell of sawdust in the morning....

View Thos. Angle's profile

Thos. Angle

4015 posts in 855 days


posted 611 days ago

a great bench

-- Thos. Angle

View Ad Marketing Guy - Bill's profile

Ad Marketing Guy - Bill

314 posts in 691 days


posted 611 days ago

Nice bench, the finish on the top is great.

-- Bill - - Ad-Marketing Guy, Ramsey NJ

View Yettiman's profile

Yettiman

153 posts in 630 days


posted 611 days ago

Hi

Question for all,

I like John, prefer a higher workbench, so I always end up building my own (simple affairs, not a Master piece like John’s) So, my question is why are some many (nearly all) work benches so low?

-- Keep your tools sharp, your mind sharper and the coffee hot

View Mario's profile

Mario

883 posts in 944 days


posted 611 days ago

WOW absolutely awesome looking bench.

-- Hope Never fails

View tenontim's profile

tenontim

1319 posts in 637 days


posted 611 days ago

Yettiman, the older benches were low so you would have the most leverage for hand planing, and wouldn’t have to raise your arms to high for chisel work. The optimum height was for the workman to let his arm hang at his side, bend his hand forward 90 degrees at the wrist, and that’s how high the bench should be. Since I don’t do that much plane work, my bench is about 38” also.

-- Tim -- http://tmuli.com

View Kevin Violette's profile

Kevin Violette

214 posts in 756 days


posted 611 days ago

Great followup John to the original post. Thanks for giving us more insight and again….Nice bench!!!

-- Kevin -- (http://www.furniturebykevin.com)

View Lee A. Jesberger's profile

Lee A. Jesberger

3710 posts in 872 days


posted 611 days ago

Hi John;

Well you keep showing us that gorgeous bench, and now it’s “pokin at me, pokin at me”.

You’re going to force me to build one, (strictly out of jealousy), for such a beautiful, and useful piece.

It’s just an incredible work of art. When I look at the picture, I feel compelled to salute it!

Lee

-- by Lee A. Jesberger http://www.prowoodworkingtips.com http://www.ezee-feed.com

View Jon3's profile

Jon3

439 posts in 998 days


posted 611 days ago

Very nice! My own bench is higher than people usually like, but I’m 6’ tall and going up a little higher just felt better.

View HallTree's profile

HallTree

2040 posts in 660 days


posted 611 days ago

I missed the first round of comments on your workbench. It is very nice. All you need now to finish it off is a few dents and scratches. Ooooo that might hurt.

-- Ron in Osseo, Minnesota

View blackcherry's profile

blackcherry

730 posts in 716 days


posted 611 days ago

Thanks alot John you put this on my hot list, your bench is first rate and it must be a joy to work off of thanks for the show…Blkcherry

View odie's profile

odie

1601 posts in 733 days


posted 611 days ago

Fair Oaks … You snuck right in here past me. I didn’t notice my neighbor from down the hill. Sorry for that.

That workbench is too beautiful to use.

-- Odie, Confucius say, "He who laughs at one's self is BUTT of joke". http://woodstermangotwood.blogspot.com/ (my funny blog)

View SteveL's profile

SteveL

71 posts in 661 days


posted 611 days ago

Your workbench is about as flat (judging by the light reflected off the surface) as they come. Nice job. I was able to get mine flat by having access to a 22” wide industrial scale planer, so I could put the whole top through at one time (with the help of several others!) I suspect you did yours the old fashioned way with that lovely L-N 4-1/2!

-- SteveL

View duelly's profile

duelly

19 posts in 630 days


posted 611 days ago

Great Job John !! I want to make one of these but, haven’t really found the right set of plans yet. I have seen about 10 different ones and there was one I liked but could have been a little bigger. I like your style cause its longer & Thicker than a normal size bench and a wood vice with a holding bracket out from the end of the bench. Again, John good job, and it even shines. What are your demensions of the whole bench.

-- duelly in Perry, NY

View jcees's profile

jcees

553 posts in 692 days


posted 610 days ago

Lovely bench, John. You answered my question from the other blog about the height. I had worked on a bench that was a shade over 34” in height and found it almost perfect for a lot of the kind of work I do. BUT, you’re right about raising the height for router work and small scale planing as shown. That height has to be easier on the back. Again, nice work.

always,
J.C.

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

View bfd's profile

bfd

418 posts in 700 days


posted 610 days ago

Hi John,

This bench is beautiful! I just finished reading “The Workbench” by Lon Schleining and I am planing my own workbench. I just love the details on your bench. One of my toughest decisions to make is whether I build a tail vise like yours or use a twin screw vise (Veritas). I will have to check out the plans on woodcraft.com

btw, we are neighbors, I live in Folsom.

-- Brian, Folsom, CA http://www.brianfullerdesigns.com

View pashley's profile

pashley

519 posts in 610 days


posted 610 days ago

Good God, man, you could do auto repair on that thing! Wow.

-- http://newmissionworkshop.com

View ChicoWoodnut's profile

ChicoWoodnut

895 posts in 708 days


posted 572 days ago

Hi John. That is one fine bench you have there. I was just down your way visiting my Mom in Citrus Hights yesterday. Not too far away up here in the North State

-- Scott - Chico California http://chicowoodnut.home.comcast.net

View jeanmarc's profile

jeanmarc

1751 posts in 609 days


posted 480 days ago

This bench is beautiful

-- jeanmarc manosque france

View mccreamark's profile

mccreamark

36 posts in 426 days


posted 425 days ago

Wow! That,s a great bench I really like the tail vise and its big makes mine look like Barbie,s bench. I,ve looked at your other stuff it,s first class.
Mark

View Moai's profile

Moai

721 posts in 286 days


posted 271 days ago

John,
This is a gorgeous bench! you are right, it only deserves LN Anniversary Edition planes!

-- Francisco Luna, San Francisco Bay Area.

View unknownwoodworker's profile

unknownwoodworker

218 posts in 596 days


posted 238 days ago

How did I miss this beauty? WOW

-- ??? My mistakes heat the house. It's very warm in here. ???

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