Inexpensive Workbench

One thing I forgot to add…

I have about $125 into the workbench.

-- Arnie

Welcome to Lumberjocks, I am fully supportive of those who wants to build quality things for less. Looking forward to seeing more ideas from you.

-- Thuan

Awesome bench for $125!

-- Charlie M. "Woodworking - patience = firewood"

Very nice, I like the vice dogs. How long did it take to build?

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

I probably have about 3 weeks of some evenings and weekends into the project. I built this about a year ago, but I thought it would be appropriate to post as a way to introduce myself.

This is a great forum, with lots of true craftsmen. As an aside, I remember Thom Angle back in his Union Oregon days.

Again, thanks for the opportunity.

-- Arnie

Absolutely a first class job from top to bottom. Very well laid out and thought through. That is a bench anyone would be proud to have in the shop no matter how much or how liittle was spent. At $125, I would think one would be even prouder to have it in their shop.

Fantastic job and thanks for sharing.

Very nice. Looks like a quality bench. Good design for hand and power tools. And you can’t beat the price.
Welcome to Lumberjocks. The best place and the friendliest folks on the web. Have fun.

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

That’s a great bench. Even better that it only cost you $125.00 to build!

Awesome!

-- Mark

GREAT Project regardless of the price – goes to show you how being creative and technically sound can turn a fantastic project for a small cost – NICE job!
Question:
I am curious to the “feet” material and size and legs – thanks

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

Great looking bench. I’m surprised that you were able to build it so cheaply.

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

Wow that is fantastic. This is a really nice bench at my kind of price.

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

I can’t imagine event that you could buy the material today for $125. Great job!

-- DaveH - Boise, Idaho - “How hard can it be? It's only wood!”

I scrounged and milled the wood, which helped defray expenses.

The ipe – from a pallet of Jatoba flooring that I purchased
The elm – from a tree I scrounged and milled
The pine – milled from a tree

The vises were the $29.95 cheapies at Grizzly

Of course, we won’t count our time….. : )

-- Arnie

I think you’ll get a lot of work off that bench. Looks great and sturdy to boot.

-- You can't get a hug from Facebook.

Great looking bench, this makes me want to finish mine even more.

Just curious, did you design it yourself or reference from some other benches? Great looking bench. I’m going to have a step by step instruction booklet to tackle a project like that.

-- Michael, Fort Worth, TX. "I wood if I could!"

wow thats great for 125 dollars. I’m planning a wood whisperer style assembly table and i think it will cost me around 150 – 200. great job

A work bench says a lot about a person. If the craftsman puts that much time an effort into a work bench, just imagine how much time he/she will put into a cabinet, table, chair, etc.

-- Brian, Lebanon PA, If you aren’t having fun doing it, find something else to do.

This is one great looking work bench. You did a beautiful job on it. Thank you for posting.

God Bless
tom

-- Mc Bridge Cabinets, Iowa

I couldn’t agree more with Brian. If it is not worth doing right it’s not worth doing at all, and that should include our tools and workspaces.

I also bought the Grizzley vises hoping that they will serve well, but I don’t yet have a bench to put them on as I am still trying to figure out what will work best for me. Thanks for posting.

Very well done

-- Thos. Angle

Looks great, got to do this.

-- Terry Roswell, L.A. (Lower Alabama) "Life is what happens to you when you are making other plans."

Wow, very nice, and for only $125! This will last a few generations, you grandsons will be using this. Excellent design and craftsmanship. Making great stuff from found wood makes woodworking even more rewarding.

Maybe we should should call these funbenches instead of workbenches since they provide so many hours of enjoyment.

Well done!

-- Bob A in NJ

Fantastic looking bench and you certainly can’t beat the price. Nice job.

-- Bill - "Suit yourself and let the rest be pleased." http://www.cajunpen.com/

It might be inexpensive (but not cheap!) but it looks really nice. Way to go!

-- Jojo, shopless in Kyoto · http://twitter.com/kagushokunin

Woodup asked…
“did you design it yourself or reference from some other benches?”

Kind of a hybrid of 2 or 3 different designs. Mostly from a Wood Mag bench of about 2 years ago. I also read some workbench books, and gained a little insight from them.

-- Arnie

I think its great, with some fine craftsmanship.

It must be hard for you to set anything on it, & destroy the new look.

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Very Nice!... I’m looking to build one this summer, haven’t decided on the plans yet. Thanks for the ideas.

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

Beautiful bench, great work. Nice color and it looks very functional.

-- Rob (A) Waxahachie,TX

Great bench! Makes me wonder when I’m going to give this project a go… Thanks for the inspiration!

“Breadboard ends – ipe
Edges – locust
Top – ponderosa pine
Chicom (Griz) vises, which I intend to switch to Lee Valley vises, once my ship comes in
Finished with BLO, MS, and Wax”

Great bench! one of my favorites, but I have a couple of questions. What are “ipe”, “BLO”, and “MS”?
Thanks for posting.

-- Terry Roswell, L.A. (Lower Alabama) "Life is what happens to you when you are making other plans."

Roz asked….
“What are “ipe”, “BLO”, and “MS”?”

Ipe: heavy, tough wood from s. America Pronounced “e-pay”

BLO: Boiled linseed oil

MS: Mineral spirits

Sorry for the obscurity.
Hope this helps

Arnie

-- Arnie

This might be the next challenge after the bookshelf. Who could build the best true woodworker bench for the cheapest amount of money! Very nice bench and the price is definitely in there!

-- --Chuck

Mountainwood,
Great looking Workbench, Good job. Do you live in the Mountains. Have you had a chance to look at the Chestnut oak Workbench I made It is also on this site. Just type in Chestnut Oar Workbench.
Tom
Boone N C In the Mountains

-- TNM

kinda makes me feel bad about the pine and mdf bench I thew together, you guys are pushing me to re-build! : )

very nice bench by the way! And welcome to LJ!

runngt

-- It seem's I just make scrap wood and saw dust most of the time !

Looks great.

-- Bud, NY, http://tpww.libsyn.com/

Thanks so much for your post. I have looked at hundreds of benches and your pictures kept coming back to me for what I want to do with my bench. I loved the detail in your mortise and tenon joints. I must have spent at least three hours trying to find your post again.
Thanks again!
Vern

-- Vern, Southern CA

I have never seen a bench so “fresh” and rich in colors like this! outstanding piece. Glad I roled the dice and find it, since I am planning to build one soon.

-- Francisco Luna, San Francisco Bay Area.