LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner

Project Information

I have been a woodworker since my early teens, nearly 40 years now. This was the first real woodworking bench I ever made which I completed last year and it took about 4 months to build. The top is 3" thick, 25" wide and 66" long. It stands 34.5" tall which is a perfect height for my 6' height.

The top and base is constructed from hard white maple and the vise jaws are made from African Mahogany. It weighs 350 lbs. The end vise is a Veritas twin-screw bench vise and the front vise is a Veritas quick-release vise.

The base is and hand chopped mortise & tenon. The front apron is 6" tall and dovetail construction. I incorporated both square and round dog holes. The top is dead flat which was accomplished with my Lie Nelson #7 Jointer plane.

The top is finished with a boiled linseed oil and gum turpentine mixture. I sprayed the base with a water white water based polyurethane from General Finishes which is why it is whiter than the top.

The total cost of materials was just about $1800 USD including the Veritas vises, bench dogs (4 square and 6 round), Veritas hold downs.

I have always loved working wood but can't believe how much more joy there is when doing it on a solid bench. Its is such a breeze hand planing boards when the work surface stays put no matter how much force I put into the stroke.

After all these years this was probably the most satisfying project I have ever done.

Gallery

Comments

· Registered
Joined
·
1,675 Posts
Awesome bench Dave !
 

· Registered
Joined
·
16 Posts
This is a great looking bench sir. Of that cost, how much was hardware vs. wood? Yours is beautiful, I might have to go cheaper.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
2 Posts
MrHart,

The two vises were about $525. The other bench accessories and hardware were about another $250. All the hardwood was about $950 and the finish materials about $50. The mahogany was a nice touch but about $50. It would have been less than half that if I used maple.

Hope this helps.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
16,235 Posts
Dave, congratulations on your accomplishments over the past decades that have obviously culminated in an I-Owed-Myself-This bench. It is a real joy to work on a solid surface! And yours is truly beautiful. Well done!
 

· Registered
Joined
·
913 Posts
Very nice job on a beautiful bench. Top end accessories go with the top notch craftsmanship. Well done!
 

· Registered
Joined
·
13 Posts
Great bench!! Maybe I'll do one when we do our next move. Thanks for posting your treat to yourself. Welcome to LumberJocks and look forward to some posts of your other projects.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,340 Posts
I am so glad it is not another Roubo bench! Great looking bench, looks very pratical and the aprons are kickass… :)
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,517 Posts
Dave that is a proper bench
I hope you get lots of use from it
Jamie
 

· Registered
Joined
·
109 Posts
Love the bench. May you have as much fun using it as you seem to have gotten from building it.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
215 Posts
That is one awesome looking bench. Based on the craftsmanship shown here it looks like some really cool projects are going to be born there. Hats off to you.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
58 Posts
Great, congratulations, it looks not only beautiful but really strong and complete for any WW. Have lots of fun with it !!!
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,156 Posts
Well I don't know if this one passes muster. Send it to me and I will tell you if it does. I'll give it back in 20 years. Really nice work. I have bench envy big time.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
4 Posts
That is beautiful. If my wife saw that she would make me bring it in the house and use it for a table it's so nice looking!
 

· Registered
Joined
·
0 Posts
Nice job! It really was a dream bench!
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,833 Posts
What a beauty! A great workbench and a little jealous that I don't have room for one of these. welcome to LJ's
 

· Registered
Joined
·
2,217 Posts
This bench is incredible. It puts my harbor freight POS to shame. The skirt dovetails look especially nice. Any reason why you chose the combo of round and square bench dogs? Usually I see only one or the other.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
230 Posts
Awesome stuff, I'm glad that you finally got around to it!

Congratulations!
 
Top