After lo these many years, I have decided it's time for a proper
woodworking bench. I've pretty much settled on the Veritas Bench from
Lee Valley, but I have a couple of questions for those of you who
already have them.
1. Do I need the extra weight of the cast-iron legs, or is the bench
with wooden legs heavy enough to stay put? It looks like the cast
iron legs add about 85 pounds of weight, but I really like the wooden
base better, and I may want to build a cabinet under there someday.
2. I bought the largest Record Quick-release vice several years ago
when they were going out of business, and I've been saving it for my
bench. If the factory supplied front vice stays in place, is there
room to mount the Record on the end of the "other" slab? If I can't
attach the Record with the front vice in place, maybe I can order the
bench without the front vice.
DonkeyHody
"Every man is my superior in that I can learn from him." - Thomas
Carlyle
On Feb 18, 7:37 pm, DonkeyHody <[email protected]> wrote:
> After lo these many years, I have decided it's time for a proper
> woodworking bench. I've pretty much settled on the Veritas Bench from
> Lee Valley, but I have a couple of questions for those of you who
> already have them.
>
> 1. Do I need the extra weight of the cast-iron legs, or is the bench
> with wooden legs heavy enough to stay put? It looks like the cast
> iron legs add about 85 pounds of weight, but I really like the wooden
> base better, and I may want to build a cabinet under there someday.
>
> 2. I bought the largest Record Quick-release vice several years ago
> when they were going out of business, and I've been saving it for my
> bench. If the factory supplied front vice stays in place, is there
> room to mount the Record on the end of the "other" slab? If I can't
> attach the Record with the front vice in place, maybe I can order the
> bench without the front vice.
I have one sitting in the shop, ready to be assembled, with the wooden
leg kit. My guess is if you're not a 900 pound gorilla, the wooden
legs will provide all the stability you need. They are, to coin a
word, sturdy.
I have the Veritas twin handle end vise, and a Jorgenson front vise. I
don't expect any problems.
On Feb 18, 7:37=A0pm, DonkeyHody <[email protected]> wrote:
> 1. =A0Do I need the extra weight of the cast-iron legs, or is the bench
> with wooden legs heavy enough to stay put? =A0It looks like the cast
> iron legs add about 85 pounds of weight, but I really like the wooden
> base better, and I may want to build a cabinet under there someday.
I built the bench from their plans and hardware kit, but used my own
wood. Although I did modify the top quite a bit, the leg assemblies
and stretchers are unchanged. They're rock solid. Since I made my
top a bit larger and eliminated the tool well I'm guessing it weighs
quite a bit more than their split slab version. Between that, the
tools on the shelf I layed across the stretchers, and some rubber
disks on the bottom of the leveling feet to prevent skating - it don't
budge.
JP
> I'll bet you could call Lee Valley and they could give you more
> definitive answers.
>
> 1) FYI, I don't have this bench but my guess is the wood base is
> sufficient weighty and stiff, it looks to be much like many classic
> bench designs.
>
> 2) Again, can't be sure but from the photos it certainly looks like
> you could do this. If you wanted to replace the supplied vise with
> your Record, it appears from the assembly instructions that you may
> have to modify the top. From the instructions on the web site:
>
> "5. Slide the front vise into the holes in the front vise jaw and,
> using a #3 Robertson=AE screwdriver (square drive), fasten the two
> together with three #14 =D7 1-1/2" flat-head screws. Wind the front vise
> jaw assembly into the mating holes located on the right front corner
> of the bench."- Hide quoted text -
>
Thanks for your response.
I called Lee Valley. They promised to find the answer and get back to
me. That was yesterday. I'm sure I can figure a way to mount the
Record vice in place of the standard front vice. But if there's no
significant price break for leaving off the front vice, I'd rather use
it too and put the Record on the end.
The main question is whether the rails and screw on the front vice
extend all the way under the center tray to the opposite slab. If
not, I should be able to mount the Record on the end.
DonkeyHody
"Every man is my superior in that I can learn from him.
On Wed, 20 Feb 2008 13:44:13 -0800 (PST), Charlie Self
<[email protected]> wrote:
>
>I have one sitting in the shop, ready to be assembled, with the wooden
>leg kit. My guess is if you're not a 900 pound gorilla, the wooden
>legs will provide all the stability you need. They are, to coin a
>word, sturdy.
If the OP finds the wooden legs too light, he could probably add some
sort of storage cabinet or drawer system. Filled with tools, the
overall bench could get very heavy.
On Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:37:42 -0800 (PST), DonkeyHody
<[email protected]> wrote:
>After lo these many years, I have decided it's time for a proper
>woodworking bench. I've pretty much settled on the Veritas Bench from
>Lee Valley, but I have a couple of questions for those of you who
>already have them.
>
>1. Do I need the extra weight of the cast-iron legs, or is the bench
>with wooden legs heavy enough to stay put? It looks like the cast
>iron legs add about 85 pounds of weight, but I really like the wooden
>base better, and I may want to build a cabinet under there someday.
>
>2. I bought the largest Record Quick-release vice several years ago
>when they were going out of business, and I've been saving it for my
>bench. If the factory supplied front vice stays in place, is there
>room to mount the Record on the end of the "other" slab? If I can't
>attach the Record with the front vice in place, maybe I can order the
>bench without the front vice.
>
>DonkeyHody
>"Every man is my superior in that I can learn from him." - Thomas
>Carlyle
I'll bet you could call Lee Valley and they could give you more
definitive answers.
1) FYI, I don't have this bench but my guess is the wood base is
sufficient weighty and stiff, it looks to be much like many classic
bench designs.
2) Again, can't be sure but from the photos it certainly looks like
you could do this. If you wanted to replace the supplied vise with
your Record, it appears from the assembly instructions that you may
have to modify the top. From the instructions on the web site:
"5. Slide the front vise into the holes in the front vise jaw and,
using a #3 Robertson® screwdriver (square drive), fasten the two
together with three #14 × 1-1/2" flat-head screws. Wind the front vise
jaw assembly into the mating holes located on the right front corner
of the bench."