Gs

"Gramp's shop"

19/07/2013 8:07 AM

Bench IV

We've reached the point where it was worthwhile to take a few pics of the n=
ew bench.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/73535978@N04/

All that remains is a bit of final sanding and finishing with 3-4 coats of =
Watco natural. =20

A few notes on construction:

The lumber is reclaimed walnut. Boards measured a whisker under 2x5. Thes=
e boards were previously door frames at a bank and I bought about 100 linea=
r feet for $100. Built a coffee table and TV stand earlier and had 70 feet =
or so remaining. Hence, the bench.

The trestles and stringers were aligned with 10mm dominos (two for each joi=
nt), glued and secured with 5/16 4" lag bolts.

3/4 inch dog holes were drilled with a forstner bit. That went a lot faste=
r than I imagined, using the DP.

Used the 10mm dominoes again for alignment on the top glue-up. (I love thi=
s machine!) Local lumber yard ran it through their wide-belt sander for $6=
and change.

Vise jaws are hard maple and for those of you who saw my earlier post on th=
e out-of-parallel tail vise, my jointer solution worked fine ... and safely=
.

I plan on adding a three-drawer cabinet on half the lower shelf.

Thanks to all how offered advice and encouragement!!!

Larry


This topic has 12 replies

Gs

"Gramp's shop"

in reply to "Gramp's shop" on 19/07/2013 8:07 AM

22/07/2013 3:32 PM

Bill ...

I looked at a lot of benches on line before deciding on this design. Both =
the tail and front vises will have dog holes, but I have a pair of Lee Vall=
ey wonder dogs that take this off the urgent list. I am forever losing tap=
e measures and pencils, so I decided a tool well was a good fix. I added a=
magnetic strip at the end opposite the tail vise for my squares (which als=
o tend to disappear mid-project). =20

I will post back after I've put the bench to work on a couple of projects.

Larry
>=20
> Very nicely executed!
>=20
>=20
>=20
> I can't tell in any of the pictures if you have a dog hole in the tail vi=
se chop. If so, I would be curious to know if you have any significant rac=
king issue with the vise in use.
>=20
>=20
>=20
> I have been looking at work bench design philosophy for some time. If yo=
u're willing, I love to hear, say after 6 months of use, how you find the a=
dvantages and dis-advantages of the split top. Also the same for the tool =
well.
>=20
>=20
>=20
> Thanks,
>=20
>=20
>=20
> Bill Leonhardt

Sk

Swingman

in reply to "Gramp's shop" on 19/07/2013 8:07 AM

19/07/2013 1:39 PM

On 7/19/2013 10:07 AM, Gramp's shop wrote:
> We've reached the point where it was worthwhile to take a few pics of the new bench.
>
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/73535978@N04/
>
> All that remains is a bit of final sanding and finishing with 3-4 coats of Watco natural.
>
> A few notes on construction:
>
> The lumber is reclaimed walnut. Boards measured a whisker under 2x5. These boards were previously door frames at a bank and I bought about 100 linear feet for $100. Built a coffee table and TV stand earlier and had 70 feet or so remaining. Hence, the bench.
>
> The trestles and stringers were aligned with 10mm dominos (two for each joint), glued and secured with 5/16 4" lag bolts.
>
> 3/4 inch dog holes were drilled with a forstner bit. That went a lot faster than I imagined, using the DP.
>
> Used the 10mm dominoes again for alignment on the top glue-up. (I love this machine!) Local lumber yard ran it through their wide-belt sander for $6 and change.
>
> Vise jaws are hard maple and for those of you who saw my earlier post on the out-of-parallel tail vise, my jointer solution worked fine ... and safely.
>
> I plan on adding a three-drawer cabinet on half the lower shelf.
>
> Thanks to all how offered advice and encouragement!!!

Beautiful! Wow, a walnut work bench ... makes you wonder what the rich
folks are doing these days. ;)

--
eWoodShop: www.eWoodShop.com
Wood Shop: www.e-WoodShop.net
https://plus.google.com/114902129577517371552/posts
http://www.custommade.com/by/ewoodshop/
KarlCaillouet@ (the obvious)

GR

"G. Ross"

in reply to "Gramp's shop" on 19/07/2013 8:07 AM

19/07/2013 11:59 AM

Gramp's shop wrote:
> We've reached the point where it was worthwhile to take a few pics of the new bench.
>
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/73535978@N04/
>
> All that remains is a bit of final sanding and finishing with 3-4 coats of Watco natural.
>
> A few notes on construction:
>
> The lumber is reclaimed walnut. Boards measured a whisker under 2x5. These boards were previously door frames at a bank and I bought about 100 linear feet for $100. Built a coffee table and TV stand earlier and had 70 feet or so remaining. Hence, the bench.
>
> The trestles and stringers were aligned with 10mm dominos (two for each joint), glued and secured with 5/16 4" lag bolts.
>
> 3/4 inch dog holes were drilled with a forstner bit. That went a lot faster than I imagined, using the DP.
>
> Used the 10mm dominoes again for alignment on the top glue-up. (I love this machine!) Local lumber yard ran it through their wide-belt sander for $6 and change.
>
> Vise jaws are hard maple and for those of you who saw my earlier post on the out-of-parallel tail vise, my jointer solution worked fine ... and safely.
>
> I plan on adding a three-drawer cabinet on half the lower shelf.
>
> Thanks to all how offered advice and encouragement!!!
>
> Larry

Very well made. Looks too purty to go in the shop.

--
 GW Ross 

 And now for something completely 
 different... 





Ll

Leon

in reply to "Gramp's shop" on 19/07/2013 8:07 AM

19/07/2013 12:03 PM

On 7/19/2013 10:07 AM, Gramp's shop wrote:
> We've reached the point where it was worthwhile to take a few pics of the new bench.
>
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/73535978@N04/
>
> All that remains is a bit of final sanding and finishing with 3-4 coats of Watco natural.
>
> A few notes on construction:
>
> The lumber is reclaimed walnut. Boards measured a whisker under 2x5. These boards were previously door frames at a bank and I bought about 100 linear feet for $100. Built a coffee table and TV stand earlier and had 70 feet or so remaining. Hence, the bench.
>
> The trestles and stringers were aligned with 10mm dominos (two for each joint), glued and secured with 5/16 4" lag bolts.
>
> 3/4 inch dog holes were drilled with a forstner bit. That went a lot faster than I imagined, using the DP.
>
> Used the 10mm dominoes again for alignment on the top glue-up. (I love this machine!) Local lumber yard ran it through their wide-belt sander for $6 and change.
>
> Vise jaws are hard maple and for those of you who saw my earlier post on the out-of-parallel tail vise, my jointer solution worked fine ... and safely.
>
> I plan on adding a three-drawer cabinet on half the lower shelf.
>
> Thanks to all how offered advice and encouragement!!!
>
> Larry
>


Very nice bench Larry

wn

woodchucker

in reply to "Gramp's shop" on 19/07/2013 8:07 AM

22/07/2013 8:38 PM

On 7/22/2013 12:31 PM, Bill Leonhardt wrote:
> On Friday, July 19, 2013 11:07:52 AM UTC-4, Gramp's shop wrote:
>> We've reached the point where it was worthwhile to take a few pics of the new bench.
>>
>>
>>
>> http://www.flickr.com/photos/73535978@N04/
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
> Larry,
>
> Very nicely executed!
>
> I can't tell in any of the pictures if you have a dog hole in the tail vise chop. If so, I would be curious to know if you have any significant racking issue with the vise in use.
>
> I have been looking at work bench design philosophy for some time. If you're willing, I love to hear, say after 6 months of use, how you find the advantages and dis-advantages of the split top. Also the same for the tool well.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bill Leonhardt
>
Mine is offset about an inch, no racking.
I needed to get closer to the edge than my vises center offered.



--
Jeff

Gs

"Gramp's shop"

in reply to "Gramp's shop" on 19/07/2013 8:07 AM

21/07/2013 7:16 PM

On Sunday, July 21, 2013 10:42:59 AM UTC-5, scritch wrote:
> On 7/19/2013 8:07 AM, Gramp's shop wrote:
>
> >
>
> > I plan on adding a three-drawer cabinet on half the lower shelf.
>
> >
>
> > Thanks to all how offered advice and encouragement!!!
>
> >
>
> > Larry
>
> >
>
>
>
> Very nice bench! But isn't walnut a bit soft for a workbench? I must
>
> admit, my bench is Doug Fir, which is also a bit soft for a workbench,
>
> but the top is recycled 6"-thick glue-lams that I got for free.
>
>
>
> scritch

You're probaby right, scritch, but I had this reclaimed walnut on hand and had no immediate use for it. Any dings will just add character.

BL

Bill Leonhardt

in reply to "Gramp's shop" on 19/07/2013 8:07 AM

22/07/2013 9:31 AM

On Friday, July 19, 2013 11:07:52 AM UTC-4, Gramp's shop wrote:
> We've reached the point where it was worthwhile to take a few pics of the new bench.
>
>
>
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/73535978@N04/
>
>
>
>

Larry,

Very nicely executed!

I can't tell in any of the pictures if you have a dog hole in the tail vise chop. If so, I would be curious to know if you have any significant racking issue with the vise in use.

I have been looking at work bench design philosophy for some time. If you're willing, I love to hear, say after 6 months of use, how you find the advantages and dis-advantages of the split top. Also the same for the tool well.

Thanks,

Bill Leonhardt

dn

dpb

in reply to "Gramp's shop" on 19/07/2013 8:07 AM

19/07/2013 12:31 PM

On 7/19/2013 10:07 AM, Gramp's shop wrote:
> We've reached the point where it was worthwhile to take a few pics of the new bench.
>
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/73535978@N04/
...
> The lumber is reclaimed walnut. Boards measured a whisker under 2x5.
> These boards were previously door frames at a bank and I bought about
> 100 linear feet for $100....

Nicely done but seems like a real waste of a lot of nice-looking walnut
to just a bench top...

--

MM

"Mike Marlow"

in reply to "Gramp's shop" on 19/07/2013 8:07 AM

19/07/2013 5:01 PM

Gramp's shop wrote:
> We've reached the point where it was worthwhile to take a few pics of
> the new bench.
>
> http://www.flickr.com/photos/73535978@N04/
>
> All that remains is a bit of final sanding and finishing with 3-4
> coats of Watco natural.
>

Nice job Larry!

--

-Mike-
[email protected]

sg

scritch

in reply to "Gramp's shop" on 19/07/2013 8:07 AM

21/07/2013 8:42 AM

On 7/19/2013 8:07 AM, Gramp's shop wrote:
>
> I plan on adding a three-drawer cabinet on half the lower shelf.
>
> Thanks to all how offered advice and encouragement!!!
>
> Larry
>

Very nice bench! But isn't walnut a bit soft for a workbench? I must
admit, my bench is Doug Fir, which is also a bit soft for a workbench,
but the top is recycled 6"-thick glue-lams that I got for free.

scritch

MM

Mike M

in reply to "Gramp's shop" on 19/07/2013 8:07 AM

21/07/2013 7:45 PM

On Fri, 19 Jul 2013 08:07:52 -0700 (PDT), "Gramp's shop"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>We've reached the point where it was worthwhile to take a few pics of the new bench.
>
>http://www.flickr.com/photos/73535978@N04/
>
>All that remains is a bit of final sanding and finishing with 3-4 coats of Watco natural.
>
>A few notes on construction:
>
>The lumber is reclaimed walnut. Boards measured a whisker under 2x5. These boards were previously door frames at a bank and I bought about 100 linear feet for $100. Built a coffee table and TV stand earlier and had 70 feet or so remaining. Hence, the bench.
>
>The trestles and stringers were aligned with 10mm dominos (two for each joint), glued and secured with 5/16 4" lag bolts.
>
>3/4 inch dog holes were drilled with a forstner bit. That went a lot faster than I imagined, using the DP.
>
>Used the 10mm dominoes again for alignment on the top glue-up. (I love this machine!) Local lumber yard ran it through their wide-belt sander for $6 and change.
>
>Vise jaws are hard maple and for those of you who saw my earlier post on the out-of-parallel tail vise, my jointer solution worked fine ... and safely.
>
>I plan on adding a three-drawer cabinet on half the lower shelf.
>
>Thanks to all how offered advice and encouragement!!!
>
>Larry

Make sure you have some coasters for the afterwork beverages so you
don't spoil the finish. 8-) Nice workbench

Mike M

wn

woodchucker

in reply to "Gramp's shop" on 19/07/2013 8:07 AM

19/07/2013 7:40 PM

On 7/19/2013 11:59 AM, G. Ross wrote:
> Gramp's shop wrote:
>> We've reached the point where it was worthwhile to take a few pics of
>> the new bench.
>>
>> http://www.flickr.com/photos/73535978@N04/
>>
>> All that remains is a bit of final sanding and finishing with 3-4
>> coats of Watco natural.
>>
>> A few notes on construction:
>>
>> The lumber is reclaimed walnut. Boards measured a whisker under 2x5.
>> These boards were previously door frames at a bank and I bought about
>> 100 linear feet for $100. Built a coffee table and TV stand earlier
>> and had 70 feet or so remaining. Hence, the bench.
>>
>> The trestles and stringers were aligned with 10mm dominos (two for
>> each joint), glued and secured with 5/16 4" lag bolts.
>>
>> 3/4 inch dog holes were drilled with a forstner bit. That went a lot
>> faster than I imagined, using the DP.
>>
>> Used the 10mm dominoes again for alignment on the top glue-up. (I
>> love this machine!) Local lumber yard ran it through their wide-belt
>> sander for $6 and change.
>>
>> Vise jaws are hard maple and for those of you who saw my earlier post
>> on the out-of-parallel tail vise, my jointer solution worked fine ...
>> and safely.
>>
>> I plan on adding a three-drawer cabinet on half the lower shelf.
>>
>> Thanks to all how offered advice and encouragement!!!
>>
>> Larry
>
> Very well made. Looks too purty to go in the shop.
>

That's nice. Wait till you see how nice having a solid ... really solid
bench is... don't worry about it's looks, the first chisel mark only
adds character. :-)

--
Jeff


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