I finally built it, Work Bench!!

[gary south]

I am so excited about my new bench I wanted to show it off. I have been dreaming about this for 2 years and running a full time wood working business it is hard to break away to do something like this. Well I finally broke down and did it.

http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp175/4garylee/DSC_0750.jpg

This bench measures 52" wide x 89" long with a vise 21" wide x 2 1/4" x 6" solid maple. I still have to drill for dogs which I have taken alot of advice that I have read on Sawmill that I plane to follow.

http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp175/4garylee/DSC_0752.jpg


The top is made of 1 1/4" thick 1" thick oak on ends that makes up the butcher block style top that sits on 1 1/2"s of Amberosa ply (similar to baltic birch).

http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp175/4garylee/DSC_0756.jpg

There are over 23 drawers that will finally hold my routers, nailers, cabinet hardware, router bits, screws, and much much more.

http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp175/4garylee/DSC_0759.jpg

http://i409.photobucket.com/albums/pp175/4garylee/DSC_0755.jpg
I dove tailed all the drawers and constructed them out of Baltic Birch 1/2" boxes with 1/4" Baltic Birch bottoms.

VERY VERY HEAVY!!!! I still have to move it to the other end of the shop you dont see in the pictures and the shiny look is that the finish is still wet.

I hope you enjoy!

Gary
GW Custom Woods

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Beautiful bench Gary! Well done sir!

[Rick Lucrezi]

Very nice, sure wish I had one in my shop. When the house is done I can start thinking about stuff like that.

[Craig Nickles]

Very nice.

[Ken Higginbotham]

That's too nice to work on :D

[Mike Null]

Very well done.

[Mike Wilkins]

Very nicely done. I just have one question. Why not more than one vise??
With this much real estate of a worktop, it would be limiting to have just one clamping option. Still a real nice bench. You must have a decent-sized shop.

[Von Bickley]

Gary,

That is one GREAT work bench/table.......:)

[gary south]

Very nicely done. I just have one question. Why not more than one vise??
With this much real estate of a worktop, it would be limiting to have just one clamping option. Still a real nice bench. You must have a decent-sized shop.
I dont do alot of hand tooling work as most of my work is power. I incorporated this vise as my son is starting up his panel business and I noticed when he works he likes things to be held down. So, I am thinking that bench dogs will be good to utilize. I was looking at it (bench) last night noticing that I could put a small vise on the same end but from the front side.

Thanks for the feed back.

Gary

[Jim Becker]

That's a nice big bench with great storage. Nice work.

[Jude Tuliszewski]

Man, that is a lot of real estate. I wish I had room for a work bench that big. Great job.

[John Thompson]

Great bench.. and large enough to double as an assembly table... not to mention major storage under-neath..

Sarge..

[Bruce Page]

Nice BIG bench!
You're going to love all that storage.

[mike holden]

That is one mighty fine bench!
I envy you.

Now, to make something with it! (grinnnn!)

Mike

[David Christopher]

thats not a work bench....its a fine piece of furniture

[gary south]

Your comments really mean alot!! I have been doing woodworking for over 20 years and this has got to be the best TOOL that I have built for myself. I am just all grins!!

I still have the drawer fronts to get done and should have them done this weekend.

Meanwhil, I am buidling a gun cabinet to be donated to the Local Pheasants forever and having the extra bench right now is just great.

I will miss the old one but am excited to get the new one wrapped up and for my son to start using it as well. He helped alot on the bench and maybe that is why it means so much.

Any way.. thanks for all your comments and I am really glad that you all have enjoyed.

Thank You,

Gary
GW Custom Woods

[gary Zimmel]

Nice bench Gary. Real nice bench...

Great job!

[Jarrod McGehee]

Great job Gary. That's what I want to make too. like you said, it's one of my dreams also. good work

[J. Z. Guest]

Very nice Gary.

You don't want to hear this now that it is done, but there's room for another one of those vises right next to that one. Then, you can hold down HUGE pieces while you work on them. Also, I'd miss a smaller vise on the front left corner.

It is beautiful; I've never seen such a massive work bench.

[Rob Cunningham]

Beautiful bench. Large top, plenty of storage and lots of weight. That's a nice addition to the shop.