Alan Zenreich
05-31-2009, 8:16 PM
I can use some advice about how to handle a workbench I just purchased.
It was apparently made by C. Christiansen company of Chicago.
The front vise is marked Abernathy Roller Nut Rapid Action Screw Vise
(It's an interesting vise, allowing for slip quick adjusting before tightening)
The end vise is unmarked but looks to be to the same manufacturer.
The benchtop is about 22"x60" It's 1-5/8" thick in the front, and about 3/4" thick in the recessed area.
The top appears to be maple, and the front of the top has recently been sanded. The top simply rests on the base, there are two dowels for positioning the top.
I'm not looking to restore this as an antique, I want to use this primarily with hand planes and chisels. I've recently restored some planes and am anxious to start playing with them.
I already have some other workbenches (metal, and a lovely Festool MFT/3) for power tool and assembly work, but I don't have anything with wood vises on them.
I can see myself backing this up against a wall, and anchoring the top to studs in the wall, to make it really solid.
So, my question is, because I've never built a workbench, I'm not sure what I should be doing with this top to prepare it for use. Should I flatten it with a jointer plane? Should it be stained, and/or finished with poly, shellac... etc.? If I really felt ambitious, I could strip all the drawers and refinish them too.
If this were yours, what would you do to before moving it into your shop?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
http://www.zenreich.com/ZenWeb/shop/images/workbench_b.jpg
http://www.zenreich.com/ZenWeb/shop/images/workbench_c.jpg
http://www.zenreich.com/ZenWeb/shop/images/workbench_d.jpg
It was apparently made by C. Christiansen company of Chicago.
The front vise is marked Abernathy Roller Nut Rapid Action Screw Vise
(It's an interesting vise, allowing for slip quick adjusting before tightening)
The end vise is unmarked but looks to be to the same manufacturer.
The benchtop is about 22"x60" It's 1-5/8" thick in the front, and about 3/4" thick in the recessed area.
The top appears to be maple, and the front of the top has recently been sanded. The top simply rests on the base, there are two dowels for positioning the top.
I'm not looking to restore this as an antique, I want to use this primarily with hand planes and chisels. I've recently restored some planes and am anxious to start playing with them.
I already have some other workbenches (metal, and a lovely Festool MFT/3) for power tool and assembly work, but I don't have anything with wood vises on them.
I can see myself backing this up against a wall, and anchoring the top to studs in the wall, to make it really solid.
So, my question is, because I've never built a workbench, I'm not sure what I should be doing with this top to prepare it for use. Should I flatten it with a jointer plane? Should it be stained, and/or finished with poly, shellac... etc.? If I really felt ambitious, I could strip all the drawers and refinish them too.
If this were yours, what would you do to before moving it into your shop?
Thanks in advance for your thoughts.
http://www.zenreich.com/ZenWeb/shop/images/workbench_b.jpg
http://www.zenreich.com/ZenWeb/shop/images/workbench_c.jpg
http://www.zenreich.com/ZenWeb/shop/images/workbench_d.jpg