Bench In Progress...

[Louis Bois]

Since I haven't found those photos for the second part of my Smoother adventure...yet... I thought I'd post some pics in progress of the most important hand tool a woodworker needs...in some form or other.

I'm sure most of you started with workmates, or makeshift contraptions that you could nail boards and jigs to...without too much pain or worry about finesse. I still have a bench for this purpose, outfitted with the old standby Record woodworker's vice. I'd be lost without it.

But there comes a time when you get tired of chasing those boards around, or worse yet, adapting your planing rythm to the movement of the bench's sway! Have you ever cought yourselves doing that?!? Pretty scary and possibly injurious.

Last year, I finally decided that I had somewhat "outgrown" my beloved hacker bench and wanted something more appropriate for my "handtool" approach to woodworking. I still think power tools have a place, especially for taking care of the grunt work, but when it comes to traditional joinery there is really no substitute for hand tools. Besides, what happens when the power goes out? and it will...eventually.

I'm posting pics (mostly because Tyler scares me) but also to serve as a record of my progress as of mid-October. I'm bound and determined to finish this year, even with our new family addition. Now that I've posted this message, the pressure is on.

Hope these pics inspire some of you to go ahead and start your own benches...if you haven't already. Cutting those big dovetails by hand (for the dog leg vise and tail vise assembly) is something else...especially for a relative newbie.

...perhaps I should consider cleaning my workspace first...sheesh...

[Erin Raasch]

<snip>
But there comes a time when you get tired of chasing those boards around, or worse yet, adapting your planing rythm to the movement of the bench's sway! <snip>

OMG - you've been watching me work :eek:


Hope these pics inspire some of you to go ahead and start your own benches...if you haven't already. Cutting those big dovetails by hand (for the dog leg vise and tail vise assembly) is something else...especially for a relative newbie. <snip>

Looks very, very nice . . . I'm green with envy :D

As a matter of fact, a workbench is very high on my list of priorities - I figure to start accumulating the hardware this winter, then start building in the spring. Do you have detailed plans you're working from?

What you show in your pics are what I've got in mind - the traditional shoulder vise and tail vise with the big ol' dovetails. I've got several sites bookmarked that have given me some ideas, but I haven't yet found plans that were "exactly right."

Erin

[Louis Bois]

Hi Erin,

The bench is heavily based on Frank's bench in the Workbench Book. I made a few changes to the overall dimensions and changed a few minor details. I did the whole thing on CAD and actually rendered the entire project in 3D before putting saw to wood. If you're interested, I'll clean up the plans a bit and send you something in a format you can read...either acrobat, word, etc. I'll even send you the CAD drawings if you have a program to view it. That way, you'll be able to taylor the plans to suit your own needs. They were created in Autocad, if that helps, but could be saved as a DXF file and imported into other CAD programs.

I'll also be incorporating a "board jack" into the design as well...and possibly some sort of cabinet underneath...but then tools are easier to access from a wall cabinet, so who knows what I'll finally end up with?

Cheers,

[Ken Garlock]

Tweeeeet, 20 yard penalty for passing off commercially made bench as your own work. :D :) :D :D

But seriously, that is one of the best looking benchs I have seen, if not the best. Excellent workmanship. Just plane beautiful :)

[Tyler Howell]

Don't be afraid Louis :rolleyes:, The picture police are your friends. Protect and serve is our mato. :p :p
A very nice bench and one get out of jail free pass for top quality craftsmanship.:cool:
Pix police can be bought! A copy of your plans for all would be a great bribe:D.

[Doug Evans]

You were saying that you were goin' on fumes there the other night (then again coulda been an uncorked bottle of Scotch) - no wonder.

Good plan though... if the wee'un's tryin ta keep ya up - might as well make your own noise.

Grate Ladd. Jes Grrrate!

D

[Jim Becker]

Wow, Louis, that's a beautiful bench you're building. I'm truly envious...

[Louis Bois]

Thanks for the kind comments all.

For those that are expressing interest for bench plans, I'm currently working on a web page...yeah right...and just when is that happening? Sorry, just the split personality getting in his 2 cents worth.

I'll hopefully be up and running around Hollow'een. I should have lots of stuff up eventually, such as tool plans (clamps and such), bench plans (including a nice little carver's chops), as well as a few things I've picked up along the way, such as a chair/ladder plan that I created from measurements of a swiss-made 18th century chair (this is a chair that converts to a ladder by folding it over - there are many versions around - but this one is particulary graceful and elegant in its simplicity). I'll also hopefully get some documented building procedures for some of the stuff I've made/am making.

...but first, I MUST FINISH my bench!!!

...on a side note, yes Doug, the spirits do fortify.

...and I'm still scared Tyler...so the pics will keep coming :eek::D

[Matt Woodworth]

Outstanding progress so far. I suppose the vices are coming up. What news, the only thing left is the hard part. :p :p :p

[Alan Turner]

Good looking bench. Before I built mine, I spent a good deal of time with the Landis book, which is excellent. Has anyone seen the new Taunton book? Is it different? Good? Etc.
Alan

[Louis Bois]

You've got that right Matt...save the best for last! I've got the shoulder vise completed...not shown in the pic...and the tail vise is sitting on the bench. All the other bits for mounting the tail vise are cut to size and ready for fitting. Not far now...I can almost taste it...kinda like a beech/curly maple cocktail.

The other outstanding items are the tool tray bottom...haven't glued that in yet as I'm thinking of having a removable section to allow access to both sides of the top slab for veneer pressing, etc...and of course, the sliding board jack needs to be installed. I've been experimenting with different design ideas for the latter...I need to stop myself from going overboard sometimes...simpler is indeed better!!!

[Roy Wall]

Louis,

Your bench looks great!! What is the approx dimensions? It looks more on the 60" length scale....?

Keep up the good work!:)

[Matt Woodworth]

The other outstanding items are the tool tray bottom...haven't glued that in yet as I'm thinking of having a removable section to allow access to both sides of the top slab for veneer pressing
I thought about making a plywood board with a giant tab that would fit in my tool tray snugly, like a giant mortise and tenon. It's purpose would be to give me a huge working surface. However, since I built the assembly table (http://www.just4fun.org/woodworking/projects/assembly_table/index.htm) I don't really need a convertable bench. Maybe the removable work surface with a giant "tenon" idea would work for you?

[Jack Hogoboom]

Louis,

Very timely post. I too would like to build a bench like Frank Klaus's. I took a class from him on handcut dovetails last year and think he really knows what he's doing. He also lives only about 20 minutes from me.

I've been thinking about building his bench for about a year. Scott Landis's book (which I gather you used) has some detail on dimensions, etc. but not enough to make me comfortable trying to build it. In the last issue of Woodworkers Journal, Frank did a construction article on his bench which helped a little more.

If you have plans available, I'd love to have a set. I'd even be willing to pay. Please PM me if you get a chance.

I've thought about asking Frank to build one for me, but the guy scares the crap out of me. I'm afraid he'll go "Hungarian" on me.

Thanks,

Jack

[Louis Bois]

Roy, the dimensions of the bench are: 2'-3 3/4" x 6'-4 (workable area)
The overall clearance dimensions with both vises closed (not taking into accout the screws and handles) are: 3'-3 3/4" x 6'-9 1/4"

Matt, I'd considered this option...I'd just hate to have another mobile piece that I'd have to find storage for...that's why I'm considering some sort of sliding panel solution.

Jack, I did use Landis' book as one of my references among others, but the biggest inspiration came from seeing a few old ones up close! As for plans, I'll PM you with some info.

[Tom LaRussa]

What you show in your pics are what I've got in mind - the traditional shoulder vise and tail vise with the big ol' dovetails. I've got several sites bookmarked that have given me some ideas, but I haven't yet found plans that were "exactly right."
Hi Erin,

Sounds like you are pretty much know what you want in a bench, but for those who are not so sure, here is an alternative to think about.

It's an article called "Bob and Dave's Good, Fast, and Cheap Bench," which can be found here: http://www.terraclavis.com/bws/beginners.htm

The guy who wrote the article summarizes thusly:


Any woodworker who builds a bench will want to build a second one.
I suspect this is true because a woodworker can only learn what he really
wants by spending a lot of time working with his first bench. Bob designed a bench which would be heavy, true, cheap, and easy to build. He then let his 12-year old son (Dave) build it, using only hand tools, with only a little bit of assistance from his little sister.

Instead of hardwood it uses 2x lumber from the local discount big box.

Instead of shoulder and tail vises it uses all-metal units by Record.

They report a total cost of about $220 for their bench.

I am currently building my own version of this bench for quite a bit less than their reported figure. My savings is attributable to having found knockoffs of the Record vises selling for $19 each, (as opposed to something like $75+ for the "real" thing.)

My bench won't be beautiful like Louis', but I don't have the money to build such a bench right now, and even if I did I could not be sure that the bench would have what I really would want from such a bench.

My bench, on the other hand, will be finished within a week or so at a total cost of less than $100. It won't be my ultimate bench, but it will be usable soon.

Someday -- when I have the money to do it right, and the experience to know what I really want -- I'll build my ultimate bench and this one will become an assembly table.

[Louis Bois]

Tom,

I agree with you 100%. My fast, somewhat sturdy, cheap bench is sitting in the other corner and will be relegated to sharpening tasks, metal work, as well as just about anything else that I can think of...except for planing and other joinery tasks...which will be taken over by my new bench. I've waited quite a while to build this, so I guess I'm at "that stage".

I think that building this bench has increased my confidence to tackle larger projects. As I mentioned earlier, I'm trying to get rid of most of my finger munching tool dependability and shifting my focus to the meditative side of things.

When I started this whole business, I assumed that hand tools were only for the very skilled individuals that did this for a living. I realise now the error of my beliefs. Hand tool usage is one of the simplest things to learn...really! Getting proficient at their use is where the skill comes in. The more you use them, the better you get.

I appreciate your point...but it was "my time".

Addendum...here's a great compilation of links to various types of benches, brought to you courtesy of your friendly neighbourhood "Bugbear".
http://www.geocities.com/plybench/bench.html

[Ellen Benkin]

This is an awsome design and great instructions. Thanks for finding and posting it.

[Scott Parks]

Is this the same design I saw in American Wood Woorker a couple months ago? I bought that issue because I drooled all over it in B&N.

Anyway, I was wondering what wood was used in the article for the bench top? (Don't laugh, I'm not sure) but is it Mohagany? Is this suitable for a bench top? THe article referred to using Maple or Beech. Also the top was one big slab. Is this a bad idea for stability and warping?

I like the color of the wood, but will probably not use a dark colored wood for lighting conditions.... Suppose I'll end up using Maple anyway with Walnut or Rosewood accents...

[Louis Bois]

Scott...I can't tell you if this is the same design as AWW's because I haven't read it...and therefore cannot comment on the wood shown in the magazine.

I used European steamed beech (laminated - 2 3/4" thick) for the top with curly maple accents. The base is laminated of quatersawn oak with beech stretchers.

The only dark wood accents will be the vise handles and sliding clamp board on the dog leg vise (australian walnut).

[Chris Padilla]

Nice...I'm going to need a custom-sized bench myself. I had a long thread on it in the GWW&PT section not too long ago. Try a search on Workbench and it should come up.

As you may (or may not) read in that thread, my bench will be more or less only accessible from two sides. I'm still not sure about all the details yet but when the gara...er, shop is done (hopefully before the end of the year), I can focus on it more and get more ideas from y'all. :)

Thanks, Louis...been meaning to ask you about your avatar...what is it? :D

[Tom LaRussa]

I appreciate your point...but it was "my time".

Louis,

I could tell that just by looking at the beautiful workmanship on your bench. :)

[Scott Parks]

Is this the same design I saw in American Wood Woorker a couple months ago? I bought that issue because I drooled all over it in B&N.

..
Sorry, it was Woodworker's Journal, and made by Frank Klausz (sp?) I still want to know what kind of wood he made the top from.

[Louis Bois]

Chris, if I can help you in any way with your bench design, please don't hesitate to ask. As for my Avatar, it's a puppet I'm working on...a Mr. Punch marionette. I've only got the head done so far since I'm still not sure if it will be a traditional hand puppet or stringed marionette. I'll throw in a few pics at the end of this response.

Tom, thanks for the compliment...sorry if I sounded a little snotty there...not intended.

Scott, Frank made his bench out of maple...two slabs glued side by side. He finishes it with Waterlox...which could be the cause of the "darkness" he achieved on it...