My Workbench

[Darnell Hagen]

My bench is finally done, and I'm posting to a blog about it. Here's where I'm at so far.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s168/DarnellHagen/P1030348.jpg

Steamed beech legs and framework, white beech panels featuring 18" wide bookmatched raised front panels.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s168/DarnellHagen/P1030562.jpg



More here (http://thewayiwood.blogspot.com/2010/04/bench-making-carcass.html).

[Aaron Wingert]

We need more pictures!!!! Looks good so far.

[Brian Williamson]

That looks nicer than my dining room table!

Nice.

[Alan Schwabacher]

That looks beautiful.

[Terry Hatfield]

Nice job all the way around!!!

[Steven J Corpstein]

Very nice, a tribute to craftsmanship, without screws and nails.

[Dave Mura]

Nice work!

[Paul Murphy]

I really like it! Darnell you do very nice work.

[Hovey Moore]

Awesome looking bench. I can't wait to see finished pics.

[Garth Keel]

It is too beautiful to use; maybe in the living room to show off? :rolleyes:

[Darnell Hagen]

Thanks for the kind words everybody!

Todays update:

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s168/DarnellHagen/25-04-09_1902-1.jpg

[Thomas love]

Darnell, Looks outstanding , love the photos and looking forward the finished pics. Keep up the nice work .
Tom

[Rich Noterman]

Very very nice....................

[John Schreiber]

Very pretty and very strong. Just right for a workbench. That's a "Tucker" vise isn't it. Let us know how you like it.

[Darnell Hagen]

Thanks for the compliments.

Ya John, it's a Tucker. I love everything about it aside from the price tag.

Todays update:

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s168/DarnellHagen/P1030094.jpg

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s168/DarnellHagen/P1030095.jpg

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s168/DarnellHagen/P1020472.jpg

[Brendan Plavis]

Wonderful Joints....!

Might I ask what DH MMX is? Is it a date of some sort?

[Mike Archambeau]

Wonderful Joints....!

Might I ask what DH MMX is? Is it a date of some sort?

Darnell Hagen 2010 perhaps?

BTW....she is a real beauty Darnell!

[James MacArthur]

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s168/DarnellHagen/P1020472.jpg

That looks great, does the beech plane easily by hand?

On a side note, is that a little gap in the frame down in the bottom right? Is it intentional or is it a dry fit?

[Rich Aldrich]

Nice looking bench. Good and sturdy. I built one last year and love it.

[Darnell Hagen]

Brendan, Mike has it, my initials and the year. In Roman numerals, 'cause they're classy. :)

James, beech planes a lot like soft maple. It carves like frozen margarine.

The base is dry fit, the gap is gone.

New pics:

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s168/DarnellHagen/P1030108-1.jpg

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s168/DarnellHagen/P1030308.jpg

More here (http://thewayiwood.blogspot.com/).

[Darnell Hagen]

Drawers!

Resawn curly beech fronts.

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s168/DarnellHagen/P1040967.jpg

[Paul McGaha]

Darnell,

It's a beautiful workbench.

PHM

[Darnell Hagen]

Thanks, Paul!

She's finished (http://thewayiwood.blogspot.com/2010/04/bench-making-completed-work.html)!

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s168/DarnellHagen/P1050227.jpg

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s168/DarnellHagen/P1510921.jpg

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s168/DarnellHagen/P1510908.jpg

http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s168/DarnellHagen/P1510927.jpg

[michael craigdallie]

that is a really beautiful work bench. you should be very proud. i quite like the inset pencil sharpener....that is sweet (i might just have to steal that idea!).

what are those black lines in the end vise?

cheers,
m

[michael craigdallie]

also, is that a cup holder?

cheers,
m

[Tony Shea]

I also was wondering what that cupholder lookin thing was. What a beautiful job on that lovely bench. The apron dovetails are flawless and huge. How'd you cut them, I'm assuming by hand? Just a great job and something to be very proud of. I'd have a hard time nicking that beaut up!

[John Schreiber]

One of the finest built and designed benches I've seen. Congratulations on your achievement.

[lou sansone]

excellent work. I have built benches are well and your is really very nice. beach is hard to work with and get the type of results you have.

lou

[Darnell Hagen]

Michael, please do inlay a sharpener (http://thewayiwood.blogspot.com/2010/04/modifying-twin-screw.html). It works very well and never gets lost. :) The black lines (http://thewayiwood.blogspot.com/2010/04/modifying-twin-screw.html)are references for common dovetail angles.

The cup holder is my Joe Dog (http://thewayiwood.blogspot.com/2010/03/joe-dog.html). :D

Tony, the apron dts (http://thewayiwood.blogspot.com/2010/04/bench-making-top-dovetails.html)are bandsawn, hand chopped.

John, that is possibly the nicest thing anyone has ever said about my work. Thank you.

Lou, I really liked working beech with hand tools, it has a nice texture. The trouble I had with it is it's internal stresses causing resaws to bow massively and rip cuts to pinch the tablesaw blade. This was especialy prevalent in the unsteamed white beech.

[Leigh Betsch]

Gotta like that!

[Tony Shea]

Well, I do really like the Joe Dog and the innovation that went into a simple accessorie like that. Very nice and inspirational. I think that belongs on everyones bench as coffee surely doesn't belong on the bench top. And I agree that an unfinished top provides the best work surface.

[Dennis McGarry]

My lord! There are work benches and there are Work benches, but that sir is neither!

That is a exceptional piece of craftsmanship in it self! Great job on that!