It started so innocently - small bench build

[Lee Ludden]

After reading Chris Schwartz's workbench book, I decided I wanted to build a Roubo style bench. A few days later, I was roaming through my local BORG, and back by the saw, the scrap bin will filled with 4' long 2x12s that someone had ordered custom cut, then decided they didn't need, so they were marked with the green paint indicating $0.50 per board. There were about a dozen there. So I scooped them all up, stacked them in a corner, and let them dry out for a few months while I did some other projects.

Since the pieces weren't long enough to do the bench I wanted, I figured I'd work on a smaller version as practice and to give me some extra workspace. After a lot of jointing, planing, and gluing, here's what I ended up with.

The top is 24"x35"x3". The legs are each 4"x5" and set into the top with mortise & tenon. Stretchers are roughly 2"x6". I finished it with BLO and a few coats of paste wax. It is solid. It doesn't wobble. I will be building a full size version of it soon.

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[John M Wilson]

Beautiful!

I am thinking about making a similar top for my upcoming workbench project.

What joinery methods did you use for the top? Glue only? Did you glue them up all at the same time, or in groups of two or three?

Any handy tips you may have will be greatly appreciated...

Thanks!

[Lee Ludden]

Top was just glued face to face. I have an 8" jointer, so I did it in three 8" pieces, which I then ran though the jointer and planer to smoother out. The final glue up was pretty even, but I took it over to a local shop and had them run it through their 50" belt sander.

It was a real good learning experience.

[Jon McElwain]

Well I know where to park my truck if I ever visit your place!!

That is a solid looking bench - I bet it lasts longer that you do!! :D

Nice work, especially from BORG lumber...

[Mike Wilkins]

That is a really nice use of what is normally construction lumber. Just goes to show, you don't need some pricey hardwood to make a great workbench. Now you need some dog holes and a vise. Great job.

[Chen-Tin Tsai]

Wow, that's a great bench. Heck, my bench isn't even that big! I've found that construction lumber works great for a bench, especially one that will be used for hand tools (lots of dings, scratches, scrapes, etc). Building your own bench is a very satisfying experience, isn't it?

[Richard Coers]

I built a small bench for extra workspace, and actually use it a lot more than the big bench. I can slide it over to the table saw and help with handling plywood, it's perfect for sitting at to use my dovetail fixture, I use it for my minilathe, etc.... Yours look great, nice craftsmanship.

[Andy Gilbert]

Lee,
Your project illustrates 3 things:
1. When you find on deal on something, whether you need it at that moment or not, buy it. Time and ingenuity will find a way to make it work.
2. Some benchs are just plain beautiful. I looked at the photos before reading the text (wonder where I got that habit from????) and the first thing I thought was, "this guy built a bench/butcher block cutting board for the center of his kitchen rather than install an island - what a good idea. Your bench would be at home in your house or shop!!
3. Very nice job of selecting the outside faces of the wood. I see very few knots. Here in Calif. I've looked at Borg 2x12's with bench building in mind and I've always wondered why people bothered. The wood I've seen has been so full of knots that I couldn't figure out how to cut it and end up with decent face material without a huge amount of waste.
Thanks for sharing, Andy

[Jerome Hanby]

Looks sturdy. might make a good lathe stand...

[Dave Mura]

Looks great! http://couponfit.com/img/beda24c1e1b46055dff2c39c98fd6fc1.gifhttp://couponfit.com/img/7d62a275027741d98073d42b8f735c68.gifhttp://couponfit.com/img/11d867796d85db8cad5280ac44cec7c1.gifhttp://couponfit.com/img/a57d48399922b03419153a9760c5ce53.gifhttp://couponfit.com/img/b90ba83119860d7f6a6dfaab9f2aa150.gif

[Cyrus Brewster 7]

That bench looks great. I have been pondering making one, but like you, I need a little practice. I think I will head to the BORG this weekend to see if I can find anything in the scrap pile. Thanks for the push top get it done.