My Workbench

[Simon Frez-Albrecht]

With the few threads going on right now discussing workbenches, I thought I would post up about mine to possibly act as food for thought. I built it following the design of Roy Underhill's Roubo inspired bench (http://www.pbs.org/woodwrightsshop/video/2700/2705.html), with the rising dovetails in the front legs and slanted back legs with a rear tool tray. I always found my benchtop cluttering up with tools, and I noticed I only ever really used the front half anyways, so I thought this would be perfect. I wrote up some information on my blog, for the sake of simplicity I will link to those posts (which also have some pictures).

Here was my first bench, replaced with the current bench, built with Timberlocks (like skinny lag bolts) left over from work and scrap pressure treated 6x6 laying around. As the wood dried over the course of several months, I had to tighten up the timberlocks to keep it from racking while planing. Also, no vises so everything had to be F clamped. It was also a touch low at about 30" (I'm a full 6'2").
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_T5BvAjVo4Hg/TPhvsCqVgeI/AAAAAAAAAGs/MrzftbLPVlU/s1600/GEDC1486.JPG

This bench was just a bench for me. In other words, I just wanted something that would allow me to work more easily and quickly than the old one. I didn't need it to be fancy or a particularly involved project. That's why many of the joints were fit straight off the saw and overall it's not a very pretty thing. There are gaps and other errors all over the place, but that doesn't bother me. I've since marked up the front face when my rip saw ran a little off course, and the top has some marks from various operations. I only spent about 3-4 days building it, and only about $100 in materials, and I've been very pleased with it. It's still a bit low, I left it at 30". I might build some boots for it to bring it up. Oh, and apart from driving a few screws with my impact driver, this was 100% handtools. So I guess that translates to 99.98% handtools, roughly.



In this post I discuss a couple of stock preparation issues:
http://luv2sharpen.blogspot.com/2011/02/antique-stores.html

Joining the top:
http://luv2sharpen.blogspot.com/2011/03/glued-up-benchtop.html

Fitting the legs:
http://luv2sharpen.blogspot.com/2011/03/bench-update.html

Finishing up:
http://luv2sharpen.blogspot.com/2011/03/done-for-now.html

Replacing the vise chop:
http://luv2sharpen.blogspot.com/2011/04/new-vise-chop.html

The bench today:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-71f36Rtz4Wc/Tkra8LRKF9I/AAAAAAAAAWs/qR7wFyCS93w/s1600/IMG_1472.JPG

Hope this helps! If you have any questions etc, feel free to ask.

[Chris Griggs]

Looks like a winner to me. It should serve you very well. Congrats!

[Joe A Faulkner]

Great little post here Simon. I didn't know about the Underhill Roubo - more familiar with the Schwarz version. It was very helpful to see his demo of the sliding dovetails as well as to see the splayed leg assembly. Thanks for posting this.

[Jim Neeley]

Boy, Simon.. That looks like it's got all of the heft needed for hand tools.. and more! <g>

[Jamie Bacon]

Nice job Simon! That looks like a very stout work bench that means business. I like the design and the fact that it looks like it's made to work, not to sit behind some velvet ropes. I think that's why I'm so drawn to Roy's way of working; things are built with folding rules, not micrometers. Again, great job.

[harry strasil]

+1, what Jamie said about building.