New Workbench

[Michael Koons]

222153
I'm posting this picture mostly as a "Thank You" to this group for all your help and advice as I embarked on building a nice workbench for the shop. I borrowed the design from several workbenches and made some adaptations on the fly, but it's mostly based on FWW's "Essential Workbench." I did not put in the Lee Valley end vice, mostly due to cost but I'm very happy with the shoulder vice the way it is.

I still need to hand plane it to "dead flat." Right now, it's flat to 1/64" across the width, but I'd like to get it flatter. I'll work it with my #7 plane over time to flatten it out. I also will build the drawer unit that FWW published for the workbench, but I have to build some stuff for the family first. :)

If anyone wants to know about the process for the 2 1/2 thick maple top or anything else that went into building this, let me know. Thanks to everyone for tips on techniques and processes. This is a great group of experts and your advice is greatly appreciated.

Mike

[Stephen Cherry]

Looks great!:)

[Jerome Hanby]

Those wagon style tail vices have such clean lines it sure makes it tempting to go with that style. Very nice bench!

[Dick Mahany]

Nice work and looks great. Now enjoy it !

[Sam Layton]

Hi Michael,

That is a great looking work bench. I like the shoulder vice as well. You will get excellent service from your new bench.

Sam

[Dave Mura]

Nice job! Looking good!
http://chdsolutions.com/img/11d867796d85db8cad5280ac44cec7c1.jpghttp://chdsolutions.com/img/a57d48399922b03419153a9760c5ce53.jpghttp://chdsolutions.com/img/beda24c1e1b46055dff2c39c98fd6fc1.jpg

[ian maybury]

Good going Michael. Encouragement for those of us just about to head down that road....

ian

[Terry Hatfield]

Very nice!!!! There is something very special about building your own bench. Congrats!!!

[Neil Brooks]

Very nice job !

I agree: working on my bench is a real pleasure, every time.

[Bobby O'Neal]

Very nice work.

[Gary Pennington]

Mike,
Your bench looks super! Congrats on a job well done.

I'm building a similar bench--the FWW Essential with some mods using 4/4 red oak throughout. The base assembly is complete ready for sanding and finish. What front vise did you use? Is it a quick release? I'm going to forego an end vise for the time being, thought I'd start with a couple of the Veritas Wonder Dogs and see how things progress. I'm a limited neander, time will tell if I need a real end vise.

Gary

[Bruce Page]

Mike, nice bench. I love the shoulder vise. I wish I had gone that route when I built mine.

[Dennis Puskar]

How are you going to check it for flatness ?

[Jerome Hanby]

Very nice!!!! There is something very special about building your own bench. Congrats!!!

Sometime it even defies common sense. I recently cut down my Ikea beech counter top and stacked it in the configuration it will have when I glue up the stack to make the workbench top. I j ust have it sitting on a pair of saw horses and I already love working on it <g>

[Brian Kincaid]

Great design! I built mine in exactly the same configuration (except lefty). Yours is much nicer though! I used construction lumber and an oak top. I don't cry when I hit it with a chisel, gouge, or other cutter, but there are times when I wish the top was in a little better shape :)
-Brian