Opinions on Patrick Edward Bench?

[James W Glenn]

I've got a some time to work on the shop and was considering a two sided bench influenced by Patrick Edwards bench.

http://woodtreks.com/design-build-traditional-woodworking-workbench-tail-shoulder-leg-vises/1651/


I've got a collection of iron vises so will probably fit a pattern and cabinet makers vices in some configuration opposite the Roubo side.

I'd appreciate hearing any thoughts on this type of bench before I commit to making room for a small aircraft carrier of a bench in my shop.

Thanks Woody

[Andrew Hughes]

I watched the video.And I think it's a nice bench you should make one if you can.
Have you tried old brown glue? It's good stuff but kinda expensive.
I also noticed he has a tormek super grind.The sign of a true master.
I liked the suggestion about roughing up the bench top.

Aj

[James W Glenn]

Here's another version:

(http://lumberjocks.com/assets/pictures/projects/255333-438x.jpg?1322005755)

http://lumberjocks.com/projects/56298

[Christopher Charles]

What is your space like? I considered a similar bench, but settled on having two, with one against a wall and at a higher height. The Edwards design commits to having it out in the room, and even if the leg vise was removed and pushed against the wall, it would be a quite deep bench.

Also, FWIW, I toothed my bench for a while based on that video, but have gone back to a smooth top--easier to keep clean.

Best,
Chris

[James W Glenn]

This is the rough plan I'm working towards. Everything will be movable if not mobile, as I will have small boats and canoes in the space occasionally.

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[Brian Holcombe]

I do understand his interest in having both a northern European bench and a Roubo, but frankly I would chose one or the other.

I have a big bench but if I had the space I would like to have a narrow and long bench instead with an assembly table. I may shorten the depth of my bench at some point and assemble things on a pair of heavy saw horses. The really wide bench is more prone to seasonal movement causing it to come out of flat, so while the wide bench was a nice idea it's proven to be a bit of a hassle that would be easily cured by being no more than 20" wide and quarter sawn.

The shoulder vise is handy but a leg vise and a seperate clamp are just as capable.

I have an in-between on the surface finish, which is that I use a jack plane to level it out, then take most of that out with a smoother and once that is done it's good.

[James W Glenn]

My first world problem is having too many metal vises and wooden screws collected. The top would be split, 5 1/2 x 16" fir glue-lam on the Roubo side and a maybe a thinner laminated top on the Patternmakers side to work with the metal vise mounts. I need to find or recreate my sketches, but the I wasnt clear on what to do for the tail vise corner on the Patternmakers side. One thought was to offset the bench halves 24"and hang the Emmert vise as an end vice. That would give me a narrow bench section at each end. The total width of the 2 bench tops would be around 36".

[Prashun Patel]

Personally, I wouldn't bother with the shoulder vise. I would instead use a Moxon vise or a bench-on-bench. I find it raises the work to a more comfortable height when sawing vs the shoulder vise. This would greatly simplify your construction.

If you don't agree with that, then you could consider replacing the leg vise with a twin screw face vise. FWIW, I have a leg vise and find the stooping to adjust it a little awkward. It has tremendous clamping power, but you have to shim the bottom or use a self-correcting glide device when making large changes.

As for the tail vise, it is nice to be able to hold things vertically in for some sawing or planing ops. But the central position of that opening makes it an awkward location when doing that. For work holding when planing, a wagon vise will do just as well as a tail vise. The benefit of the wagon is that the screw handle is fixed relative to the end of the bench, so you don't require clearance on the end of the bench. You'll get about 1ft less capacity with a wagon than a tail, but that hasn't been an issue in my experience.

I would consider adding is a small, right-handed face vise on the opposite side from the main face/leg vise. This will only work if the screws can clear each other. The benefit is more options for work holding when sawing or holding bench hooks.

[James W Glenn]

Here's a quick sketch.

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[Christopher Charles]

Could you build as two that bolt together. Or both go along your wall on the right. I'd be concerned about that large of a bench in the middle if you know you'll need to be moving things around.

Good problems to have :)

[James W Glenn]

Being able to have 2 separate benches crossed my mind. I would have to have two basses and a very rigid connection between the two benches to keep things coplanar. The bench on the wall is a built in monstrosity built around a 20' gluelam. I have a lot of second guesses about that one as far as its depth. I may reconfigure the base to bring it closer to the wall but I like the idea of a 20" tool tray all along it leangth, I hope it will be an effective clutter trap for all the bits and pieces and little projects I always have scattered around.

[James Waldron]

[snip] ... I like the idea of a 20" tool tray all along it leangth, I hope it will be an effective clutter trap for all the bits and pieces and little projects I always have scattered around.

Oh, fear not!

[Jim Koepke]

The idea of a bench with multiple work holding solutions is very appealing.

One of my thoughts is if ever I build a bench is to make one that is ambidextrous.

One of my biggest impediments is getting rid of all the stuff that just seems too dear to let go. It is amazing that last year a few years accumulation of wood scraps was used as firewood. It didn't kill me and there are still more scraps than can be used in a lifetime.

jtk

[James Pallas]

James
First I would like to say that Patrick Edwards is an extremely talented man who wears many woodworking hats. In order to do his work he needs many holding fixtures. The bench is the tip of the iceberg, just look on his blog. I see you do some boat work. I can see your need for many vises. I don't know if that bench would work for you only you would know. My bench for several years is a 30" wide adjust a bench set up left handed on one side and right handed on the other. I really like it and have all four vises in use at times. I have another bench similar to an English style that I seldom use anymore. A bench is such a personal thing that it is difficult to give much advice about. I would guess that Patrick Edwards bench would serve you well with all the other things you have planned.
Jim

[James W Glenn]

Heres a narrower simpler version.

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[James W Glenn]

Found another variation:

http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/7463/making-a-roubo-workbench-part-5

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[Tom Bussey]

As on can see from the pictures my thought on the Edwards bench. I built mine from page 30 of The work bench by Lon Schlening. I married the European and the Modern before I ever heard of the Edwards bench. I also built the Klausz bench slave on page 233 of The work bench Book by Scott Landis. It allows me to work long boards using the shoulder vise. If I had to do it over again I would put the leg vise at the other end. It would be easier to work right or left handed on the bench. Personally I only use the leg vise 2 % of the time so I have trouble understanding why everyone seems to think the Roubo style bench is the only bench to build. But then it is only my opinion. Would I put a leg vise on if I could do I over. yes, but it was an after thought the first time.

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[Tom Bussey]

I am also tempted to drill holes in the front face of the bench between the dog holes. That way I could use my holdfasts in the front too. IA friend of mine forged them for me using a single tire iron for the steel.

[Tom Bussey]

Here are some more pictures of the use of both the tail vise and the shoulder vise. The first one has a drawer. It is a lot easier to work this way than to work twisted sideways. Also fast of clamping other things when you wish to get up close and personal. I also show some dovetail work in the shoulder vise as well as in the moxon.
A lot of time went into finding the correct bench height for me personally. So I find the height when doing dovetails in the shoulder vise a little more comfortable than with the moxon vise.

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I am also at the present, building a work bench for my grandson for Christmas. He will be 11 this month and has already talked his step mother out of a battery powered drill. He told his grandmother that he thought he loved tools more than his grandpa.

So here is a picture of some of the top being clamped with 24" clamps and glued up. Also another reason for so large a top. I will say that I was looking at the Rockler catalog and found a heavy duty caster set for rolling around workbenches. I also saw that the were removable to get rid of the trip hazard. I have a set on another heavy piece of machinery and they work good They aren't removable though. Being able to move a workbench just like a table saw or shaper has some advantages. Just some more thoughts on the matter

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Why did I take the time to post, because there are other style benches out there besides the Roubo with a leg vise. I am guessing I have about $100 invested in not one, not two but 3 vises. Moxom vise hardware alone will cost over $150. I made my own moxon hardware by the way

[Frank Drew]

Very nice work on your bench, Tom. Personally, I like a shoulder vise and a traditional tail vise and using the space below for a small chest of drawers (less dust accumulation than simple shelves); I don't like tool troughs (loss of bench top real estate and there's always something sticking up and in the way), and even thinking about the feel of a bench top after roughing it up with a toothing plane gives me the willies.