Eric Sarno
03-12-2017, 11:11 PM
Hi everyone,
I've just finished my first workbench made of stud-grade pine from a partly finished room I tore down in my basement. Main tools used were my 9" radial arm saw, 6" jointer, 6" planer, router and chisels / planes. All of the legs are different thicknesses because it took varying levels of flattening depending on how warped the piece of wood was. It's 30.75" tall and 32” wide. I am 5'6" but it could still stand to be about an inch taller. It's so short length-wise because there was no hope of straightening the pieces of wood beyond that length. You can see plenty of chip outs and other such from the construction process, and there were gaps due to my lack of skill (and partly due to a square that was out 1/8" over 6", I now have a new one). It took me quite a while to build, as the most stable work surface other than the floor was the stairs. But it's finally done and I think it will serve me well. Finished with boiled linseed oil & paste wax. The vises are old broadhead & garrets I got off craigslist and restored.
1. Some wood isn't worth using. When it's filled with nails and looks like a long potato chip, don't bother.
2. Think about a jig before building it, because it might not work. (See exhibit A, aka the worst router sled ever made)
3. Wear eye protection when chiseling through a knot / sap. It becomes sap-nel.
4. Fix a gap by beveling all of the other edges around it. Now it's just stylish.
5. Keep searching - there's bound to be a spot on the floor where the bench will be level.
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I've just finished my first workbench made of stud-grade pine from a partly finished room I tore down in my basement. Main tools used were my 9" radial arm saw, 6" jointer, 6" planer, router and chisels / planes. All of the legs are different thicknesses because it took varying levels of flattening depending on how warped the piece of wood was. It's 30.75" tall and 32” wide. I am 5'6" but it could still stand to be about an inch taller. It's so short length-wise because there was no hope of straightening the pieces of wood beyond that length. You can see plenty of chip outs and other such from the construction process, and there were gaps due to my lack of skill (and partly due to a square that was out 1/8" over 6", I now have a new one). It took me quite a while to build, as the most stable work surface other than the floor was the stairs. But it's finally done and I think it will serve me well. Finished with boiled linseed oil & paste wax. The vises are old broadhead & garrets I got off craigslist and restored.
1. Some wood isn't worth using. When it's filled with nails and looks like a long potato chip, don't bother.
2. Think about a jig before building it, because it might not work. (See exhibit A, aka the worst router sled ever made)
3. Wear eye protection when chiseling through a knot / sap. It becomes sap-nel.
4. Fix a gap by beveling all of the other edges around it. Now it's just stylish.
5. Keep searching - there's bound to be a spot on the floor where the bench will be level.
355930
355929
355931
355932