Luke Dupont
03-31-2022, 10:01 PM
Not much to discuss here, but I just wanted to say...
5 or 6 months ago when I was starting on my workbench build, I got a ton of great advice here -- some of which I actually took and am happy I did, some of which I didn't and am not so happy I didn't! :D
The Good:
Among that advice was that tusked tenons (often employed in old knock down benches for the stretchers, where we most often see bolts used today) are extremely sturdy and rack resistant. I was a bit concerned with the Sloyd / Scandinavian style leg assembly, because I've seen cheap benches using bolts in this style that were racky as can be.
Well, I am happy to report that I did go with traditional tusked tenons for the stretchers, and am super impressed. My little bench is not what most people would consider sturdy, and the leg assembly is rather spindly, but man is it firmly held together! Those little wedges in the stretcher do an amazing job. My bench has *zero* rack with the wedges driven firmly in place. And they're only 1/4" thick, granted made of hardwood.
If anyone is consider whether to used bolts or tusked tenons, believe me, the tusked tenons are *well* worth the effort!
Also good:
I like that the Scandinavian leg assembly is recessed in a little bit, allowing me to get closer to the bench and right up to my work without banging my knees and shins on the leg assembly and stretchers. Also, this is great for a light portable bench as mine, because you can "step" on the feet in the rare instance it's necessary (though, with all of the tools and toolbox I've added, it's gained a respectable amount of weight and doesn't move on me much while still being easy to move when I need it to).
Also, it's my first time having a tail vise and a row of dogs, and this too is a game changer for me. I have spent plenty of time working without dogs, with a stop and batten, or on Japanese atedai (planing boards), but the dogs allow you to hold work very firmly when necessary, and most importantly, make a short bench so much more capable of handling longer work! This is a big deal if you don't have a lot of space for a long bench. A tail vise is a must for any apartment workbench.
Advice I Should Have Taken:
I made my bench too short, at only 3 feet, which I was warned about. Even with the addition of a tail vise, and even though I don't make large things, it's just a bit too small at times. It also means that, well, I have less room on my bench for tools and things. My predicament was that 4 feet is just a tad too long for the space that I have to work in, if I consider that I also need to move around my bench and also keep the shavings and such out of my "office space" which my workshop is shared with. However, measuring again, I think I can manage up to 3.66 feet or so. So, as I am rebuilding the top, I am going with 3.66 feet.
The other thing is that many, many people suggested the Moravian bench, which I think I should have considered and studied more. Like I said, I do like the Scandinavian/Sloyd style bench and leg assembly, but the Moravian has a few features that I could incorporate and some which I find myself wanting a bit:
1. The Moravian has the top and tool well as seperate pieces. I really like this idea because it is way easier to carry a heavy bench top that is only 12" wide as opposed to a much bulkier one that has a 6-12" toolwell attached, making it twice as wide (though not much heavier). My current benchtop is quite heavy and difficult to move not so much because of its weight, but because of its bulk combined with the weight. So as I am rebuilding the top, I'm actually going to borrow this design and have a single 1 foot x 3.7 foot slab for the top, and a separate tool well.
2. The Moravian's flush legs allow one to mount a leg vise, which I find myself kind of wanting in preference to a face vise...
Maybe I'll consider making my bench into a Moravian without the angled legs (I really don't think they're necessary, as my current bench isn't tippy or racky lengthways in the least). So, still using tusked tenons, but 90 degree legs and a leg vise mounted directly into the left front leg and not as a separate piece. Any thoughts on whether this is a good idea or not? It would simplify construction and make it easier to install tool storage underneath, too.
3. The high backboard as found on the Sloyd benches, while I'm glad I tried it out, does get in the way of using bow saws, which I've started using in favor of Japanese and Western Panel / Back saws. So that will have to go. But if I weren't using frame saws, I think I might stick with it. It is kind of nice.
And a few mistakes that were entirely my own:
1. Using really cheap vise hardware.
Not much to say here, other than I don't recommend it.
2. Misunderstanding the design of Sloyd benches and gluing a piece crossgrain to the underside, causing my benchtop to warp. Keep wood movement in mind at all times, guys! I knew better and I did it anyway thinking I'd get away with it... Nope!
That's about all. Just thought it might be useful to do an after action report and maybe help other people in designing their own benches. And, also, I just wanted to thank you all for all of the great advice! I always benefit from it, when I actually take it :p
5 or 6 months ago when I was starting on my workbench build, I got a ton of great advice here -- some of which I actually took and am happy I did, some of which I didn't and am not so happy I didn't! :D
The Good:
Among that advice was that tusked tenons (often employed in old knock down benches for the stretchers, where we most often see bolts used today) are extremely sturdy and rack resistant. I was a bit concerned with the Sloyd / Scandinavian style leg assembly, because I've seen cheap benches using bolts in this style that were racky as can be.
Well, I am happy to report that I did go with traditional tusked tenons for the stretchers, and am super impressed. My little bench is not what most people would consider sturdy, and the leg assembly is rather spindly, but man is it firmly held together! Those little wedges in the stretcher do an amazing job. My bench has *zero* rack with the wedges driven firmly in place. And they're only 1/4" thick, granted made of hardwood.
If anyone is consider whether to used bolts or tusked tenons, believe me, the tusked tenons are *well* worth the effort!
Also good:
I like that the Scandinavian leg assembly is recessed in a little bit, allowing me to get closer to the bench and right up to my work without banging my knees and shins on the leg assembly and stretchers. Also, this is great for a light portable bench as mine, because you can "step" on the feet in the rare instance it's necessary (though, with all of the tools and toolbox I've added, it's gained a respectable amount of weight and doesn't move on me much while still being easy to move when I need it to).
Also, it's my first time having a tail vise and a row of dogs, and this too is a game changer for me. I have spent plenty of time working without dogs, with a stop and batten, or on Japanese atedai (planing boards), but the dogs allow you to hold work very firmly when necessary, and most importantly, make a short bench so much more capable of handling longer work! This is a big deal if you don't have a lot of space for a long bench. A tail vise is a must for any apartment workbench.
Advice I Should Have Taken:
I made my bench too short, at only 3 feet, which I was warned about. Even with the addition of a tail vise, and even though I don't make large things, it's just a bit too small at times. It also means that, well, I have less room on my bench for tools and things. My predicament was that 4 feet is just a tad too long for the space that I have to work in, if I consider that I also need to move around my bench and also keep the shavings and such out of my "office space" which my workshop is shared with. However, measuring again, I think I can manage up to 3.66 feet or so. So, as I am rebuilding the top, I am going with 3.66 feet.
The other thing is that many, many people suggested the Moravian bench, which I think I should have considered and studied more. Like I said, I do like the Scandinavian/Sloyd style bench and leg assembly, but the Moravian has a few features that I could incorporate and some which I find myself wanting a bit:
1. The Moravian has the top and tool well as seperate pieces. I really like this idea because it is way easier to carry a heavy bench top that is only 12" wide as opposed to a much bulkier one that has a 6-12" toolwell attached, making it twice as wide (though not much heavier). My current benchtop is quite heavy and difficult to move not so much because of its weight, but because of its bulk combined with the weight. So as I am rebuilding the top, I'm actually going to borrow this design and have a single 1 foot x 3.7 foot slab for the top, and a separate tool well.
2. The Moravian's flush legs allow one to mount a leg vise, which I find myself kind of wanting in preference to a face vise...
Maybe I'll consider making my bench into a Moravian without the angled legs (I really don't think they're necessary, as my current bench isn't tippy or racky lengthways in the least). So, still using tusked tenons, but 90 degree legs and a leg vise mounted directly into the left front leg and not as a separate piece. Any thoughts on whether this is a good idea or not? It would simplify construction and make it easier to install tool storage underneath, too.
3. The high backboard as found on the Sloyd benches, while I'm glad I tried it out, does get in the way of using bow saws, which I've started using in favor of Japanese and Western Panel / Back saws. So that will have to go. But if I weren't using frame saws, I think I might stick with it. It is kind of nice.
And a few mistakes that were entirely my own:
1. Using really cheap vise hardware.
Not much to say here, other than I don't recommend it.
2. Misunderstanding the design of Sloyd benches and gluing a piece crossgrain to the underside, causing my benchtop to warp. Keep wood movement in mind at all times, guys! I knew better and I did it anyway thinking I'd get away with it... Nope!
That's about all. Just thought it might be useful to do an after action report and maybe help other people in designing their own benches. And, also, I just wanted to thank you all for all of the great advice! I always benefit from it, when I actually take it :p