New year - new bench!

[Rolf Safferthal]

After 14 month - interupted by travelling the Unted States and suffering from an accident - my workbench finally reached the state of beeing nearly complete.

The story started with the delivery of European beech - at fist stored in the garage:

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/18/4030218/3031373230613630.jpg

Ripping the wood on homemade saw horses. No futher help than clamps and a true board to guide the circular saw:

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/18/4030218/3761636132353464.jpg

The first half of the top was glued in the garage:

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/18/4030218/3466623036633936.jpg

The second half in the basement in an old indoor pool that is no longer in use:

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/18/4030218/3235633632386337.jpg

Trueing the top halves by hand produced quite some shavings:

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/18/4030218/3630393636643334.jpg

Both halves of the top, center tool tray and base:

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/18/4030218/3163633266303762.jpg

Front vise installed:

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/18/4030218/3336633330326339.jpg

Installation of the Veritas Twin Srew Vise:

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/18/4030218/3266326465616339.jpg

The bench is finsihed - except of oiling the wood:

http://foto.arcor-online.net/palb/alben/18/4030218/3738386239383833.jpg

Some data:
- length: 87 inches
- width: 37 inches
- height: 36 inches
- weight: 440 lbs

A Happy New Year

Rolf

[Ron Jones near Indy]

Fantastic bench Rolf. I'm sure it will be as much fun to use as it was fun to build.:) Thanks for sharing it with us.

[Roy Wall]

Rolf -

Now that's a stout Joiners Bench!! Awesome!

It appears the beech sections are about 15" wide and 3+" thick? When you glued them edge up....to form the two sections...did you have to arrange the grain one way to allow for hand planing & Flattening?

One end left open to slide the tool tray bottom out when needed?

Happy New Year to you also!

[Michael Gibbons]

Rolf, Is that a bamboo tree in there for decoration? Nice bench by the way!

[Jim Becker]

Ya gotta love a shop in a swimming pool!!! LOL! EXCELLENT use for that space since it's no longer desired for the original intended purpose...

That's a great looking bench, Rolf! Bravo!

[Rolf Safferthal]

First thing: These plants in the background are Oleander Trees in their winter Quarter. ;)

Second one: Yes the top sections are about 15 inches wide and 3 inches thick. I looked for grain orientation before gluing.

The tool tray bottom may be removed.

A Happy New Year!

Rolf

[jonathan snyder]

Very nice bench. At 440 lbs how do you get it out of the pool, or will it live there?

I hope to build a bench this year, will probably use Alaskan Birch, but Beech sure would be nice!

Jonathan

[Alan Turner]

Very tidy piece of work. Enjoy it in good health.

[Phil Thien]

Lovin' it! You know what I'd like to see? More pictures from the pool deck. I'd love to show my family a pool converted to a shop, just to keep them in line.

[Ken Bryant]

...whereas here on the Raincoast, we regularly get to see our shops converted to pools.

[Ken Werner]

Excellent work, Rolf. I look forward to seeing the pieces that it helps you build!
Thanks for all the photos in progress.
Happy New Year to you.
Ken

[Ed Nelson978]

Very nice looking bench. That was some impressive lumber you put into it!

[Don Bullock]

Wow!!! Another beautiful hand made bench. That is fantastic.

[Mark Singer]

Excellent! Use it well!

[Rolf Safferthal]

Many thanks for so much accolade! :)

The bench is not completely glued. So it may be knocked down if necessary. Trestles and stretchers are connected with treaded bolts and nuts, the top is secured with lag bolts to the trestles as the end caps are to the top.

The heaviest part is the front top with the front vise. 140 lbs. Removing the vises mechanics reduces weihgt to nearly 105 lbs.

A Happy New Year!

[Zahid Naqvi]

Great bench Rolf, now let's see some projects coming off it.

[James Mittlefehldt]

I love seeing threads about work benches, and tool chests, that is a nice looking bench Rolf, it should do you the rest of your life, and in a swimming pool that has to be a first.

[Jim Dunn]

Another masterpiece from the hand tool crowd. Gotta love such a beautiful bench.