Bench Finished (almost)

[Don Inghram]

Here are some pics of my bench I've been working on for about the last year. Jatoba with African Mahogany face vise jaw. Curly Maple doors with plywood drawers and cabinet.http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/Ingjr/2eeddcd4.jpg

[John Jendro]

Very nice..looks too good to use.

[Tim Byars]

Now that is a work of art...what are the dimensions?

[Peter Quadarella]

Fantastic! And Congratulations on finishing such a large and beautiful piece of work.

[tim mathis]

hi don, that is a great looking bench.

[Bruce Page]

All I can say is, SAAAWHEAT!

It'll serve you well, there's nothing like a good bench.

[Dewey Torres]

Very nice...
Remember to put something on the corners of those drawers to protect insides of those beautiful doors. (Please don't ask how I know that).
Great Job!
Dewey

[Don Inghram]

The top measures 87" X 31" X 4". By my calculations on the weight of Jatoba per cubic foot the top alone weighs over 400#. I built the whole thing with the idea of moving into hand tools. Funny part is the only handtools I used on the whole bench was a #7LV jointer to flatten the top. Kind of like you have to have the proper bench to use handtools. A catch 22 if you will. On the base I mentioned using ply. What I did was double up 3/4" ply laminated together to form the basic base structure. Should be plenty strong. The reason I made it so wide is it will have to double as a assembly bench also. Besides, I can access both sides of the bench so it (the width) shouldn't be a problem. Used a Veritas twin-screw on the end vise. About the hardest part was drilling all the dog holes in that Jatoba. That's some hard stuff. One more pic:
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/Ingjr/a4726ac2.jpg

[jerry nazard]

Don,

If you are going to build something like that and post a photo, please post LOTS of photos. At least let us see it from several angles and with the doors closed. What is the finish?

Did you see the recent thread on FWW Knots about hand tool storage? One of the new FWW editors posted a pic of his recent cabinet. I'm going to post a link over there to your thread here.

Back to your bench. That is one beautiful piece of work! Please share more pictures.

Best!

-Jerry

[Don Inghram]

Few more:

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/Ingjr/100_0207.jpghttp://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/Ingjr/100_0203.jpg

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/Ingjr/d5624616.jpg
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/Ingjr/100_0201.jpg
http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/Ingjr/100_0206.jpg

[Don Inghram]

Sorry about the image size, computers are not my strong point.

[jerry nazard]

Sorry about the image size, computers are not my strong point.

Don,

Who cares. It's a woodworking forum. Thanks for the additional pictures. That is one very nice bench.

-Jerry

[gary Zimmel]

Don

Now that is one sweet looking bench.... Great job!

[Johnny Kleso]

Very Nice Job............

[Eric DeSilva]

Nice bench--looks plenty solid.

Just out of curiousity, what are the rows of what look like 3" holes along the sides? Most of it seems self-explanatory, and maybe I'm unsufficiently caffeinated, but I can't figure that out...

[Don Inghram]

I assume you mean the holes in the sides of the base? Those are to allow access to the stainless steel bolts that hold the legs to the base. 3 go in from one direction that have to be tightened through the holes you see and 2 go in from the other direction that are tightened from inside the main cabinet where the drawers go. The base is basically a rectangular box that has a small rectangular box on the end that is incorporated in the design. It's all one piece that is designed to sort of box in the legs to give a place to bolt everything together. Hope from this rather complex explanation that you'll be able to make some sense out of the pics. 2 more pics that show the square pocket the legs go in. HTH.

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/Ingjr/100_0205.jpg

http://i228.photobucket.com/albums/ee41/Ingjr/100_0207.jpg

[Robert E Johnson III]

Magnificent

[Jim Kountz]

Wow, thats a real looker of a bench. Man would I be upset the first gouge or dent I put in it!! Great job!!

[Will Blick]

Don, that is a masterpiece you will be proud of for many years to come.... what I am most impressed with is your ability to use a motorcycle lift for the work piece, TO SAVE YOUR BACK!!!!!! :-)

[Reed Wells]

Jeeze Don, No way that thing should go in the shop. Would look good in a formal dining room though.

[Don Inghram]

Don, that is a masterpiece you will be proud of for many years to come.... what I am most impressed with is your ability to use a motorcycle lift for the work piece, TO SAVE YOUR BACK!!!!!! :-)

Yea, the bike lift comes in pretty handy for the bigger projects. Had to use a motor lift/cherry picker to lift the bench top on top of the legs. When your back is as screwed up as mine you get pretty innovative with finding easier ways to work. Thanks for all the very nice comments on the bench. Makes you feel pretty good. :D