Jim,
I'll bet it was number four or later before the magic happened:D.
I'm really impressed with the small Moravian bench. I'll know in a month or so how it scales up to a full sized bench.
ken
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Ken, I'm looking forward to following your bench build thread. My current bench was the first thing I built, and while not terrible it is not great either. I'm very fond of the Moravian bench design, except for the fact that the ones I've seen have all been so short. I'm pretty sure the Moravians who built the bench in Salem, NC that these are modeled after were fairly short. At 6' 2" I'll probably aim for something a little higher.
Attachment 389562
By Golly, you might be right....:D
Steven,
The bench can be made to any height. The Will Myers build was a near copy of one found at Old Salem. Two things about the height: You are correct folks were shorter back then and wood stock planes tend to need lower bench heights. I've built two Moravian style benches, the first had a 860mm slab height. The second bench's slab is 830mm high. I expect the next one will be closer to 830mm than 860mm because it will be used as a planing bench. I have a 900mm high French/English bench with a Moxon mounted as well for joinery. At 6'2" I expect you would be happier with the 900mm bench.
ken
When the clock in the shop was working this was easier to do. Now, all of a sudden it is dinner time and the shop gets abandoned rather quickly. The other self made problem is my habit of setting things on the bench when doing tasks other than woodworking. Things are brought in from outside and set on the bench to be sorted later.
So for me it seems the easiest is to clean up at the beginning of the day. Though sometimes it is cleaned up as work progresses throughout the day.
My other thoughts on tool tray location is my desire to have a lefty/righty bench. To do that the tray would have to be down the middle.
jtk
Ken,
Like you, I never have had a tool tray either, always thinking it takes away from work area, and never liked the idea of one. This is not to say I ever do anything right currently, because on those occasions when I work in the garage on my good saw horses and planks (my best bench), I lay tools on a plank on the floor behind me. When working outside on my old saw horses and planks, which is the vast majority of the time, a deck is extremely close, and that is my tool stand. (It rained this morning, so my plans for today are temporarily messed up.
However, your post has made me realize that on a portable bench, which I will take to the work, it looks extremely practical. With different set ups I have used in the past, the one I liked best was just something behind me, a small stand or something I could set tools on. So for me, if I ever actually have a shop that is likely the way I will go, but like I said, your tool tray in the portable bench makes a lot of sense. Carrying a small stand or whatever for setting tools on when away from home for the work is just one more thing to haul around, and I would probably not do such.
Where I need a portable bench, it is typically carpentry related, not fine woodworking. I hope to work on maintenance at a church camp using the portable bench, and most recently have worked on the kids house, or one of their rentals or on the church on a church work day, so for me a portable bench sounds extremely useful.
I appreciate the post and idea, and have followed the comments from everyone with interest
Thanks and regards,
Stew
Stew,
The Moravian style portable bench is an amazing example of engineering or evolution. Doesn't really matter which because it works however it came about. Bottom line the little bench is quick and easy to build, is very portable (I haven't weighted them but I expect no part is heavier than 40 lbs.), and is very stable. I've used it both in camp sites and the back garden of our house. It is easy enough to break down and assemble that I'm willing to do it for even minor jobs. Every home owner/handy man should have one.
ken