English Workbench Discovery ...Parents Garage
My folks two years ago moved into a new place (well, not new construction of course). The detached garage is certainly no older vintage than the 1950's or so if it is even that old... on my first visit I never went into the garage (They are in PA, I'm in TX, so visits are short and full of activity, plus with my Father's poor health and very limited mobility we spend most of the time in the house)... I digress, but at any rate this time around while fixing a few things around the house for them I went into the garage to look for some drill bits... very very much to my surprise I discovered, mostly buried underneath junk and paint cans, an English style workbench!
Now I would never have known what this was were it not for Christopher Schwartz's book on workbenches design & theory (I believe was the title). I was rushed for time and just needed to drill a few holes in a board, but right off I ran into problems as the only clamps about were "quick grip" clamps I bought for them on a prior visit. The front apron was too wide to use. :) Anyway, the point of the story was really just how amazed I was to discover what I believed to be extinct style of workbench in the wild.
Anyway, here are the photos I snapped. I'll take better pictures after cleaning it off next visit if anyone is interested. Enjoy.
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1633/...e6abdcb4_b.jpg2015-09-22 13.44.03 by Erich Weidner, on Flickr
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1545/...35326c4c_b.jpg2015-09-22 13.43.55 by Erich Weidner, on Flickr
https://farm2.staticflickr.com/1600/...c852710d_b.jpg2015-09-22 13.44.21 by Erich Weidner, on Flickr
4 Attachment(s)
4 Years Later. Decluttered the Bench
Well, the last time I was home was in 2016 for my Father's memorial service. Since then it has been easier to fly Mom to visit me (as she is retired and I don't have to take vacation), so this week is the first I've been to my hometown since I started this thread.
After much wrangling, I was able to relocate or dispose of the junk all over the bench... Here it is.
Not terribly impressive construction and someone nailed down particleboard to the top. But the leg vice still works and grips like crazy. I guess it shows you don't need amazing joinery to have a functional bench.
Now, I find myself wondering if any woodworking was done on it, because aside from a single dog hole on the front skirt... nothing for work holding besides the leg vice.
Attachment 442058 Attachment 442059 Attachment 442060 Attachment 442061 I just used a piece of bent metal as the "pin". Worked great.
I was going to pry up the particleboard sheets, but since I'm sure it is more functional for its current use (stacking stuff on) without the gaps between the boards of the bench top. I reluctantly left it be.