About 7 years ago I bought an Emmert patternmaker's vise because I think they are cool and planned someday to build a bench that could accommodate it. Two years ago I got some nice 8/4 European beech from a guy who was planning to build a bench but then decided to move to New Zealand. That was the impetus I needed to get started. I was inspired mostly by Darnell Hagen's bench, which he posted here a few years ago. But unlike his twin screw end vise I prefer a traditional tail vise, square dog holes, and I wanted the shelves or drawers accessible from the front and the back.
Last fall I laminated up the stock for the legs and rails and stretchers, milled it to rough dimensions, and let it sit until the end of January when I started on building the bench. I've worked on it pretty steadily since then and got it to usable shape this week. I still need to make proper vise handles, and probably add drawers, and put on a couple more coats of BLO on the top. I also have to fiddle a bit with the Emmert fit, but both vises are usable, the top is planed flat to no more than 0.005" over my 48" straightedge.
The dimensions of the top are 81.5" end to end, 28-1/4" front to back. The base is 39-1/2" by 26-1/4". The top is 4" thick and is 36-1/2 inches from the floor.
The end panels of the base are local western big leaf maple. The shelves/drawer blades are beech and 1/2" birch ply. The base is constructed of drawbored M/T joints covered with ebony plugs. The breadboard ends are bolted on through a slotted hole and covered with removable ebony plugs. The tail vise uses a screw from Lee Valley. It weighs a little less than 400 pounds.
I documented the build over at the OWWM woodworking forum if anyone is interested in details, or ask away here.
Benchtop BLO - 3.jpgBenchtop BLO - 1.jpgBenchtop BLO - 2.jpg
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Originally Posted by Marshall Harrison
