Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Results 16 to 21 of 21

Thread: New bench planning

  1. #16
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Warwick, RI
    Posts
    804
    I had a thought this morning. I'm now considering splitting the top in half lengthwise and joining them for long narrow bench with a tool tray. I think this will be the best use of this beast. It's way too heavy for a mini bench top bench.

    So cut it in half, cut a 1/2" dado all the way across to join them and possibly a bow-tie on the front face or just add another board to the entire face. Then I'll start thinking about the base and possibly mortising the legs into it.

  2. #17
    AFAIK end caps on workbenches are mostly for looks, then I'll say "but".

    On this bench the top is flatsawn boards and the endcaps are splined onto the ends of the top, similar to a breadboard end.
    IMG_1802.jpg

    On this bench, the endcap is simply applied for looks to cover the end grain, which had tongue and grooved (it was a section of bowling alley).
    Shop bench2.jpg

  3. #18
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Warwick, RI
    Posts
    804
    I made it a little smaller, it's now ~15 X 37". It's still large enough for a small stand alone bench. I think I would need to splay the legs though. I'm still thinking on it.
    20180607_080632.jpg
    I got my 26" transitional working, it was a bit fiddly but once everything was right it cut effortlessly. I'm really getting up to speed on all of my planes with this and I'm loving that. The 28" woody behind it is next to get operational. It's got some cracks I'm planning to fix by cutting and inserting wood or epoxy.
    20180607_080740.jpg
    Attached Images Attached Images

  4. #19
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    Austin Texas
    Posts
    1,957
    I have often thought of fabbing up a second smaller and taller bench dedicated to joinery tasks where I need my eyes closer to the targets. Something along the size that you just cut would work for me.
    David

  5. #20
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Provo, UT
    Posts
    390
    Now this post I can relate to. I've been working on flattening the top of my new bench on and off for a while. The glue up of the two halves that make the top didn't go quite as well as I thought and there was a valley between the two sides. I started off with my cambered #5 jack to hog off the high spots as quickly as possible. I'm on to my jointer now and may stop there.

    Lots of sources out there on how to flatten a bench top with hand planes. https://www.finewoodworking.com/2012...ing-a-benchtop as an example and lots of youtube videos.

  6. #21
    Join Date
    Dec 2006
    Location
    Warwick, RI
    Posts
    804
    I now have a drawing that I created in Sketchup. I wasn't sure until today what I wanted from this little top. This will be more stable than the single piece I had.

    SmallBenchPlan.JPG

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •