Hard maple top, padauk for the legs, short stretchers, and end cap. Padauk is stiff and hard. Keep in mind that different woods move differently with changes in humidity.
Hard maple top, padauk for the legs, short stretchers, and end cap. Padauk is stiff and hard. Keep in mind that different woods move differently with changes in humidity.
Bastogne Walnut. Some of that is pretty hard stuff.
If cost really is no object, I can hook you up with a guy that has a warehouse full of slabs. Most of it Claro though. Don't know how much Bastogne he's got.
If something like this is pretty enough for a bench:
bastogne.jpg
Agree with "soft" maple, used it for mine. Can't remember right now if 6/4 or 8/4 ,but I know I bought it from the
vendor around here, they don't shop price, they always buy from same reliable source for each species. After milling the
pieces I cut a dado in the center third of each piece about 1/16th deep as a precaution against ending up with the often
seen open joints on old benches. But certainly even with that precaution , a lot of damp rag wiping in every day use
could cause some " compression ring-set caused shallow open joints. So I avoid using overly damp clothes to clean it .
I first glued up separate sections about 6 or 8 inches wide, then carefully jointed those before making final glue up.
That was a long time ago. Put couple coats of Waterlox on it.
If you're a bit of a bench fanatic you might slog it out,
I'm only saying as you mentioned the STR, I like that one
There are loads of designs of them, with differing species to gaze upon.
Get a pen and paper ready to take down notes of the best pages as there is a few hundred to get through.
I hope your internet is half daaecent, as it will take some time.
Type into google...
"All replies on workbench smackdown"
You will get onto a compilation from a popular forum.
As for birdseye maple on a bench...... have a look at one of Rob Cosman's new workbench on youtube
"Workbench completed with Rob Cosman"
Yes it's a Scandi, but at least you get to see it used on a bench.
A bit busy looking for my eye's
Tom
Last edited by Tom Trees; 01-19-2021 at 1:24 AM.
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The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...
Victor, if you want a working bench, ensure the top is a light-coloured wood. My preference would be White Oak (mine is European Oak), as it is hard but workable. I would not use Hard Maple, unless you are a masochist!
You can make the base anything you like. Perhaps Black Walnut would be a nice contrast (mine is Jarrah).
Regards from Perth
Derek
Derek
NICE bench. The top being light colored wood is a definite. One of the things surprising me about this process is how trying to 'make it pretty' has lead me down a rabbit hole on design. I initially thought I'd just get the Benchcrafted set of plans, build it and get on with life. I've decided that if I went that route then I could just use SYP (southern yellow pine) from the big box store. Crossing the line into 'hmm... I could spruce it up a bit' has lead to a rather major effort to evaluate each design element, whether construction or visual, very carefully.
Sure the houndstooth dovetail touch on the end.
"The cure for anything is saltwater....sweat, tears or the sea." Isak Dinesen
Derek's bench is awesome, and exactly the configuration I'll build if there is a "next time"
My first real bench was built in 2007/2008 out of found and salvaged lumber. It's a small utilitarian bench and not super pretty, but looked OK when new. Construction lumber underpinnings, hard maple top, soft maple aprons and vise chops. To my eye, the real visual appeal comes after about ten years of solid use when it's covered with stories.
Sharp solves all manner of problems.