Author Topic: Finally time for a real workbench. (Read 16439 times)

newtrix · « **on:** April 23, 2012, 11:00:56 pm »

Well I've been a hobbiest of several hobbies for 20 years now. I think its time to get off the sawhorses and garbage bins and make a nice flat stable place to work. I've been watching the Woodsmith shop on PBS (Yeah I know). They had a project they called the "Weekend Workbench". Well the weekend came and went and I'm about a day from having the base completed. So far I'm into it $162.57 and and I have about $113.86 left to go. http://www.woodsmithshop.com/download/206/heavy-duty-workbench.pdf

05SRT4 · « **Reply #1 on:** April 23, 2012, 11:06:26 pm »

Thanks for posting the plans!!!

I cant wait till I get my own garage/building room so I can build one.

GregD · « **Reply #2 on:** April 24, 2012, 08:08:30 am »

What are you putting on this for vices? Shoulder vice? Tail Vice? Any bench dogs going in? They can be very useful.

Mysterioii · « **Reply #3 on:** April 24, 2012, 08:19:35 am »

Looks great! I recently built one of these in my garage...

http://www.familyhandyman.com/DIY-Projects/Woodworking/Workbenches/how-to-build-a-workbench-super-simple-50-bench/View-All

It looks a little "cheesy" but in person it's bigger and sturdier than it looks here. I used real wood instead of plywood for the work surface and the whole back is pegboard so it looks a little nicer than theirs I think. I plan to use it more for electronics than woodworking so no vice or grinder yet. It's a quick build though, you can get one done in a long afternoon.

EvilNuff · « **Reply #4 on:** April 24, 2012, 08:24:03 am »

Nicely done, having a good workbench can make all the difference on a project.

Here's another starter one that's easy to build and quite sturdy:
http://www.startwoodworking.com/plans/build-simple-sturdy-workbench

SteveR · « **Reply #5 on:** April 24, 2012, 10:10:37 am »

Nice. I got a table with a solid wood top at a garage sale but it has spindly legs. It's been fine up against the wall, but I want to be able to move it out into my work space. I've been thinking about how to rebuild the legs and this thread gives me a few ideas.

TopJimmyCooks · « **Reply #6 on:** April 24, 2012, 10:27:57 am »

3 sheets of mdf. wow. that sucker's not going anywhere. make sure you build it where it's going to be used!

drventure · « **Reply #7 on:** April 24, 2012, 10:46:27 am »

FineWoodworking had an article in their Tools and Shops 2009 edition where the author described a 4 piece torsion box workbench design that I've been wanting to build forever.

Imagine 2 +very well thought out+ sawhorses (collapsable but with relatively large surface areas) on which you can lay 1-3 8' long, 9" wide torsion box beams, either butted up against each other, or seperated slightly to allow legs etc to drop through.

I can't post links because it's all behind their subscription side, but it seems incredibly versatile and can be quickly taken down and leaned against a wall or moved around.

It's no 4x8 hard rock maple workbench, but it does seem awfully handy.

newtrix · « **Reply #8 on:** April 24, 2012, 12:23:37 pm »

Quote from: GregD on April 24, 2012, 08:08:30 am

What are you putting on this for vices? Shoulder vice? Tail Vice? Any bench dogs going in? They can be very useful.

I plan to follow the design exactly with a buried shoulder vise. And if I can find the money another shoulder vise for the other axis. Then I will add Bench Dog Holes. (Pairs seperated by 10" or so accross each axis).

newtrix · « **Reply #9 on:** April 24, 2012, 12:53:52 pm »

Quote from: TopJimmyCooks on April 24, 2012, 10:27:57 am

3 sheets of mdf. wow. that sucker's not going anywhere. make sure you build it where it's going to be used!

Actually the design for the top calls for 4 layers of MDF made from the cutoffs of 3 sheets of MDF

drventure · « **Reply #10 on:** April 24, 2012, 01:43:58 pm »

The only prob with MDF for a bench that I have is if it gets wet/something accidentally spills on it.

The bench I mentioned earlier used a top of something called Homasote. It's softer than MDF and has more "grip".

But the interesting thing that he did, was he built the boxes such that the top layer (3/4" homasote) was screwed into an MDF underlay (countersunk screws) and could be easily removed and replaced once it had gotten chewed up/paint splattered/stained, whatever.

I thought that was a nice element. You can refresh your bench every so often without completely rebuilding the top.

TopJimmyCooks · « **Reply #11 on:** April 24, 2012, 04:46:42 pm »

I have a sacrificial 1/4" masonite top on my bench. I've never had to replace it even after many years. I really like a maple topped bench but for me, doing dirty work, painting, soldering, metalworking, I need a more all purpose top that doesn't mind some abuse.

Newtrix - good move on going with two rows of dog holes - I really wish I had done two instead of one.

newtrix · « **Reply #12 on:** April 24, 2012, 04:50:10 pm »

I have a couple boxes of engineered (fake) hard wood flooring. I am considering switching the top layer to 1/2 MDF then adding the hard wood flooring which would be more spill resistant and clean up nicely, and be replaceable. Any thoughts?

drventure · « **Reply #13 on:** April 24, 2012, 05:02:32 pm »

Quote from: pinballjim on April 24, 2012, 05:00:40 pm

Just man up and use your lap like me.

Esp with routing.

EightBySix · « **Reply #14 on:** April 24, 2012, 05:16:09 pm »

Quote from: newtrix on April 23, 2012, 11:00:56 pm

I think its time to get off the sawhorses and garbage bins and make a nice flat stable place to work.

Your hobbies will love you for it. I made the same decision and built myself a bench before I started on my mame project. Your work will become much more enjoyable, better and safer.

GregD · « **Reply #15 on:** April 24, 2012, 06:17:08 pm »

Two rows of dogs is the way to go. Now you can sell your router and invest in a slew of Lie-Nielsen planes.

newtrix · « **Reply #16 on:** April 24, 2012, 06:47:04 pm »

Lets not be hasty, I love my router.

wp34 · « **Reply #17 on:** April 24, 2012, 11:22:50 pm »

Quote from: newtrix on April 24, 2012, 04:50:10 pm

I have a couple boxes of engineered (fake) hard wood flooring. I am considering switching the top layer to 1/2 MDF then adding the hard wood flooring which would be more spill resistant and clean up nicely, and be replaceable. Any thoughts?

That's an interesting idea. You could get that butcher block look as well you see on some tops. Would you have to glue the flooring to the MDF?

newtrix · « **Reply #18 on:** April 25, 2012, 12:20:09 am »

I was thinking minimal glue so I could scrape it off. So I only had a couple hours today. Added bottom shelf and began encasing the lower shelf because I need lockable storage for chemicals and flamables.

kahlid74 · « **Reply #19 on:** April 25, 2012, 09:13:53 am »

Looks great man! Love the design and craftsmanship so far.

Dervacumen · « **Reply #20 on:** April 27, 2012, 12:20:14 am »

I too have a removable 1/4" masonite top I tapped in around the edges with 1" nails. One of the reasons I chose masonite is that it will "grip" harder metal objects when you're banging away on them to free up a frozen nut or bolt. It also semi-absorbs liquid (read: oil) spills so the top isn't slippery after you wipe up. Also good for cutting on with a utility knife without dulling the blade too much. This is why I wouldn't want a fake hardwood top. Too hard. I've had it for 7 or 8 years now, and it's not even close to needing replacement. It's got a few stains, though.

newtrix · « **Reply #21 on:** April 27, 2012, 11:44:03 am »

is Masonite the same as 'Hardboard'?

TopJimmyCooks · « **Reply #22 on:** April 27, 2012, 01:50:54 pm »

Masonite is a brand of tempered hardboard that is fairly smooth/slick on one side. So, yes.

newtrix · « **Reply #23 on:** April 28, 2012, 11:19:34 pm »

Saturday Update: Weekend workbench my Butt! I Assembled the MDF for the top today. (4 layers Glued and Screwed) also chamfered all the edges on the all the Douglas Fir. I'm up to about $260.

The thing is so heavy I had to use a car jack and a Piano dolly to move it with the top on.
The stock on the workbench is for the doors. Maybe tomorrow, maybe not.

EightBySix · « **Reply #24 on:** April 29, 2012, 03:27:30 am »

Heavy is good

Dervacumen · « **Reply #25 on:** April 30, 2012, 09:12:21 am »

I ended up putting locking wheels on the legs of mine so I could roll it outside if I ever felt the need to keep the sawdust from coating the whole garage. Your bench looks great.

newtrix · « **Reply #26 on:** April 30, 2012, 11:44:19 pm »

First attempt at stub tennon and groove doors. Not perfect, but acceptable.

Nice to have a flat stable place to work.

newtrix · « **Reply #27 on:** May 01, 2012, 10:35:16 pm »

Mounted the doors.

kahlid74 · « **Reply #28 on:** May 02, 2012, 08:20:31 am »

WHew, 4 sheets of MDF. That's crazyness.

TopJimmyCooks · « **Reply #29 on:** May 02, 2012, 10:17:09 am »

From the pics it's two solid sheets with two layers of edge build up, but still, that thing's a monolith.

newtrix · « **Reply #30 on:** May 02, 2012, 01:29:40 pm »

Yeah its a tank and thats before I fill it with crap. Just ordered 2 Bench vises http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002I2KFMG/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00 which I will bury behind the edging trim on each axis.

yaksplat · « **Reply #31 on:** May 03, 2012, 09:30:14 am »

Moving my maple top bench is a pain, i can't imagine moving that around.

Just don't spill a drink on it.

kahlid74 · « **Reply #32 on:** May 03, 2012, 02:14:39 pm »

Quote from: yaksplat on May 03, 2012, 09:30:14 am

Moving my maple top bench is a pain, i can't imagine moving that around.

Just don't spill a drink on it.

Or seal it before you spill said drink on it.

newtrix · « **Reply #33 on:** May 06, 2012, 03:47:52 pm »

I added the rear and one side of the edge banding. I added a layer of masonite and brought the edges up to that level, so I will have a flush mounted, replaceable layer of hardboard. I did'nt mount the side and other end because I'm waiting for two 6 1/2 inch vises that I will bury the rear jaw in. They should be here tomorrow.

EightBySix · « **Reply #34 on:** May 06, 2012, 05:33:38 pm »

newtrix · « **Reply #35 on:** May 07, 2012, 01:03:42 am »

It's not ready for its closeup, but if you insist. This is the back corner showing the two sides that are done.

newtrix · « **Reply #36 on:** May 09, 2012, 01:03:44 am »

Buried the two winches in the edge banding and glued up the edges. Mounted the winches and began preparing the Vise faces.

Good thing the Masonite is a sacrificial, replaceable layer, because I already spilled glue on it.

Lots more bench dog holes to drill.

kahlid74 · « **Reply #37 on:** May 09, 2012, 08:59:17 am »

Looking good. Still lots of work to do though!

newtrix · « **Reply #38 on:** May 10, 2012, 12:10:57 am »

I chamfered the banding edges and Vice Faces. I cut a few more holes till my spade bit quit.

TopJimmyCooks · « **Reply #39 on:** May 10, 2012, 08:58:58 am »

did you get metal bench dogs with springs? Mine has square holes and I've been making do with old dowels and offcuts for hmm . . . .11 years now. I just keep four of them in the holes near the vise so I never have to actually take them out, I just pop them up.


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