Dowelmax workbench

**delbs** · 16th September 2014, 11:36 PM

So for a dowelmax bench you havent actually seen it in action that much yet, thats because of that PITA top needed flattening etc, So tonight adjusted the leg rails to the width of the bench as its a bit less than 600 as i originally allowed for (just a minor mis calculation on behalf but didnt matter until the legs were made anyway) so once the legs were dry assembled fine i started the lay out for the dowels.

For those that have used a dowelmax (i cant comment on any other dowel jig) it uses reference faces all the time so the first set of legs i would drill one set of 5 holes which is fine, then i would swap the jig around to the opposite face and dril the other set of holes, for DAR material of the same size this isnt an issue as the holes will line up. When you have a couple of mm out on one of the legs, the holes dont line up lol. So i resolved it by drilling another set of holes using the spacer with the dowelmax and did that for the legs and rails for them to assemble correctly 2nd time around

So anyway an hour later had all the legs dry assembling correctly so put in 10 dowels per leg and clamped them up, man they are going to be some sturdy legs! tomorrow night unwrap them like a present and join the rails ready for the top assembly

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**delbs** · 18th September 2014, 11:17 PM

Made more progress tonight. Routed out a dado for the legs to be attached to the top. Then joined the rails to the legs.

oh man its getting heavy now its becoming one unit. Hopefully should be able to route out the second groove for the top, then final row of dowels on the legs and clamps to put the legs onto the top.

Woohoo final stretch. Nearly done

uploadfromtaptalk1411042549737.jpg uploadfromtaptalk1411042585263.jpg

**delbs** · 19th September 2014, 03:52 PM

Warm day so glues dry so going to mark out for next dado to attach the top. Weighs a fair bit. Certainly no racking going on here!

uploadfromtaptalk1411102351043.jpg

**delbs** · 19th September 2014, 09:48 PM

Ah so I routed out the 2nd dado for the legs what I thought was perfectly. When I was dry fitting I clamped down to test as it was a snug fot. Something underneath the leg didnt sit right and it split on the glue lines of a beam.

So yep electric planed the glue off. Dowel about 25 dowels the length of it and regluing the top. Should have just doweled everyboard to begin with

you live and ya learn I guess

uploadfromtaptalk1411123541067.jpg

uploadfromtaptalk1411123557627.jpg

So at least the top is still flat as I used the flat side as the reference side with the dowelmax. Now once the top is back together ill be able to do the final assembly hopefully tomorrow arvo

**delbs** · 19th September 2014, 09:53 PM

Ah so I routed out the 2nd dado for the legs what I thought was perfectly. When I was dry fitting I clamped down to test as it was a snug fot. Something underneath the leg didnt sit right and it split on the glue lines of a beam.

So yep electric planed the glue off. Dowel about 25 dowels the length of it and regluing the top. Should have just doweled everyboard to begin with

you live and ya learn I guess

uploadfromtaptalk1411123541067.jpg

uploadfromtaptalk1411123557627.jpg

So at least the top is still flat as I used the flat side as the reference side with the dowelmax. Now once the top is back together ill be able to do the final assembly hopefully tomorrow arvo

**delbs** · 20th September 2014, 08:50 PM

Finished! Finially got a chance to finish it. Still going to attach the vice but used coach bolts on the underside to attach it and allow for moisture etc ill post another pic once vice is on but yeah all done now. Thats the last of the dowelmax for this project

uploadfromtaptalk1411206595901.jpg

Okay so this obviously isnt the fininshed product lol wtih glue running etc i have cleaned it off since the photo to get a flat top again. i wll be installing vice and dressing the sides so you dont see the joins fro legs to top to clean it up then finishing it with wip on poly.

Pics soon. Geez your a talkative bunch in this workbench forum

guess you see one WIP you see them all

**johnredl** · 21st September 2014, 12:17 AM

Are you planning on drilling dog holes? Just wondering because I drilled a stack of round ones, which is great...except it does my head in how the sawdust and shavings fall through the holes. I'm now plan in on routing squares around each one and turning dogs that can stay in permanently to stop that 'issue'!

**delbs** · 21st September 2014, 12:22 AM

Yep will have two rows for the quick release vice and then two rows for the tail vice once I get that ordered

was olaning on just using a spade bit for round dog holes

**johnredl** · 21st September 2014, 12:41 AM

Personally I'm not a fan of spade bits. Probably because I've never had any luck with them. Jarrah (and the like) and spades don't seem to be the best of friends!

Not sure what others think, but I'd use a better bit.

I also drilled 2 rows in line with my quick release, but I also put a row at the top of the bench which I've found really useful. There's a pic on my workbench mk2 WIP.

**delbs** · 21st September 2014, 08:34 AM

Oh right. Ive got these quick borer bits but I have had the cleanest cut with them. Maybe forstner bit would do the trick cleanly. Ill check out your wip

**johnredl** · 21st September 2014, 08:59 AM

I used a auger that I sharpened continually, but I still got some tear out at the top of the holes. In hindsight I'd probably start the holes with a Forsner and continue with something like an auger.

Just a thought.

**delbs** · 21st September 2014, 09:37 AM

Those the auger bits you got from me ages ago? Still going strong? Thats a good idea. Cant find you bench wip. Ill look when im not on tapatalk

**johnredl** · 21st September 2014, 09:48 AM

The brace bits? Was that you? Yes. They're great

**Glenn.Visca** · 21st September 2014, 10:31 AM

So .. how good was the dowelmax during construction ?

**delbs** · 21st September 2014, 10:32 AM

Yep theyre the ones. I still have a large selection of them. Glad to hear they're going well. I think ill use my brace on them for finer control

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