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  1. #46
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Melbourne
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    298

    Default

    Thanks everyone, for your kind words. I'm glad you've enjoyed the read. I found myself out in the shed this morning before work, just to have a quick look at it and run my fingers gently over its ... surfaces.

    IanW, I'm interested to see how the till goes too. Large-scale furniture isn't on my radar (at least for the next year or so) at the moment, but I imagine that if it does start getting in the way I'll leave it in the down position permanently and just put the tools on the bottom shelf. It's funny that you should mention you have a tool chest. A chest is something I'm considering building sometime down the track, especially now I'm moving more into hand-tools. Maybe a case of watch this space?

    Canoath, it's great to hear the bandsaw's going well. I have to say that making mine was what gave me the confidence to make this bench. I figured if I could make a working bandsaw, I could make pretty much anything else I set my mind to, given enough care and time.

    Rwbuild, the first thing I build on this bench I'll post in the toys section; #2 helper has requested chairs and a table for her teddy and dolls.

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  3. #47
    Join Date
    May 2012
    Location
    Woodstock (Cowra)
    Age
    74
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    3,372

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    Way to go!!! Do it while their young for the joy of children are the memories of the old and the inspiration and dreams that help them grow
    The person who never made a mistake never made anything

    Cheers
    Ray

  4. #48
    Join Date
    Mar 2004
    Location
    Brisbane (western suburbs)
    Age
    77
    Posts
    12,094

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    Quote Originally Posted by michael_m View Post
    ...... It's funny that you should mention you have a tool chest. A chest is something I'm considering building sometime down the track, especially now I'm moving more into hand-tools. Maybe a case of watch this space?....
    It never ends!

    Tool chests are worse than benches - there is a multitude of design possibilities, plus you have to think well-ahead and allow plenty of room for expansion.

    Quote Originally Posted by michael_m View Post
    ...... #2 helper has requested chairs and a table for her teddy and dolls...
    See? You are into furniture, already. The requests will grow with them - in number and size.

    IW

  5. #49
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    298

    Default all tooled up, and wrapping up.

    There's a blog I follow called Dan's Shed, written (funnily enough) by a Canadian called Dan (what is funny is that he lives in canada, but his website has an australian .au extension - but I digress). One thing that Dan does after each of his projects is post a picture of all the tools he used on the build. I really like the idea, so am going to do the same.

    wb 124.JPG

    The planes(L-R): #7, #5 1/2, Aldi wooden plane, WS A78 rabbet & filletster, #4, 110 block plane, (front) router plane, 044 plough plane. And the most used, most useful tool of the build, the brush.
    wb 125.JPG

    The chisels and rasps: some "diamond brand" chisels made in Japan - 1 1/4", 5/8", 3/8"; Irwin 25mm, 19mm, 12mm; EA Berg 12mm; and two Bahco rasps
    wb 126.JPG

    Drivers and braces: Stanley 10" brace, Miller's Falls 8" brace, ratcheting and old flat- screwdriver, and a selection of bits used.
    wb 127.JPG

    Cutting and whacking tools: Rip saw, crosscut saw, hacksaw, tenon saw, coping saw, marking knife, craft knife, hammer and mallet (not pictured)
    wb 128.JPG

    Measuring tools: sliding bevel, combination square, digital calipers, measuring tape, steel rule; set square and carpenters square (both not pictured)
    wb 129.JPG

    Powertools were, in order of importance and use: cordless drill, bandsaw, drill press, dropsaw, circular saw (although half-way through I realised I could do a better job with the handsaw) and table saw (for 30 seconds to save myself 2 minutes of using a handsaw - pretty much superfluous).

    I'm probably not going to build another workbench for a few decades to come, but if I were, these are the things I learned:
    • It's worth spending the time picking out wood that's not warped, filled with dead knots, bowed or with wane. I looked like a fool spending 2 hours in Bunnings picking through their stacks of pine, but it was well worth it.
    • Sharp tools are king, queen and the whole royal court packed into one magnificent package. Being able to resharpen them consistently is essential.
    • Slow and steady may not win the race in real life, but it makes for a better experience and for a higher quality outcome when it comes to woodwork.
    • Pine is fine for a workbench
    • It's made of wood - if things go wrong, it's possible to replace, recut, plane, glue, reconfigure, add to, reshape, move, screw or otherwise fix up without too much trouble.
    • If you don't have a bench already, build the top first - it will give you a surface to build the more complex base on
    • Having a split top makes it easier to size the base width, to clamp up the top when laminating it, to flatten the underside; but harder to finish-flatten the top, attach the endcap or square the ends of the top.
    • Making knife walls is really handy when using saws and chisels.
    • Hand tools are better around children and for children.
    • Drawboring (coupled with large mortises and tenons and wide stretchers) makes for a rock-solid base with no racking.
    • the tail vise was worth every second of planning and construction (and looks pretty schmick too).


    And most importantly, it was an excellent skills builder (sharpening, planing, m&t joints, dovetails, relative measurement, handsawing), and I had an absolute ball making it.

  6. #50
    Join Date
    Mar 2013
    Location
    Jervis Bay South Coast NSW
    Posts
    354

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    Yep excellent job, and thanks for taking the time to document it

  7. #51
    Join Date
    Feb 2014
    Location
    Australia
    Posts
    21

    Red face

    Wowoow nice thread we got here, lots of pics of projects and helpers!

    Well guys, soon enough my lady will give birth to my first helper, I guess I will have to wait a few years before I can let him play with my tools though!

  8. #52
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Dundowran Beach
    Age
    76
    Posts
    19,922

    Thumbs up

    Michael, in the words of Jack Gibson you have "played strong, done fine".

  9. #53
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    blue mountains
    Posts
    4,882

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    Michael,
    I like that idea of posting a pic of the tools used on the job and also the list of things learned. We all come away from a job with a few things learned but it is good to share.
    Also good to see the Aldi plane get mentioned in the credits. They are better than most people think.
    Regards
    John

  10. #54
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Goulburn
    Age
    71
    Posts
    271

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    Hi Michael,

    I noticed a previous mention about you building your own bandsaw, and I immediately thought of another Canadian guy's website (he's originally from Germany I believe). From what I've seen and read from his website and also those of his older brother and sister, they must be a family of very gifted and clever people.
    His name is Mathias Wendell, and his website is certainly worthy of a look. One of his designs has already been picked up and put into production. It's called a Pantorouter.
    I'll have another go at leaving his URL, but failing that you can search for him on Youtube. Even his list of list of Links is beyond my comprehension!
    http://woodgears.ca Woodworking for engineers. The guy is a genius and his site will keep you occupied for hours.

    All the best,
    Bob

  11. #55
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Melbourne
    Posts
    298

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    Quote Originally Posted by Glenrob View Post
    His name is Mathias Wendell, and his website is certainly worthy of a look. One of his designs has already been picked up and put into production. It's called a Pantorouter.
    I'll have another go at leaving his URL, but failing that you can search for him on Youtube. Even his list of list of Links is beyond my comprehension!
    http://woodgears.ca Woodworking for engineers. The guy is a genius and his site will keep you occupied for hours.

    All the best,
    Bob
    Cheers Bob, his are the bandsaw plans I bought and used to build my bandsaw. I've recorded the build of it here, and it's also on his website. Funnily enough, both it and my workbench cost around the same amount of money to build: between $300-$400.

  12. #56
    Join Date
    Apr 2013
    Location
    Goulburn
    Age
    71
    Posts
    271

    Default Oh WELL.

    Quote Originally Posted by michael_m View Post
    Cheers Bob, his are the bandsaw plans I bought and used to build my bandsaw. I've recorded the build of it here, and it's also on his website. Funnily enough, both it and my workbench cost around the same amount of money to build: between $300-$400.
    The story of my life..........just when I think I've found something really useful, I'm always too late in delivering it.

    Anyhow Michael, it just goes to prove you were the right guy to build his own bandsaw. It's certainly something that would never occur to me to even try.....well not at this stage in my life at least.

  13. #57
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    NZ
    Posts
    8

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    Wow!! I have just joined this forum and this is a great build thread to inspire me and others.

    I also like the fact that you used pine as I have been considering using it for a workbench mostly because it is cheap and easy to get here. All the English and US mags use wood that is expensive to get here in NZ so its good to see pine being used. Also I read somewhere that using softer wood for a workbench top can be good because you are more likely to damage your workbench than what you are working on.

    Cheers
    Kieran

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