Thread: Planning for a bench build

Brett,

When I built my work bench the stretcher dimensions from the plans where 75 x 35 but I increased this to 100 x 50 (probably overkill but it was the only size I had on hand).

My bench was made from recycled pallets, so this dictated a lot of the sizes. I was hoping for about 80mm thickness in the top but during the glueup it warped and twisted. So it ended up being about 65mm. Still the bench is solid.

I'll be waiting on the build of this one. Good luck.

Thanks very much for that Bleeder.

And so it begins
I really enjoyed building my bench and looking back I would have liked to have seen some benches in the flesh to clarify some ideas before I settled on a design.
There are a few things I would do differently but the bench is the centre of my workshop, gets used every time I am working on something and I am very happy with it. I can't imagine trying to make something now without a solid bench to work on.
I would increase the stretcher size to 4x2 or 3x2 at least. Your legs will be closer to 90x90 rather than 100x100 but 90 x 90 is huge and will support any top you put on them.
I probably use the tail vice more than the face vice but not by that much. Well worth putting both in.
The 'floor' on my bench is a couple of ply platforms that drop onto the stretchers. I store a couple of bench top machines (linisher and mitre saw) on them and just plonk them on the bench to use them, which is not all that often.
As for putting Maple around the top of the bench, you will need to allow for movement and you don't want any cracks in the bench top. Breadboard ends alone may be a better option if you must have the Maple bling
Just my thoughts

Thanks for your thoughts Tony.

Originally Posted by NCArcher

And so it begins
I would have liked to have seen some benches in the flesh to clarify some ideas before I settled on a design. So would I, and apparently yours will be the first! I've bookmarked several build threads, and will look for some more when I've finished the current tool tray cabinets.

I would increase the stretcher size to 4x2 or 3x2 at least. Your legs will be closer to 90x90 rather than 100x100 but 90 x 90 is huge and will support any top you put on them. Roger that.

I probably use the tail vice more than the face vice but not by that much. Well worth putting both in. Was just talking to Terry Gordon and he says that some people have put two of his tail vises in - one each end on the same side. Funnily enough I was thinking about this myself, and also I'll do some thinking about how an HNT TV can be incorporated into the fence of a drill press (and/or in the drill deck itself). They work really well without a big wheel to bump into - just a little flick of that tiny little knob is plenty to hold the timber for planing. Also going to think about/research using Dominoes as dogs.

As for putting Maple around the top of the bench, you will need to allow for movement and you don't want any cracks in the bench top. Breadboard ends alone may be a better option if you must have the Maple bling Well, I probably must! What I meant was just laminating it onto the top as part of the whole lamination process. Or is that what you mean by movement - two different timbers moving differently?

Just my thoughts Good ones too. Thanks!

Also going to think about/research using Dominoes as dogs.

Go back through Lignum's posts in the Festool forum. About 2010 I think, and you'll find the definitive Dominoes as dogs there. Failing that, have a look at timbercabinets.com.au, you might find it there. Bear in mind that you can make larger dominoes in shop if you need them. Larger mortises should be easy to cut in the bench with a spiral upcut to suit. Consider using a disposable MDF top for the bench. And you might consider using Vises rather than Vices.

As for putting Maple around the top of the bench, you will need to allow for movement and you don't want any cracks in the bench top. Breadboard ends alone may be a better option if you must have the Maple bling Well, I probably must! What I meant was just laminating it onto the top as part of the whole lamination process. Or is that what you mean by movement - two different timbers moving differently?
I just finished watching an episode of TNYW where Norm installed a mitred surround on a table top. I think I had that stuck in my subconcious.
Movement at different rates is unlikely to affect anything. My bench top has ten different timbers. I can't say I have noticed any movement at all over the last 12 months or so. From me or the bench

Originally Posted by LGS

Also going to think about/research using Dominoes as dogs.

Go back through Lignum's posts in the Festool forum. About 2010 I think, and you'll find the definitive Dominoes as dogs there. Failing that, have a look at timbercabinets.com.au, you might find it there. Bear in mind that you can make larger dominoes in shop if you need them. Larger mortises should be easy to cut in the bench with a spiral upcut to suit. Consider using a disposable MDF top for the bench. And you might consider using Vises rather than Vices.

Thanks Rob. Your quite right about Vises, and I'm usually pretty diligent with that, but still have enough brain farts left to get me by.

You're also right about disposable MDF making a really good benchtop. My current 3.6m bench (and last couple) is melamine/MDF and it's great - has drop saw, drill press, fold-down sheet cutter in the main work area. Two sheets together to give about 36mm thick which is surprisingly movementless. I particularly favour a melamine over MDF surface for this particular bench (which will remain) because I can make notes, calculations etc and erase them, glue doesn't stick, oil/turps/shelac etc don't stick - just run a paint scraper over it when necessary.

I wouldn't be without a bench top like that actually. At the moment the HNT TV is in it, but because it was a two after thought it's not quite as rigid as it needs to be.

In the current mix is a 750x500mm granite slab (32mm) with a timber border that I can use for all sorts of things. I can secure it to the Mel/MDF top a couple screws, or just have it as a floater.

It's funny you should mention this right now because it's been on my mind that the top sheet is just about due for replacement.

Cheers.

Originally Posted by NCArcher

From me or the bench

Sounds like the bench may have moved more than you then.

You do have a crane to lift the thing FF!?!?

Tallowood top - nice but is it really necessary?

Maybe I am just a tad jealous!

No crane Art, haven't figured that bit out yet

Ah, scuzie, but what has "necessary" got to do do with it? You've lost me.