Thread: Redefining the Aussie WorkBench

Lookin' good!

Thoughts:

I think that 2400 is ideal - gives you a good 1800 (length of a bed rail) plus extra to place handtools. If you have another bench within reach though you may not require this.
I wish that I had installed the twin-screw as a tailvice, and may retro-fit it, or fit a tailvice. I think that the wonderdog is great, but a big vice would be more efficient in use and would hold things a bit better.
At 600mm I reckon that a lot of your tools will end up on the floor.

TassieKiwi

What do you think of the Veritas Holddown? ....................... at this stage is my second choice behind the Kreg BUT appears to be a little more versatile..............any comments?

REgards Lou

Originally Posted by Waldo

G'day Schtoo,

My projects normally have about 10 different bits in various stages of assembly and a few tools required, otherwise most tools are stored in the 3 drawers below.

But yes, I agree and would have to say that what ever size work area you work on it does gather crud. I used to put things like squares, knives, rulers etc. away once used, but now I leave a few things on the bench that I'm using for the thing that I'm working on.

A project I have to get onto is a cabinet with two doors on piano hinges to take more of the tools out of the drawers to store above my bench, because my drawers are full.

I think I'm going to have drawer units at one end, opening on the narrow side. In an earlier shop I had overhead storage for tools and down lights. That was very effective, like a kitchen island bench with pot hooks overhead. The problem is having to be soooo careful with long pieces of timber.

My work area is usually cluttered with projects, tools, kid's toys in for repair, and a jig or two being fabricated/modified/fooled with.
I read a tip somewhere once that advocated the rule of ten: EVERY TIME you enter the shop, put ten things away. When I follow it, it helps noticeably with the clutter.

I have a large ex-entertainment unit as a tool box. It is great, and lives behind my bench. If you make something similar, ensure that the doors are free to open 180 to the carcass, and try not to put too much on them, as you may dislodge something when working. I hate the sound of a tool going 'thunk' on the floor behind me.

Originally Posted by silentC

Fair enough. If you used 3mm and largish sections, you'd probably get enough weight in it. OK, I retract my objection. If I've got any steel left over from building the house, I'll make a bench out of it

Fill the legs with ballast before putting the top on. They definitly should be heavy enough then. moving the bench could be a problem though. I had to move mine with a couple of floor jacks, two people and big levers and rollers. Mind you it is about 5 metres long and built out of old conveyer belt structural steel I scabbed aout of the local coal mine for nought when I had no money, nothings changed I've still got no money. Weight is the answer, combined with four or more legs. My bench just sits on blocks of timber which support the full length frame.

Originally Posted by NewLou

TassieKiwi

What do you think of the Veritas Holddown? ....................... at this stage is my second choice behind the Kreg BUT appears to be a little more versatile..............any comments?

REgards Lou

Good thing. More powerful than you would think, and very quick. No chance of having flash drawer units under the bench though.

Originally Posted by gregoryq

If you make something similar, ensure that the doors are free to open 180 to the carcass, and try not to put too much on them, as you may dislodge something when working. I hate the sound of a tool going 'thunk' on the floor behind me.

G'day,

Yeah, I've seen some great shots of wall units and how others have done them for when it comes time for me to knock one up. Doors will open up 180º to the carcass. Doors will only have saws, rulers and squares on one and chisels, s/drivers on the other.

Originally Posted by TassieKiwi

Lookin' good!

Thoughts:

At 600mm I reckon that a lot of your tools will end up on the floor.

I reckon ya spot on there Tassie ..................... thats why would be important not to use the Benchtop as a tool tip!

I consider a BEnchtop a worksurface not a storage surface so trying to keep the top as clutter free as possible is an important workhabit to get into ................for me!

ALSO..............I've had great success with my Poorman Bench inlaying rare earth magnets and sealing them in with epoxy. These make a great X-tra set of hands & are unbelieveably strong for their size. (See Pic)

I reckon a few of these strategically placed on the Benchtop & face would make an excellent tool holder. I've also found this system invaluable for holding small fastners drill bits n the like.................real handy stuff!!!!

Regards Lou

Gidday

Well I think I've just about finished refining my Final Design Heres Apic in ASH!!

The Bench top will be Melamine with breadboard sides n ends. MAin construction ASH.

The top will be busy intergrating a number of accessories including my own sliding dog design the black colored rectangles are inlayed rare earth magnets.

Any suggestions before final dimensioning?

REgards Lou

Lou,

No steel at all, , not even a wee little bit

Please tell me the threads on the vice are steel


dazzler

Why melamine and not a laminate. Melamine not a very durable surface for a benchtop IMHO. It will be easy to clean for a while but once it starts to be scratched, moisture will start to play its part. Whether it be MDF or HMR underneath, it is no good once exposed for any length of time. Youd be better off with raw MDF sealed with poly. At least you can redo it when it gets shabby.

Gidday Boban

Yeah I have also been considering laminate ..............but not too sure I can source anything decent enough out this way. I think laminate is probably a better choice too!!!...................and may still go down that path!

I've been using a melamine benchtop for a good 12 months now.................firstly just slabs on a bbq table then on my poorman bench. It turns out to be a much more durable surface than you would think and has stood up well!!!

Only the hardest of pounding etc etc seems to dint it .....................most damage coming from chisel marks n powertools!! I would never ever use a MDF top............

MDF is crap in my opionion and dints etc etc etc far to easily even if sealed. I've worked a lot with MDF and have developed a healthy hate for the stuff particularly the dust!!!!

I think your idea about the laminate is really worth checking out & am frankly suprised that I can't recall other forum members using it ...............or considering it as an option


Wonder why????


REgards Lou

Probably because you cant buy it at Bunnings. It is about $30 a square metre so it will be more than the melamine option plus you have to use contact cement to put it on. Given the effort your putting into the project, I would hate to see you regret the decision in a couple of years.

Mounted on 600mm x 34mm HMR, a laminate benchtop costs me $55 per lineal metre. I figure that for about $120 you could find a benchtop supplier in your area to supply you the benchtop you need. Just call some of the small joinery or kitchen guys and ask them for the local manufacturer.

Lou – you’ll not like the photo – lots of MDF around but for my router table worktop I used concrete shuttering from the seconds shop at our local plywood factory.

I don’t know what the actual finish is but produces a nice hard, smooth surface.

Strewth, this thread has become as long as one of Derek's posts!
I have been using my bench for over a year now and so I thought it was time to add my two-bobs worth.
When I first posted the bench, there were concerns that I would never be game to use or abuse it however that's not been the case. There are a number of dings, mostly in front of the front vice, but none that really worry me.
In fact, the state of the bench makes me stop and think before I do something and I also find I now clean up more between tasks, all of which has made me a more organised ... and cleaner ... worker!
My bench appears to fit into the 'small' category. It is 1660 long, 760 wide and 960 high. I am 1830 tall so I find that I can reach anything on the bench without straining which is important to me because the size of my shed means that I have to put the bench against a wall.
Some of the photos show a raised 'wall' at the back of the bench to stop anything rolling off into oblivion. This 'wall' is in fact another benchtop lamination and it can be easily dropped down to bench height should I ever get a shed big enough to put the bench in the middle.
The vertical drawers have worked out even better than I imagined. They keep commonly used tools clean and close at hand.
I hope this helps ....
Fletty