Thread: WIP - Groggy's Workbench

Seen slabs of Grey Gum like that.

Just interested to see the way those slabs are laminated. I would have thought the gluing up with the end grains parallel, as it were, woul lend itself to greater chance of cupping, despite the thickness.

Originally Posted by artme

Seen slabs of Grey Gum like that.

Just interested to see the way those slabs are laminated. I would have thought the gluing up with the end grains parallel, as it were, woul lend itself to greater chance of cupping, despite the thickness.

The inside had defects so I joined them as you see. I'm hoping it won't move much, if it does I'll just plane it down again.

Originally Posted by Groggy

I had a bit of a moment today.

We all get that I think it is part of being a wood worker.

Originally Posted by Groggy

I'd be interested to hear from the timber species experts - what do you think it is?

Obvious........ Tassie dogwood!

Glad I'm not the only one that uses clamps ten times bigger than needed. At least in this case you had something of substantial weight to stop the thing falling over or off due to the weight of the clamps.

Originally Posted by Waldo

At least in this case you had something of substantial weight to stop the thing falling over or off due to the weight of the clamps.

What you need Waldo is a bigger workbench.

Or how about using the top of your table saw with some scrap on top of the surface.

Originally Posted by Christos

What you need Waldo is a bigger workbench.

Or how about using the top of your table saw with some scrap on top of the surface.

That bench works very well sir. Maybe I need to finish the thing so I can have my bench assembly table back But then I'd only build something else on top of it.

That bench will never work, it's got bits of metal sticking out all over the place!

It's coming together nicely Groggy. You'll look back at all the effort involved with huge satisfaction at what you've achieved. Until you decide to move it, anyway.

The deadman is drilled and waiting to have the sliding rebate cut, that will be done when the top is assembled. Lots of holes. I found the Colt forstners do a beautiful entry hole but the back still blows out a little. No problem, I have a few mm to thickness off the back. Each hole has a 2mm radius from the trimmer router.

The top is not very manoeuvrable now. I've got it sitting like this so I can plane the edges ready for gluing. The single piece in the centre is the front apron. It will be attached last as the wagon vise and end caps need to be set up with it off.

Are you marking lines on the deadman parallel to the top?

Originally Posted by Groggy

. Lots of holes.

Thou art truly holeeee

Originally Posted by BozInOz

Are you marking lines on the deadman parallel to the top?

Yes. I haven't bothered offsetting the lines as I'll probably be using clamps to hold any pieces anyway. If needed I can use a spacer to lift a board marginally.

Originally Posted by Christos

Thou art truly holeeee

You know the drill!

Last of the large glue-ups was completed today with a lot of help from Col. I don't know how many times we test fitted a 60kg beam only to move it again and plane a bit more off. Then there was a few moves of the the 120kg slab to position it and get paper under it.

Thanks Col, very much appreciated

The top now weighs over 180kg and there is one more 30kg beam to attach, plus two 15kg end caps and a solid steel wagon vise. I am hoping the moon will do a low pass and weaken gravity for a week or so when I have to flip it.

In one of the pics you will see the alignment of the bench end, it needed to be close. I used a scratch across the table to assist when gluing up. Once the stiction gets the faces when gluing it is nigh on impossible to bang it along to make the marks meet.

23 heavy duty clamps used on this glue job. Thanks to Col and Kiwibrucee for the loaners.