Thread: WIP - Groggy's Workbench

seeing as you have held off on bog and bolts for 2 years, you may as well keep going.

Groggy ,mate you have a really spectacular workbench truely fine art that will last for generations to come..
Im still in the process of reading through all your posts half way there you have some really good ideas..

Im in the process of building a bench for my old man (not a woodworker),this will be my first attempt in making a project so big as i only have about 2 years woodwork experiance ive gotten so far so im just hopeing my bench goes well.. but anyway do you think i should purchase this wagon vise is it complexed to install. and i hear you talk about trad wax ive done some research on the net and comes up wit traditional wax is this the stuff you use.

Cheers
Lance

Originally Posted by teakman

Groggy ,mate you have a really spectacular workbench truely fine art that will last for generations to come..
Im still in the process of reading through all your posts half way there you have some really good ideas..

Im in the process of building a bench for my old man (not a woodworker),this will be my first attempt in making a project so big as i only have about 2 years woodwork experiance ive gotten so far so im just hopeing my bench goes well.. but anyway do you think i should purchase this wagon vise is it complexed to install. and i hear you talk about trad wax ive done some research on the net and comes up wit traditional wax is this the stuff you use.

Cheers
Lance

Lance, Lee Valley have an innovative vise they recently released that may suit your needs. The Benchcrafted vise requires more work (and thinking) when constructing the bench.

The 'Trad Wax' is the uBeaut Traditional Wax.

Originally Posted by Waldo

Groggy,

Don't know if it's a help or not, but load up Sketch-up>File>3D Wharehouse> Get Models and search for "Holtzapffel workbench" and you'll find a model already drawn up.


(Holtzapffel were my Dad's mother's side from Germany - doubtful that it'd be the right mob though)

I wouldn't be too sure about that if I were you Waldo. I reckon it's a genetic thing this mucking about with wood.
Dad's father was a builder, (step)Mum's father was a wood turner/ cabinet maker. Dad is a GP but he built his own hard wood work bench so he could make his own examining couches for his practice, shelving units for the reception area and numerous other items for work and the family home. He even took x-rays and developed them in a darkroom built into the family laundry. Don't get that these days.
Anyway, here I am having been working in steel for the last 25+ years and I think the family chooks have come to roost in my head. That's a good thing. I know Dad's happy about it, he gave me his 5 speed drill-press. And he's still doctoring(people, not wood).

Been following this with interest Groggy, but haven't posted for ages.

I must say that the whole beast is looking brilliant! It really is a handmade bench, right down to making your own skew chisels.

The dovetails are a credit to your skill and patience!

Looking forward to the finished article.

Thank you, life has intervened for a while. Tomorrow I am hoping to be back out there. Easter has seen an influx of visitors and MIL turned 80 so lots of distractions.

I finally got back into it today and made a bit of progress. Had to hunt around for things as I'd forgotten where I'd put them.

Pic 1 - test assembly to visualise where it all goes.
Pic 2 - checking length.
Pic 3 - making sure the end reaches.
Pic 4 - The wheel sits much lower than the standard Benchcrafted vise wheel. I didn't want it near the top of the bench as the wheel may interfere with work-pieces, so I lowered it and basically took all measurements from the bottom of the bench. This is not recommended unless your bench is thicker than the standard bench.
Pic 5 - The recess for the lip was tricky. I had to take apart a few router bits to get the right bearing size for the rebate, even then I had to wrap a piece of electrician's tape around the router bearing to get a press-fit and no slop.
Pic 6 - Showing the locating ring.
Pic 7 - Still some holes to patch up as you can see here.
Pic 8 - This is the test piece I made to get the precise size for the locating ring. This is not something where close enough will do.

I am very close to being able to glue the skirt on now, maybe even tomorrow...

Setting up the end caps and getting ready for the glue up. The end caps are waxed so they can move if necessary. Also, the slot where the wagon vise slides is given a good waxing to allow the block to move easily.

Originally Posted by Groggy

Setting up the end caps and getting ready for the glue up. The end caps are waxed so they can move if necessary.

Awesome bench, looking forward to the finished product (not the only one by the looks..)

Could you explain what exactly has been waxed and what will be glued up?

Groggy

lookin' good

Not for this build but...
I was wondering whether another option for an end piece might be to have a full length sliding dovetail across the end (hope this makes sense?)

Can you or do people dovetail breadboard ends?

Thank you for the update.

I've just noticed the link back to this thread - beaudy another bench build to read through.

But I did see the comment: "Still have a few surprises to come with the bench. The bench dog layout will be 'different' and the method of moving the bench may interest some."

I might delay my build (need to source wood for the top anyway) until I see this moving the bench bit.

Talk about a busy glue-up. I had two helpers who insisted that I do the glue-up with their assistance so off we went. Prepared all the clamps, glue, scrapers, preparation pot for mixing, taped up areas to stay clean then mixed the glue and got stuck in.

Busy, BUSY, BUSY, BUSY. We were tripping over each other, and the dog. Got it all done and now it is setting. Squeeze out seems to just keep coming out as the pictures show. I had already wiped off one bead before these pictures were taken.

Tomorrow, some routing to inset the second rail for the wagon vise. The first rail is used to correctly position the end cap during the glue up. I also used all the end cap bolts to snug up the end caps during the glue up.

This glue up is permanent so I am concerned that I have actually done everything I needed to before doing the glue up.

Originally Posted by Robomanic

Could you explain what exactly has been waxed and what will be glued up?

Shannon, The attached pic should give a better idea than words I hope. The yellow shows areas that were glued with 2 part epoxy (Epiglue), basically the dovetails and the front apron only. The blue line shows where I've allowed for some movement as the timber moves with moisture. The surface in that join is smooth with some wax to help seal it and let it slide if need be. The attachment bolts will be slackened once the glue is set so they are firm but not tight.