Thread: WIP - Groggy's Workbench

Originally Posted by Cliff Rogers

I doubt that it will float.

I think it will float just a little bit under water.

Originally Posted by Christos

I think it will float just a little bit under water.

Nah

too many holes in it

After a few weeks of being too busy with work stuff it was great to get some time to put the finish on the bench. I've used hard burnishing oil as it seals the timber and is repairable. It can also be waxed easily enough to deter glue from sticking.

Last touches will be putting the suede leather on the vise faces and the block in the wagon vice needs a permanent replacement.

Enough already! Will you make some furniture now!

But its got holes in it!

very pretty, time to mess it up a bit

Groggy

A sterling job that

I hope your great grandkids enjoy using it as it should outlast them

When do we see the first scratch, dent, chisel slip?

Just in time for showing us all at the wood show.

Congratulations on a job well done.


Peter.

WOW! Seriously stunning. I have some concerns for your welfare however on the day you have your first slip of the chisel.

Originally Posted by danny.s

WOW! Seriously stunning.

What he said.

Congratulations! Quite the journey!

Now you can take it to the Melb. WWW Show...

Originally Posted by Sawdust Maker

When do we see the first scratch, dent, chisel slip?

You may not see it happen, but you willl probably hear it

Bugger now what I am going to do.







All good things come to an end, great job.

This started out as a replacement to my 30 year old temporary wobbly-bench. It was to be a teaching tool for me and in that respect it worked very, very well. I would recommend the process to any WW who want to hone his or her skills.

I began the bench back in August 2008 and am claiming it to be complete in September 2011. One thing this bench did not teach me was speed

Documenting the build on the forums has helped me to think through what I was doing, and perhaps to take a little more care as the results were visible to all. I have had the benefit of questions and suggestions from some very clever woodworkers for free, for which I thank you. Every comment was read and considered, and more than a few were included.

Sally the patient Labrador looked a little lost today as I didn't eat it when it was finished - why else would someone spend so much time making this thing if it cannot be eaten?

I've enjoyed following the bench builds of others too, I have been saved from making mistakes by reading of other's misfortunes. I hope my mistakes serve as a useful guide to others too.

I have been using the bench a bit now and really do like the strength of the beast. It does not move at all (which can be painful if you happen to bump into it) and, when working on it, all the force applied to a tool goes into the work piece and is not lost in movement or vibration.

I am happy with the design and can say with some honesty that I cannot think of any functional changes I would like to make. At some point I will make a mobility kit so I can move it around easily but for now it will remain a part of the Commonwealth.

Special thanks go to my mate Bruce (kiwibrucee) who helped me with so many bits of the process, but especially the constant flipping of the top which was bl**dy heavy. Thanks also to my son Doug, who took many photos and videos, but also helped me to flip the top a number of times before moving to Sydney for his own safety.

A final word, I am an amateur woodworker who built the bench as a learning exercise. I do not profess to be an 'expert' in anything (other than flipping heavy tops) and there are a number of things I did that were either wrong or blatantly inefficient. Please think things through before copying what I have done, my work methods have no training behind them and you would do well to review the methods of some experienced craftsmen instead.

The Jarrah timber for the top was reclaimed from an old warehouse roof in Williamstown Victoria and is full of checks, dry rot and nailholes. The base is made of a number of Australian timbers from Tas Oak to Sydney Bluegum. The chop for the vise is West Australian Karri.

As I complete other bench aids (such as a Moxon vise) I will add them to this thread.

Thanks for your support folks