WIP- Workbench

**groeneaj** · 19th October 2011, 04:25 PM

Hi all,
I thought i'd post some photos of my workbench. It's inspired by the "holtzapffel" style benches. I have uploaded a photo of Chris Schwarz's holtzapffel bench so you get an idea of what it will look like.

I just want to say thanks to Ian (ian) for coming around the other day and showing me his festool TS55 and helped cut some of the slabs up. This is the second time Ian has came around to help me out

I started a thread in the festool section in regards to being unsure to what size saw I should get. I was very suprised when Ian ripped up my 50mm blackbutt with his TS55 (rip blade) and it handled it with ease. The finish was brilliant!

A bit more about the bench--
It's going to be a little over 2300mm long x 650-700mm wide and the top should finish up around 70mm. It's going to be made of blackbutt that I got delivered from boutique timbers a couple of weeks ago.
I'm going to instal http hovarter vises - (face and wagon) http://www.hovartercustomvise.com/?p...=15&category=1

I'm hoping to be done soon as i'm keen to start making furniture.

Here is what iv'e done so far.
Pic 1 - the blackbutt after being ripped up by the ts55
Pic 2 - some of the slabs (I got another 4 or 5 on the other side of this photo)
Pic 3 - some of the smaller slabs that will be used for legs and the aprons

More photos to come,

Andy

**groeneaj** · 19th October 2011, 04:33 PM

Pic 1 - cutting the lengths to size
Pic 2 - thicknessing the blackbutt after I jointed one side on the jointer
Pic 3 & 4 - dry fit

**groeneaj** · 19th October 2011, 04:38 PM

Not in order

Pic 1 - I used my domino to align the boards (not for strength, I didn't even glue the dominos)
Pic 2 - shows the dominos
Pic 3 - glued up
Pic 4 - Chris Schwarz holtzapffel bench
Pic 5 - dry fit to make sure everything aligns

I have a few more of these little glues up to do (3 or 4) i'll then glue up the whole top together within these sections.

Sorry I posted it over a few posts but it wouldn't let me post all the pics in one thread.

Thanks
Andy

**ian** · 19th October 2011, 11:21 PM

Andy

things are looking good.
will have to change Friday to Thursday evening or earlier on Friday, say late afternoon

I'll send you a text

**Christos** · 19th October 2011, 11:46 PM

**ajw** · 20th October 2011, 09:06 AM

Hi Andy,

Watching with interest. Should be a very solid bench!

ajw

**UglyDan** · 21st October 2011, 08:59 PM

Some nice looking timber, look forward to more piccys

**Gaza** · 21st October 2011, 10:53 PM

great project, what did the blackbuttt set you back?

**groeneaj** · 22nd October 2011, 08:30 AM

Originally Posted by Gaza

great project, what did the blackbuttt set you back?

I got about 14 slabs, some are 3000mm long and 400mm wide and 45-50mm thick and others are a little bit smaller. - it cost me $1000 delivered to my door.

Andy

**Wongo** · 22nd October 2011, 03:45 PM

A great project Andy. Have fun.

**groeneaj** · 22nd October 2011, 05:36 PM

Hey,
Thanks for the interest. I cut up most of the pieces for the top yesterday using Ian's ts55 (thanks again mate

). All up I got 20 (only need 18, but good to have some spare) lengths for the top.

I'll cut up the rest for the legs, rails and aprons tomorrow and hopefully start glueing up more of the top. I'm hoping to have the top done very soon!

Just a question- My first glue up of 3 lenghts didn't turn out as well as i'd hoped for. I either didn't use enough glue, not enough even clamping pressure or they were not flat enough as there is some gaps in the glue join. Rookie mistake I know but i'd like to fix it. I'm thinking epoxy and sawdust? Does anybody have any other suggestions? I know it's only a workbench, but I still want to make it presentable!

Thankyou

Andy

**ian** · 24th October 2011, 10:30 PM

how's the bench going Andy?

Originally Posted by groeneaj

Just a question- My first glue up of 3 lenghts didn't turn out as well as i'd hoped for. I either didn't use enough glue, not enough even clamping pressure or they were not flat enough as there is some gaps in the glue join. Rookie mistake I know but i'd like to fix it. I'm thinking epoxy and sawdust? Does anybody have any other suggestions? I know it's only a workbench, but I still want to make it presentable!

for this you could try routing or sawing out a 30mm deep recess along the glue line and inserting a fillet -- use a contrasting colour and put this glueup in the right place and it'll look like racing stripes

**groeneaj** · 25th October 2011, 08:13 PM

Hey Ian,
The bench build is going well. I'm going to start jointing/thicknessing the rest of the lengths and get them glued up. This time I'll spend more time ensuring I get a better glue join.

I need more clamps, I'm thinking maybe the jet clamps.

I like your idea with the inlay strip - I'll give it some thought.

I was going to drop the blade off to Henry Brothers to get the tooth replaced and get the blade freshly sharpened (it's the least I can do).

Andy

**ian** · 25th October 2011, 10:07 PM

Originally Posted by groeneaj

I was going to drop the blade off to Henry Brothers to get the tooth replaced and get the blade freshly sharpened (it's the least I can do).

Hi Andy

that would be great
Thank you

**groeneaj** · 6th November 2011, 10:17 AM

Hey all,
I've made some progress on the bench in the last week. I have cut prety much everything to rough size, and I must say there is a lot of wood!
I'll post some pics tonight as I hope to make some more progress today.

The next step is to run the pieces for the top through the jointer and thicknesser and get the top glued up!

Andy

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