Thread: New Workbench ala FWW

BigAl,

You deserve a beer after making this. Excellent work. I love it.

A beer??? A KEG!!!!

VERY nice work Al

After finally starting down the hand plane path, I've recently come to realise how awful my main workbench is - gotta build me something like that too.

Only problem is, that one's too nice to use

That's a Bench. it's a pleasure to just look at it.

Greetings,

Very nice work BigAl !

What sort of finish did you use ?

Regards

After studying your design carefully I see a major problem.

This thing is no good as a work bench, it is a work of art. I couldn't contemplate placing anything on it which would mark it or damage it in any way

Cngratulations.

Fantastic Job!!! like Darryl said, the only problem is it's to nice to use! It world be sacralidge to mark or mar the top!

Dont use it for woodwork, it too good for that.
Put it your lounge room.

Al

Al

That is simply stunning! I hope that its good looks don't scare you off using it for woodworking!!!!

A great inspiration to the rest of us. Thanks for posting.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Very nice work Al.

Could we get some dimentions off you (L,W,H, thickness of top, etc)?

How do you like the Twin screw vise?
Was it difficult to install?

Thanks.

Ben.

I'm totally envious, Al. That's beautiful work, Well done.

Col

SUPER
Please put in the post to U.K.

Lovely Bench!!
It is a beauty to behold & should serve you well for years.
What are the dimensions of this little gem?

Hey folks,

Many thanks for the kind words. Praise from ones peers really does inspire you to do better on the next job (which is going to be a Philly Highboy , see you all in 6 months)

I'm having a beer as I type and saving the vodka for the first serious scratch or dent. This thing was made to work on and I know it's going to get beaten up. First thing I made when I finished the top was a bench hook.

A few specific points worth picking up on:

Ozwinner NOTHING is too good for woodworking. Besides, I'm planning on using the loungerrom as a spraybooth;

Ben from Vic The bench is 2150L x 720W x 860H minus vises. The twin screw vise is pretty radical. It doesn't use guide rods, just the two screws so it drops down as it extends to maximum opening of about 350mm. That being said, it's tremendous and worth its $375 price tag if you want a really BIG vise. I installed this vise after the apron that became the rear jaw was already fitted to the table. Big mistake. I wish I had taken a picture of how I ended drilling the holes. I'd win dickhead of the week for sure! If you plan to use this vise in a bench you're building, buy it before you buy the wood. It'll define a lot of your dimensions. If anyone is planning on using one of these critters, drop me a line and I'll copy you with the instructions;

jow104 Only if you're paying the postage mate. It may be cheaper for you to buy a local cabinet shop...

Major Panic High praise indeed coming from you. The bench you made for your Father-in-law was the reason this ended up with the drawers.

Al,

That is a fine bench indeed.

I have a twin-screw vice like yours. I find that the chain mechanism, which is supposed to ensure that both screws turn together, doesn't work properly on mine - one of the sprockets slips. This doesn't really matter much, and I haven't bothered to make a major effort to cure the problem.

I was intrigued to hear that you are aiming to make a Philadelphia highboy. I presume you are following the plans in FW #117 - 119. I was surprised, when reading the article in #117, that the author follows the traditional method of making the sides with the grain running horizontally, and morticing them into the upper part of the legs. That seems to me to be inviting the sides to split. It would seem much more sensible to have the grain run vertically, and join the sides to the legs with biscuits.

I am afraid I never rose to the challenge of making one of these; though I did make Lonnie Bird's colonial corner cupboard, which is much less demanding.

How are you going with the claw and ball feet, by the way?

Rocker