Thread: Workbench attempt

Originally Posted by Strydr

I did think about bracing it, but it is a snug fit between the brick pillars and I have also bolted it to the back wall. It's pretty solid.

I cut down an old set of drawers to fit under the bench for some storage.

Looking good, nice and neat too and if the thick sheet of mdf you have on top is well screwed down to the frame there shouldn't be any wracking at the front.

Col.

What do you mean when you say, "wracking" at the front ?

The benchtop is 2 sheets of 18mm MDF glued and screwed with a piece of tas oak moulding.

Originally Posted by Strydr

What do you mean when you say, "wracking" at the front ?

The benchtop is 2 sheets of 18mm MDF glued and screwed with a piece of tas oak moulding.

For example, if the back of the bench was fixed to the wall and the bench top just had screws along the back, then the bench would not be braced so when you use lateral pressure at the front, the bench could move forward or back parallel to the back of the bench.
But as you say the two sheets of 18mm mdf is screwed and glued so it is well braced and will not "wrack". Maybe I am showing my age with the use of that word.

Col.

Nice work Strydr - looks great.

Any plans for the vice yet?

I have thought about it, but not much. I have left a bit of overhang on the benchtop for clamping. Any suggestions for a vice ?

Originally Posted by simon d

Stryder. I have to say a book I got long ago which helped me start and should be found near all attentive apprentices benches is 'Carpentry and joinery. grade one and two' It was put out by the Victorian education dept in 1967, compiled by Mr C Loyd. Mine's a first edition but i am sure many others were produced as i am always seeing it in second hand shops. You'll find it quick smart with a Google search i am sure. It'll teach you the basics. Another good one which is a bit more advanced is 'Woodwork in theory and practice' by John a. Walton. 1947 with editions right up to 1967.
.

and beyond. I purchased a metric edition new last year in Dymocks.

Interesting, for me, is that I used to live in Canberra (where this John Walton lived), and knew two Waltons.

Both John, neither that one - their ages were wrong. One worked at CSIRO, the other managed a local Tandy store (in the Boulevard).