WIP - Recycled Hardwood Bench

[jim47]

I like your clamps, but they look very expensive.
Can you please provide me with details : make, name of retailer, price.
Thank you,
Jim

[NCArcher]

Jim, I presume you mean the big red clamps.
Jet parallel face clamps. Similar to the Besseys but much better.
They are expensive but well worth the price.

Jet Tools & Machinery Australia-Parallel Clamps

I will get some more as soon as I get some spare cash. (Although I've been waiting for 'spare cash' for quite a while now)

[Fuzzie]

Hi NC, I'm trying to decide on my bench design. I've been vacillating over a tail vice. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts on your tail vice and dog hole layout a couple of years down the track.

Do you find the tail vice really necessary or do the benchhooks and dogs offer enough clamping options for most jobs?

[NCArcher]

To be honest Fuzzie, the tail vice is the most used portion of the bench and works brilliantly.
If I was to do it over again (and I might....one day) I would spend more on a top quality tail vice like the Benchcraft offering.
Give your dog hole layout some serious thought. I would probably space mine closer together. I used 150mm spacing for the dog holes but would close that up to 100mm if doing again. The back row of dog holes are 300 apart and I haven't found a need to have them closer. You could put in extra row/s which might come in handy. If making it again I would go for three rows of dog holes.
All that aside, the bench is the most used tool in my shed and I don't know how I manged to do anything without a decent bench. If you are thinking about building one, stop thinking and do it. The difference in, if not my quality, but enjoyment of woodwork is enormous. I really enjoyed building it too. Hmmm...maybe I do need a Bench Mark II