jisk
8th August 2007, 09:23 PM
One of my first major woodwork projects is a decent hardwood workbench. I picked up the timber last week from Exador (thanks for all your help!) and started it a couple of days ago.
The top is red ironbark with a couple of lengths of forest red gum, and the base is spotted gum. The current plan is to end up with a bench 1800mm x 600mm, standing about 960mm high. Most of the bench will be built with the limited selection of hand tools I have at the moment. Joinery will be mortise and tenon for the base with coach screws to fix the top on.
I'll post pictures of my progress as I go along. It might take some time, based on my progress so far.
http://www.liet.net/gallery/d/1182-2/SV400754.JPG
My current work area is a set of shelves in the shed installed by the previous owner of the house. Some time after the workbench is finished those shelves will be gutted and I'll build a tidier and more space-savvy storage system. Something with doors and drawers.
On the right side of the bench and on the floor on the left is the spotted gum. I've slapped some Dimension 4 on it as apparently this stuff can quickly take in or release moisture right after being dressed. On the left you can see part of my collection of hand planes and Scary Sharp (TM) sandpaper sharpening system. By the way, the Veritas jig rocks!
Using clamps in place of vices is slow, and sucks big time. I can't wait for the bench.
http://www.liet.net/gallery/d/1186-2/SV400755.JPG
My First Mortise. It took bloody ages. I'll do more drilling out on the next one before reaching for the chisels.
http://www.liet.net/gallery/d/1192-2/SV400757.JPG
The gluing begins... I'm laminating the top piece by piece. The ironbark is a little green so I'm using quartersawn planks that should not move much, and that movement will be horizontally. I'm arranging them so the movement will oppose each other. When the top is finished I'll put threaded rods through it to act as permanent clamps. Until then these babies are staying clamped tight. I've got it on good authority that this should be OK as ironbark does not move much.
http://www.liet.net/gallery/d/1195-1/SV400758.JPG
The "to do list". This glue up will take a while. The vice is a 9" carbatec. I'll be getting a second one to fit to the bench when it's complete, but at this stage I wanted to make sure I had a vice to fit the dog holes and base properly, allowing room for a tail and face vice. The ironbark is approx 60 x 20, and will be joined face to face.
I've sawn one up to make dog holes out of. Piccies of that next time.
The top is red ironbark with a couple of lengths of forest red gum, and the base is spotted gum. The current plan is to end up with a bench 1800mm x 600mm, standing about 960mm high. Most of the bench will be built with the limited selection of hand tools I have at the moment. Joinery will be mortise and tenon for the base with coach screws to fix the top on.
I'll post pictures of my progress as I go along. It might take some time, based on my progress so far.
http://www.liet.net/gallery/d/1182-2/SV400754.JPG
My current work area is a set of shelves in the shed installed by the previous owner of the house. Some time after the workbench is finished those shelves will be gutted and I'll build a tidier and more space-savvy storage system. Something with doors and drawers.
On the right side of the bench and on the floor on the left is the spotted gum. I've slapped some Dimension 4 on it as apparently this stuff can quickly take in or release moisture right after being dressed. On the left you can see part of my collection of hand planes and Scary Sharp (TM) sandpaper sharpening system. By the way, the Veritas jig rocks!
Using clamps in place of vices is slow, and sucks big time. I can't wait for the bench.
http://www.liet.net/gallery/d/1186-2/SV400755.JPG
My First Mortise. It took bloody ages. I'll do more drilling out on the next one before reaching for the chisels.
http://www.liet.net/gallery/d/1192-2/SV400757.JPG
The gluing begins... I'm laminating the top piece by piece. The ironbark is a little green so I'm using quartersawn planks that should not move much, and that movement will be horizontally. I'm arranging them so the movement will oppose each other. When the top is finished I'll put threaded rods through it to act as permanent clamps. Until then these babies are staying clamped tight. I've got it on good authority that this should be OK as ironbark does not move much.
http://www.liet.net/gallery/d/1195-1/SV400758.JPG
The "to do list". This glue up will take a while. The vice is a 9" carbatec. I'll be getting a second one to fit to the bench when it's complete, but at this stage I wanted to make sure I had a vice to fit the dog holes and base properly, allowing room for a tail and face vice. The ironbark is approx 60 x 20, and will be joined face to face.
I've sawn one up to make dog holes out of. Piccies of that next time.