workbench plans

[haosiliu235]

hi all
do you buy your workbench or do you make your own workbench, and does any one know good work bench plans

cheers

[Bryan1982]

you need to design your own and then make it and costomised to what you need to do you can ideas of other people and there design but you should make your own

[Waldo]

G'day haosiliu235,

Easiest way to go about your bench is to have a look at the stacks of benches that others have built and posted in here, work out what you'll be doing on it and adapt to suit.

[thumbsucker]

You can buy benches however many consider a right of passage to built your own as I am.

You have to ask who are?
How tall are you?
Are you a hand or power tool user or a blend?
How much space do you have?
How do you like to work, clamps, hold downs, vices, dog holes or non of the above?
What kind of tools do you have hand planes or router?
Do you need to attach items to it?
Will you be doing everything on one bench or will you have many benches?
What are you going to build on the bench - a chair makers bench is very different to a cabinet makers, or a carvers bench?
Do you expect to destroy the bench or are you are someoen who will look after it?
How much money have got to spend and do you ever expect to move the bench?

Benches are very personal things some people say that they say allot about the person who built them.

Have a look at Chris Swartz blog (http://www.woodworking-magazine.com/blog/SearchView.aspx?q=workbench) he has made tones of benches and reviewed them all. Good source from an authoritative source. These benches tend to be more hand tool user focused. Then power tool user benches.

[Wild Dingo]

sigh... with a quick one word "workbench" type into the seach button at the top of the page... I came up with a couple you an work from :doh:

Here (http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=8473&highlight=workbench) is a thread about the "Perfect workbench"

RodMills workbench (http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=56871&highlight=workbench)

Jisk's here (http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=54054&highlight=workbench)

NewLous defining the workbench thread here (http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=27697&highlight=workbench)

Goodwoodies pictorial of Itoh's workbench (this is a must see!) here (http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=51854&highlight=workbench)

Himsols is here (http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=48324&highlight=workbench)

Mate making a workbench is a bit of a no brainer really... as has been said you need to figure out what sort of woodworker you are what you will be using it for and how high you want it... ergo how tall are you? that will determine the height of the bench... generally speaking people aim at making a bench elbow height so you stand straight and bend your arms get someone to measure to the elbow from the floor and thats the height you build it to

Now main thing is what SORT of workbench do you aim on making... a WORKbench or a WORKBENCH or a workbench... all 3 are different you know depending on emphasis :;

Some will get MAJORLY ANUL about it and make it from fancy dancy exotic timbers doin all sorts of increadible dovetails an facings and doors an sliding hidden doors an such others will just make a trestle and bung a top on it... others will make the top ANULLY perfeck and the base simply bunged together... some will even make one from radiata!! Like this one (http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=55190&highlight=workbench) and others will use Jarrah for the top and exotics for the trestle

Then theres mine (http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=49952&highlight=workbench)

Its all a matter of what you want

If you do a hunt through "the shed" or my shed or pics of shed or shed pics will bring up quite a few... like these... (hint try looking through the "garden shed" area of the forum) here (http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=36871&highlight=shed+pics) and say here (http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=50346&highlight=shed+pics) and maybe here (http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=39001&highlight=shed+pics) and for a couple of must see sheds A seppo shed (http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=45968&highlight=shed+pics) and of course you wont want to miss The saga of Wendys shed (http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=45447&highlight=shed+pics) make a search and you will see even more!! :2tsup:

Hi Im Shane and Im addicted to wood... and woodworking... and woodworking machines... and woodworking workbenches... Im in deep shyte and I know it :; :2tsup:

Dont mind me I enjoy a wander through other fellas an sheilas sheds!! :2tsup:

[bigAl]

hi all
do you buy your workbench or do you make your own workbench, and does any one know good work bench plans

cheers

G'day Mate, If you like, pm me with your email address and I can send you the plans for the one I made ( http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?p=52031#post52031 )

[Burnsy]

sigh... with a quick one word "workbench" type into the seach button at the top of the page... I came up with a couple you an work from :doh:

Here (http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=8473&highlight=workbench) is a thread about the "Perfect workbench"

RodMills workbench (http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=56871&highlight=workbench)

Jisk's here (http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=54054&highlight=workbench)

NewLous defining the workbench thread here (http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=27697&highlight=workbench)

Goodwoodies pictorial of Itoh's workbench (this is a must see!) here (http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=51854&highlight=workbench)

Himsols is here (http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=48324&highlight=workbench)

Mate making a workbench is a bit of a no brainer really... as has been said you need to figure out what sort of woodworker you are what you will be using it for and how high you want it... ergo how tall are you? that will determine the height of the bench... generally speaking people aim at making a bench elbow height so you stand straight and bend your arms get someone to measure to the elbow from the floor and thats the height you build it to

Now main thing is what SORT of workbench do you aim on making... a WORKbench or a WORKBENCH or a workbench... all 3 are different you know depending on emphasis :;

Some will get MAJORLY ANUL about it and make it from fancy dancy exotic timbers doin all sorts of increadible dovetails an facings and doors an sliding hidden doors an such others will just make a trestle and bung a top on it... others will make the top ANULLY perfeck and the base simply bunged together... some will even make one from radiata!! Like this one (http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=55190&highlight=workbench) and others will use Jarrah for the top and exotics for the trestle

Then theres mine (http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=49952&highlight=workbench)

Its all a matter of what you want

If you do a hunt through "the shed" or my shed or pics of shed or shed pics will bring up quite a few... like these... (hint try looking through the "garden shed" area of the forum) here (http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=36871&highlight=shed+pics) and say here (http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=50346&highlight=shed+pics) and maybe here (http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=39001&highlight=shed+pics) and for a couple of must see sheds A seppo shed (http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=45968&highlight=shed+pics) and of course you wont want to miss The saga of Wendys shed (http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=45447&highlight=shed+pics) make a search and you will see even more!! :2tsup:

Hi Im Shane and Im addicted to wood... and woodworking... and woodworking machines... and woodworking workbenches... Im in deep shyte and I know it :; :2tsup:

Dont mind me I enjoy a wander through other fellas an sheilas sheds!! :2tsup:

:cry4: mine didn't crack a mention, must be you are still in denial about the three legged thing eh Shane:D

[Ron Dunn]

When you are just starting out, building your own workbench is a really, really bad idea.

You don't know what you need
You don't have the skills to build it
You don't have a bench on which to build it (!)I say this because I took advice like this many years ago, and regretted it deeply. I wasted time that I could have spent on other projects. I wasted timber. I ended up with a shoddy mess.

Here is my progression:

A Triton workbench (I used the top as an assembly table)
My own workbench (a piece of crap)
Nothing (I got divorced and sold most of my stuff)
A B&D WorkMate
A Sjoberg Nordic (ordered, in shipping)Now, if I was starting out again, and didn't know what I needed/wanted, I'd *PROBABLY* buy a steel-framed workbench/table with an MDF top. That would be flat and sturdy, and let me play with my tools until I figured out what style of work really interested me. And by then, I'd know if I was capable, and had the capacity to build my own bench; or if my needs were better suited by the wide variety of commercial offerings out there.

[markharrison]

I was all set to build a new bench recently. We moved from Sydney last year and I gave my bench to a friend. I had all the hardware and there was a lot of it. Then I priced the timber...

I returned all the hardware and bought this Carbatec bench (http://www.carbatec.com.au/store/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=290_19218_19220) and I reckon it was a good decision. Instead of building a bench I am building bed for my daughter. You can guess which earns more brownie points with the Financial Controller.

[thumbsucker]

making a bench elbow height

This wold be a very tall bench. Bench heights have generally increased in the last 50 years. Veritas makes this argument for the shape of their plane totes. A more traditional measure to determine bench height is stand up strait with arms straight down and palms facing down fingers extended then measure the distance from floor to palm.

A shorter bench is better for hand tool's work because you can get over the bench and use your core muscles when planing, morticing, pairing and the like. More height is OK when using mostly power tools because the tool is the power and the higher bench is more comfortable.

I would agree that if you new to woodwork you would have a very hard time building a fancy bench (a chipboard, pine, and bolt bench maybe not be so hard to make) because the skills necessary. An old workmate with a thick ply or chip board top some weight in the bottom recess (a formed 4" concrete slab or a steel plate would work) to give stability and then a basic vice and you have a bench. This is what I have been using for the last year and it has worked OK, however you need the counter balancing weight.

A crap bench is also good because you learn what you like and need in a bench and what you hate and you learn how you work.

[Hadamona]

http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com.au/showthread.php?t=47950

[Jasey]

I've found that what I've needed most is a flat, large and stable surface. It certainly doesn't need to be super heavy duty or fancy. More of and assembly table you could say. You cut the pieces on your TS/Router table/Mitre saw and the need somewhere to assemble and finish the piece. If need be you can chisel/handrout/plane on it. Just get a trestle table to start then see what you need.

[Wild Dingo]

:cry4: mine didn't crack a mention, must be you are still in denial about the three legged thing eh Shane:D

So find it put it up then we can all be in denial burnsy! :2tsup: Simply put I couldnt find the sodding thing!! :~ weird things three legged workbenches not much call for em :doh: only demented teaches sorta tend to be equally demented enough to even consider one... and hey thats cool mate :; I give compliments where I see a need your welcome :2tsup: :U

[funkychicken]

I looked at some professional benches then went and made something completely different. Instead of beech and spruce and all that fancy stuff I just used Aussie Hardwood and coach screws. Basic design; four legs side braces, bottom storage rack. Nothing fancy.

It serves it's purpose and is solid as a rock.

Also; I made it 93cm high

Funky C

[Burnsy]

So find it put it up then we can all be in denial burnsy! :2tsup: Simply put I couldnt find the sodding thing!! :~ weird things three legged workbenches not much call for em :doh: only demented teaches sorta tend to be equally demented enough to even consider one... and hey thats cool mate :; I give compliments where I see a need your welcome :2tsup: :U

Found it, now I feel better:D
http://www.woodworkforums.com/showthread.php?t=51594&highlight=Greater+things

[haosiliu235]

thanks all, but i just started woodworking and dont think i have enough tools and experience to build my own yet and dont have much money to buy a work bench do....

[Waldo]

G'day haosiliu235,

You're giving up too easily. try this linkto a Taunton Press PDF plans for a simple bench.

http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/FWNPDFfree/011181054.pdf

:2tsup:

[haosiliu235]

thanks