New-Fangled Workbench

[bitingmidge]

Has anyone on this forum any experience with the "New-Fangled Workbench" as described in Fine Woodworking Mag December 1999?

I too have the remains of an ex-pergola in not-too bad and oh so well seasoned Oregon (Douglas Fir?) and I am tempted by the flexibility that the clamps in lieue of vices may provide, to say nothing of the $$$ which I won't have to spend!

On the other hand if one were going to all the effort of constructing a half-decent bench, one would want to be fairly sure that it would do the job wouldn't one?

(Photo attached without permission from Taunton press)

Thanks,

P

[rholway]

Did you every build this thing? If so, how do you like it?

[bitingmidge]

Just when I thought this was going to be the least popular post in history...:)


No, I haven't built it....yet.

I was hoping for some feedback before launching headlong into it, but in the light of the overwhelming popularity of it as a project, will probably just go ahead and do it over the next month or two.

It reads pretty well in the original article, and should give a lot of flexibility. If it doesn't work well enough it won't be too hard to pull out the clamps and install "proper" vices, and since the timber is free I have nothing to lose.

Will revitalise this thread when I get going.

Cheers,

P

[rholway]

I didn't realize that had the "least popular" record and were piling up a lead.

Though douglas fir is unavailable (=expensive) in this area, I'll figure some way around that and build a version of it too. Seems like not a bad way to go for a first workbench.

[bitingmidge]

My only real concern with the construction of the bench is that it may end up a bit light?

If I had a ready source of (free!) alternative species, I'd be happy to use anything within reason.

Keep me posted on progress won't you!

Cheers,

P

[Michael Breen]

Like some of you chaps above I am thinking of making one of these, and was wondering if anyone has any first hand experience. I too thought the model looked a bit light, but others may have different ideas. I suppose a bench is not an anvil
Any ideas, Chaps? Cheers, MIke :?

[Interwood]

Have a look here http://www.woodworkforums.com/f213/new-fangled-workbench-135645/

My original New Fangled Workbench is 2.4 metres long and I don't have any problems with it moving. I didn't have access then to Douglas Fir / Orgeon at the time, so I built it out of 90 x 45 mm structural pine from Bunnings. There is more than 0.13 cubic metres of radiata pine plus all the pipe, clamps, MDF and other fittings to keep it firmly grounded. (Plus the weight of what you are working on.) :2tsup:

Sorry the links to the pictures in my original post have disappeared, but the sketchup model and the video are still working.

Hope this helps, Chris

[Dwansley]

Hi, from Atlanta, Ga.! I'm beginning construction of the New Fangled/John White workbench and am a little stumped on one small point. Being that you've actually built one, I'm hoping you can help.

It has to do with the end vise clamps. Normally, when using pipe clamps on glue-ups, the screw ends are pushed toward the sliding ends. Am I correct in saying that in this design it's just the opposite? When you turn the handle you pull the sliding ends, and thus the whole pipe, toward you?

I was hoping to attach an open top box to the far end of the pipes via pipe flanges, to hold wedges, squares, whatever I need handy but out of the way. Having the pipe moving back and forth would require extra consideration.

Thanks very much!

Doug

My original New Fangled Workbench is 2.4 metres long and I don't have any problems with it moving. I didn't have access then to Douglas Fir / Orgeon at the time, so I built it out of 90 x 45 mm structural pine from Bunnings. There is more than 0.13 cubic metres of radiata pine plus all the pipe, clamps, MDF and other fittings to keep it firmly grounded. (Plus the weight of what you are working on.) :2tsup:

[bitingmidge]

I know some of you think that I procrastinate, others think I never get anything finished, but here's the proof that they are wrong. Twelve years is hardly enough delay to call me a procrastinator!

BUT, I finished the new fangled workbench today. That's right folks, after twelve years of carrying the stash of old hardwood and doug fir rafters around, moving house and renovating (twice) I finally got round to building the thing, and I'm so glad I did. I've actually been using it for a a few weeks and it was getting so much use that I didn't get time to pull it apart to paint it!

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It's finished in my least favourite finish - gloss polyu for the frame because I had an unopened can that predates this thread (2003!) and I just knew I'd find a use for it some day. The top is Danish Oil (of about the same vintage) and waxed with some UBeaut Trad Wax that was not quite as mature, marked 2006!

Overall dimensions are 1500 wide (a bit smaller than the original version), by 750 deep, and 935 high (because I'm taller than the average bear, and that's the height of my table saw and everything else in the shed). It's much bigger than the old Workmate though, and much more useful. The frame is kiln dried reject structural hardwood of indeterminate species, the top is mdf and oregon ripped from an ex-neighbour's rafters discarded during a renovation, and despite my earlier concerns it is well and truly solid enough for its purpose.

It's surprising how much a free bench costs though. All of the timber, glue and paint were from my secret stash of things scrounged, but I had to pay actual money for the clamps, pipes and castors, which added up to (cough!) over $250!

Cheers,

P
:D:D:D

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[orraloon]

Nice job on the bench.
I did think about one for a while and would have built one if I had had the pipe clamps around. As you have noticed even with free wood there is still some outlay for building a bench.
Very tidy workshop too.
Regards
John

[Not enough!!]

That is a very nice bench, well done - l'll swap you sheds or even better l will show you in record time how to get it very messy and unorganized, definitely no procrastinating (only cleaning it up!)

Stevo

[Bohdan]

Love the design of your bench. I would like to see a close up picture of the castors and where you got them from as they look like a solution to one of my problems.

[Roybrew]

Very nice job! Very impressive looking.

I quit giving an estimated time of when I think I would have a project done.

(Camp_aholic) Uncontrollable shaking when not camping.

[bitingmidge]

Love the design of your bench. I would like to see a close up picture of the castors and where you got them from as they look like a solution to one of my problems.

Hi Bohdan, I gather you are from Aus, so here's a link to the castors, they are on sale at the moment:
https://www.machineryhouse.com.au/W935

Or you can get them from Rockler in the US for a similar amount plus postage which will more than double the cost!

cheers,

P