Thread: an alternative to the traditional bench ?

Funny thing is, if you can build that sucker, you know what you are doing, and probably have a really well set up workshop, with plenty of space and a good bench already! Looks like a good plan to adapt to a nice desk....

But where goes the junk for the mess? Not much room for that too.

Originally Posted by Astrodog

Funny thing is, if you can build that sucker, you know what you are doing, and probably have a really well set up workshop, with plenty of space and a good bench already! Looks like a good plan to adapt to a nice desk....

maybe build it when just before you are forced to down size to move into an appartment.
With a thoughful selection of tools, you still have the opportunity to make shavings

Originally Posted by wun4us

But where goes the junk for the mess?

it's called a vacuum cleaner

Reading Chris Swharz book there were a couple of small benches in there and like Chris I think that tiny benches are really a waste of time unless you work on tiny projects.

IanW has a "Portable" bench that really is approx 1/3 scaled down version of the tradional European workbench. He had it at the Woodwork show in Brisbane over the weekend and everytime I see it I think...gosh Thats all I need!!!

It all comes down to your needs as a woodworker.

This bench above is actually complex with all those draws, hinges and other add ons............

Keep it simple....it works.

Originally Posted by Milo

IanW has a "Portable" bench that really is approx 1/3 scaled down version of the tradional European workbench. He had it at the Woodwork show in Brisbane over the weekend and everytime I see it I think...gosh Thats all I need!!!

It all comes down to your needs as a woodworker.

This bench above is actually complex with all those draws, hinges and other add ons............

Keep it simple....it works.

What I particularly like about the bench I posted is that once closed up SWMBO can put a vase of flowers on top and it looks like it belongs almost anywhere inside the house.
For the next few years, a shed or garage will be a luxury that I get to visit at friends

Come off it unless you are a newly wed, we all know it would end up with a sewing machine on top and yarn and knick knacks in the draws. If you are a newly wed you will know as soon as you build it.
Regards

Originally Posted by A Duke

Come off it unless you are a newly wed, we all know it would end up with a sewing machine on top and yarn and knick knacks in the draws. If you are a newly wed you will know as soon as you build it.
Regards

so I build two -- his and hers

Make two. For the sake of your self-preservation, probably a good idea.
Let her pick the one she wants.
Then, in less than 5 minutes, you fill yours up. Jam it right full even if that
means sorting things later.

Originally Posted by ian

......For the next few years, a shed or garage will be a luxury that I get to visit at friends

Hmmm, I know the feeling! Had to live that way for quite a few years myself, and it can be very frustrating for a born tinkerer. I was able to use my 'portable' bench, under a lean-to area, with hand tools stored inside the house. I managed a few furniture-scale projects but it was not ideal by any measure. So I think if I were in that situation again, I too would be thinking about a bench something like the one above, that could live indoors in a spare corner, and has built-in tool storage. The advantages would be a lot more comfort during inclement weather, and fewer problems with that arch-enemy, rust.

Having done the odd bit of w'working indoors, though, I have to say that I found it very hard to contain the mess. If there are carpets within sawdust range, and you value domestic harmony, power tools are pretty well out, particularly routers, unless you have far better waste capture than I could ever manage. I had to restrict that sort of stuff to outdoors.

I was also lucky in being able to plane, thickness, & rough-dimension stock in a shed close to where I worked, which helped keep down the mess at home....

Cheers,

This bench would be fine if you've downsized to a space restricted dwelling for the long term but not so good if you need to lease-hop your way through short term tenancies. Especially in you rely on mates with utes to help with moves. There would be a fair bit of weight once loaded up I suspect.

I'd opt for something similar in size and knockdown capability to IanW's bench in combination with purpose built cabinets for varous different tool types and frequency of use. Some could be wall mounted beside/behind the bench, some could live under your bench as a storage module with careful measuring and design and some could be free standing (maybe wheeled) and built to a height where they could also be that handy temporary flat space that plagues every workspace. This would take up more space I know, but would be far easier to relocate by yourself.

Besides, once you have the bench it's easier to make your storage modules.