Thread: Assemby Bench Cum Vise-less Workbench

Have now put my assembly bench together

* top and apron are 25mm MDF
* holes are 20mm on 101mm centres
* steel frame is from an office utility table
* top and apron extend 100mm past steel frame except where they meet
* finish is two coats of danish oil on top and bottom, four coats on end grain (holes & edges) - hope this minimises glue sticking and makes the surface a little tougher.

Have trialled it holding timber in both the horizontal and vertical mode and so far it seems to work well. It takes less than 5 seconds to move a Quickgrip from one hole to another - so far it seems to be a very efficient, very cheap and very easy to use hold down system. Standard sized Quickgrips will also fit through the holes, so I can use them if I ever need more grip.

I measured the plastic Workmate benchdogs at 19.8mm, so I drilled 20mm holes - [didn't have a 19.8mm forstner bit!] - found that the dogs do not fit as snuggly as they do in the Workmate tops. I should have realised that the metric system is too difficult for Black & Decker and the actual benchdog hole size is 25/32nds of an inch or 19.84375mm. Still, I think the plastic benchdogs are usable.

Secondly, for when I make some wooden dogs, 20mm is not a standard dowel size. Dowel sizes at M10 and B*** are 16, 19, 22, 25mm. Cannot simply buy some 20mm dowel and add a head.....

Everything is a learning exercise.

Cheers

Graeme