Thread: My new bench

Nice work.... I wish I had room for something like that!
Lee

A very smart, solid looking and functional bench. It shouldn't move much when you get all the drawers loaded up. I'm sure you'll have many satisfying years working at your new bench.

It's a very nice bench, enjoy using it!

Cheers
Michael

Neat!!!!!!! Have you used it yet? How do you like the Wagon Vice? What was the most difficult part of building it?

cheers
Wendy

I can't see the pics.

Neither can I, thought it was a joke thread until I saw BobR's post. Can we get the attachments back..

Squirrel.

Beautiful bench - Time I started to plan that sort of bench. It'll take me ten years at the speed I work...

Originally Posted by RufflyRustic

How do you like the Wagon Vice?

What's a wagon vice?

Originally Posted by Squirrel

Neither can I, thought it was a joke thread until I saw BobR's post. Can we get the attachments back..

Squirrel.

Same, I have watched from the beginning and wondered the whole time whether it was a joke. The images have not disappeared they are just not visable for some, I have tried the ubeaut and plane .com.au site and can't see them on either. I thought Astrodog was complaining about his shed being so small he did not even have time for an imaginary bench

I can see the pictures now... Very Strange..

Nice bench, exactly the type I want to build. Have the wood but not the time, I really should make the effort.

Squirrel.

Very nice. Well done. I can see why you are proud of your effort.

Definitely top shelf stuff - a great looking bench indeed!

One thing I found with mine was I set the main vice handle about where you have yours and found it racked just a little too much so I rebuilt it so it was about 1/3rd higher and I found it works much better. I also made the apron in front of the vice replaceable without having to dismantle the bench, although I ended up facing the vice jaws with leather - BTW I can recommend this, it grips light work very delicately and does not bruise timber if you need to crank the vice on hard.

Cheers for all the feedback, So far it's had a bit of use. Managed to ding the outer vice jaw with my hand saw but really it's for using not looking at.

It took me a few months of a little bit of work every other weekend. The most important lesson I learnt was to take the time and plan everything, I spent ages (possibly too long) on AutoCAD checking sizes of members & clearances for the vices. Remembering the large timbers for the stretchers & the bases is all second hand and I designed the thing around what I could get from the tip shop etc. Single most expensive bit was the bench dogs/pups. All up I think it possibly owes me $300.

I had a size I wanted as a minimum bench surface of 2200x900 (for some reason all I could think was if I needed to fix my back door I needed a bench big enough for the door, hence the size chosen). Final size is 2210x910 (900 high) & with the drawers empty it would be well over 120kg

The vices came from Carbatec. The main vice looked really crude when I got it out of the box and I initially doubted the apparent "loose" fit of the machining would yield a vice which did not drop or wobble. But once installed I found it was fine. Sure it racks like almost any other vice but there is no drop at all. Thread is smooth. Tail vice needs very little tension to hold long planks. I bought 2 small and 2 large bench dogs/pups from Vertias (via Carbatec) - well worth the price, well machined & fitr perfectly in a 3/4 19mm hole. Possibly did not need the longer dogs as the Tas Oak is so dense there is no way they will rack backward in the holes. I was just starting to deal with the install of the vices when i bought the issue of Australian Woodsmith which had pretty much the identical vice configuration & the diagrams & instructions were excellent.

I really can't say that one thing was more tricky than anything else, each task had its challenges. Perhaps the most tricky thing was knowing to walk away when I got frustrated when I could not see around a problem. Jointing the centre boards by hand and sorting out which way up to lay them for best fit and grain direction took ages.

Replicate all the identical cuts & even if you are only making 2 of the same cuts make an accurate template & keep it for next time. Sometimes making the template took longer than the actual cuts.

I know it will get damaged & chances are my kids will drive the odd nail into it but at least they are in the workshop and will learn how to use tools.

On to the next project in the list!!!!!!

Noice

Very well done. Its the first left-handed bench that I've seen built. I am interested to know about the tail vice. I like the way that it sits in the bench top. Im just wondering, was it any easier to build than a standard tail vice? And How does it compare? I am still in the planning stages of my bench and am trying to work out the best options. Again, well done.
Cheers,
Al