Thread: New Work Bench

Jason

I don't think that the legs and frame is too massive for the top.

However, a couple of other thoughts:
1. Why have you got that deep apron all the way round - it will make it almost impossible to hold things on the bench with clamps.
2. Is the top thick enough - I like to use dogs and holdfasts and I reckon you need at least 50mm of wood for it to work properly
3. I hate having my storage under the bench - not least because it gets covered with sawdust and shavings which fall through the dogholes
4. Have you read Chris Schwartz's book on Workbenches - IMHO the best part is where he asks you questions about the woodwork you do and then explains the sort of bench you need depending on you answers. Quite a lot of libraries have it if you don't want to buy it.

Thanks for the reply jmk89,

I wasn't sure how big to make that apron, so i kind of just set a size, what would be good for a DAWN woodworking vice?. As for the top i have drawn it so theres a 30mm top like ply/MDF, that i can remove and put a new one in and under that a 19mm timber or MDF underlay for strengh other than just ply. I also plan to have dog holes but only on ends not over the cupboard. and no i havn't had a read of that, i'll have to go and find a copy.

I agree with Jeremy's comments, but if you were using bench hold downs instead of clamps, you may get away with an apron that big. Whether you use a smaller apron or not it's a good idea to have the apron and the face of the legs flush, at least on the side with the vice, it helps if you need to clamp something big (maybe a door?) to the bench.

Cheers
Michael

Hi Michael
I adjusted the drawing to what you and Jeremy have brought up, and also i have shown a detail showing what I think you were saying, how the apron should be flush with the legs underneath. Is this what you meant?

Yes, that's what I meant. You might want a row of dog holes right along the long axis of the bench, but if you have it too close to the edge the vice will rack, and centred may put it too far away, it may serve you better to have the end vice closer to the front edge.

Cheers
Michael