Thread: Bench - big, solid, cheap, no tools, no bench to build on

I saw the bench also, I did not realize it had become part of Ubeaut forum folklore. It was up to my chin so it's not really that tall.

So what or should I say who's shoulders where you standing on Chris ?

Clinton,

As someone who is starting from scratch, this is a thread I will go back to in the future. Many thanks for the detailed run-down.

Phil

Thanks guys... I realised when I went back to look at earlier posts that I started this on 25 Apr, and finished it 4 weekends later.
I really only worked on it on Saturdays, and am not kidding when I say that I did a few hours each time.
I did spend a lot of time looking at it... waiting for glue to dry and what not... thinking 'the next step is going to be X," and planning what I'd do in that.

Yeah, it is big.
It is tall, but that is about "1 clenched fist below the top of my pelvis", which is a great working height for me.
Dimensions:
height floor to bench 1600mm.
1200m
Length: 2000m

Cliff:
Bracing/Wracking/Diagonals

No wracking, If I put my 115kg onto a corner and try to rock it, it slides a few mm across the floor.
There is diagonal bracing all over it.... kinda.
For example, the trestles are @ 130mm x 110mm, and the tenon for the leg is 40x40mm, and 60mm long. Draw bored to get the shoulders up tight and epoxied.
Because I cut the mortice before glueing the trestle pieces together, I fit the tenon and mortice to be so tight that they needed an 'air escape' to be able to be put together in the dry assembly.

If you draw diagonals across the tenons, a pair on each face, and one on the end, there are 3 opposing diagonals, and on a long/wide tenon, that is considerable.
8 Tenons.

Also, the bottom rear stretcher is two pieces, making a L brace, again, that kinda equates to 4 diagonals.

The bottom front stretcher is a wide board, fitted into the rebate that was in the trestle material when I bought it. Thats more 'free' bracing.

Lastly, the 'torsion box top' adds bracing.
2 sheets yellowtongue sit on top of the trestle tops. Hanging under that is the box made from 90x45mm pine, and bottom skin of 19mm (?) yellow tongue.
So, the 90+19mm (@110mm) is set to need a good thump to get it between the trestles... again, this adds bracing. The box is about 900mm wide, which is a long bearing edge.

Time will tell, but if it needs it, then I'll screw some yellow tongue or ply or something cheap to the legs as a part of 'boxing it in for the cabinets which will go under.

this has been a fascinating insight into how I should have made my bench rather than the way I did make it.

Thankyo for being so 'wordy'. I like words and pictures.

Cheers.

1600 HIGH and thats below your hip I'd just see the top stretching up Clinton.

Originally Posted by Clinton1

height floor to bench 1600mm.
.

Originally Posted by wheelinround

1600 HIGH and thats below your hip I'd just see the top stretching up Clinton.

I think his height might be a little out. That puts the top of the bench at my chin. I did try a mock working stand and it was not as high as my chin.

Then again if might be, at least I could see the shaving at eye level with out bending.

How tall are you Clinton? I am 188cm and my benchtop will be 900mm. Your bench is only 200mm lower than my bench frame is long

Clinton they must have had fun in your previous line of work letting you check out

depths of water.
Looking over the hills
Ducking for cover had to be fun


just thought about this canoe you guys were going to build (no photo's so obviously didn't happen) a 1600 bow section would need same stern size

hee hee hee.... got the 0 and 6 around the wrong way.

106mm high.

Yes, a 1600mm bench would mean I'd need to go buy some platform soled boots to work on it.

Originally Posted by Clinton1

106mm high.

Egads, it gets WORSE! Clinton is a midget!

We think you mean 1060mm or 106cm

Its been a big day... 1060mm

I'm distracted... my first ever Lee Valley order came in the mail today, including a cattledog... very very distracted and most unproductive at work today.

Mmmm, cattledog. Did you get the hardware cattledog too?

No, wish I did... I will get it next time, but there is another order coming, so they might have 'twigged' and put the hardware one in. Fingers crossed. Looked at on the web today, and thought "man, a cattledog of drawer slides would be useful".

I am really distracted.... after years of waiting, the bench is almost finished. ALMOST

I'm going to ask people to throw ideas at me for storage and dogs/holdfasts.

I'm thinking of a little modification already( ), to build in a holding option on the edge, but need to think about the materials.

Thinking of a 'quick release' option for soft jaws (scrap hoop pine) on the hand clamp kits I got today... quick release for epoxy that is.

Found Gramacy holdfasts at $80 a pair from an Aussie supplier... so trying to work out best dogs and holdfast options... looking for the most elegant solution.

Distracted with a Capital, boldtype D

Those handclamp kits are good, reasonable priced bench bolts... 4 per kit if you cut the 12" screws in half. Wonder if you can get/order nuts in that thread type?