Benching It

**Christos** · 11th January 2015, 09:53 PM

About a year ago I decided that it is time to build a work bench.

I decided that I would make it out of pine and in particular the pine that gets discarded on rubbish collection days, bed frames and such. Well I have been keeping an eye out for quite some time and it seems that people are not throwing out any beds. I did however have a pine table that I could use so I started with that.

On one collection day I noticed some large posts that would have been part of a fence. It turned out to be Oregon so I ended up with a frame made out of Oregon and a top made out of Oregon and Pine.

I made the frame first which was a mistake as I under estimated the amount of wood for the top. I shorten the frame after gluing the top out of the longer pieces I had. The middle pieces were cut in half so that I could get more depth in the top. To prevent having too much of a hollow in the middle I ended up gluing the shorter pieces under the top. I still have one more piece to add but ran out of wood

.

I flatten the top via a router and sled. I originally had one made some time ago for another project and fished it out for this project. I was putting this router bit to it's limit and yep you guessed it out it came along with digging out a couple of groves. I ended up making a new sled just so I could get this done. Attached the vice was just with some coach screws couple of pieces of pine for the vice faces and it's done. Sounds simple but really took a long time to get this to this stage.

I know it is not pretty, it just needs to be functional so I have started working with it to see how it feels. Since taking the photos I have slopped boiled linseed oil on the top and expect that I will continue to do.

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Making something like this took up too much space for too long especially considering the area I have to work in. I need to add dog holes but not really sure where.

All comments or concerns are welcome.

**wheelinround** · 12th January 2015, 07:46 AM

Looks chunky enough Christos. I'd clean up the ends a bit maybe even put some hardwood capping on it. You don't have a dog why dig holes for it

Does it rock n roll when used? That will settle down when you start putting crap under maybe a shelf as well.

**The Bleeder** · 12th January 2015, 08:52 AM

Love the recycling Christos. Bench will be heavy enough.

Just fill in the grooves with epoxy and sand smooth (thats what I did) so you have a flat surface.

Love it

**DSEL74** · 12th January 2015, 09:14 AM

Nothing wrong with that. Just finish the ends, maybe use some of those floorboards to put a trim around the edges and a shelf in below and it will be a fine bench.

**orraloon** · 12th January 2015, 09:27 AM

A good functional bench. I think using it as is will show you where things need to be. As for adding dog holes get the end vice set up first and that will dictate where they need to be. I just used an old vice I had and made a wood dog built into the chop as a cheap option but a propper wagon vice would be better. Hole spaceing needs to be a tad less than the vice travel. You should get a couple of holdfasts as you will have holes in the top anyhow and they really are so handy. McJings have them at a very reasonable price. Place other holdfast holes where you need to. All the benches I have used have had a plane stop and I could not get by without one. Couple of picks of what I am talking about.

Regards
John

**Cliff Rogers** · 12th January 2015, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by wheelinround

...
Does it rock n roll when used? ...l.

Good question. If it does, use some sheet material between the legs as bracing.

Nice looking work bench.

**artme** · 12th January 2015, 10:57 AM

Great looking bench!!!

11/10 for the scrounging and recycling!!!

**Christos** · 12th January 2015, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by wheelinround

....Does it rock n roll when used? ....

No does not rock..... or roll. I know the bench is not as heavy as some others that I have seen but I will say that I am not able to lift it on my own. I can drag it but that is far from ideal as Oregon has a tendency to splinter. So moving this inside the garage I phoned a friend.

Originally Posted by DSEL74

.... Just finish the ends, maybe use some of those floorboards to put a trim around the edges and a shelf in below and it will be a fine bench.

The ends look very ugly, you should have seen them before I tidied up. I used the router to give me the start of a groove and went as far down as I could. I then used a cross cut saw to finish off the cut.

At the moment I am not sure if I want to put a shelf(with tend to gather shavings and dust) or enclose this with draws. Tending to think that I will go the draw path.

**Christos** · 12th January 2015, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by orraloon

... You should get a couple of holdfasts as you will have holes in the top anyhow and they really are so handy. McJings have them at a very reasonable price. Place other holdfast holes where you need to.....

That has been my thinking from the start to make the top so thick.

Originally Posted by orraloon

..... All the benches I have used have had a plane stop and I could not get by without one......

That's what I like to see something made. After all this is a hobby and when you make something it should be fun. Although for a long time the bench was not that much fun. It takes up a little less of a foot print from the folding table it replaced.

**orraloon** · 13th January 2015, 12:37 PM

Cristos,
A shelf will gather dust and shavings but having someplace to put tools and stuff is handy. Even better would be a storage unit with drawers. Just have to leave enough headroom for the holdfast legs. You are also making use of unused space and that is always a plus in small workshops. Some kind of wheel arrangement to move the bench around is also handy.
Regards
John

**danny.s** · 13th January 2015, 01:02 PM

Nice work Christos. Always a bonus when you can recycle material into something great.

Well done

**Sawdust Maker** · 13th January 2015, 01:11 PM

nice work
You only rushed it to beat me in my make!

**Christos** · 13th January 2015, 04:29 PM

Originally Posted by Sawdust Maker

nice work
You only rushed it to beat me in my make!

I am going to regret this I know but I would be more than happy to assist you with parts of your bench build. Sometimes is it better to have a helping hand pulling nails out of wood.

**Pac man** · 13th January 2015, 05:11 PM

Originally Posted by Sawdust Maker

nice work
You only rushed it to beat me in my make!

Looks like I rushed mine to beat you as well

nice work Christos

**wheelinround** · 14th January 2015, 07:33 AM

Originally Posted by Christos

I am going to regret this I know but I would be more than happy to assist you with parts of your bench build. Sometimes is it better to have a helping hand pulling nails out of wood.

I can relate to that he must be ARPIA to work with perfection only in all things, he'll be on your back as to how it should be done, only quality tools allowed to be used. No good taking you Chinese made Bunnings hammer or Pincers. However you'll be star of the show while he stands back and takes pics.

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