Thread: Frank Klausz/European Workbench WIP

Originally Posted by Ball Peen

I reckon you're proud as punch, there's a lot of punch in that bench! All our benchs will out last us, no telling how long that one will go.

Cheers Bill

I hope mine turns out half as good as your I will be stoked!

Thanks for the chats we have had!

Bryan

Originally Posted by acmegridley

Looks like a bench for a monumental mason what are you going to put on that thing Ford ,Holden?

Well technically I am a motorcycle nut so I would have to go with vintage Ducati!

It is going to be a great bench. I can tell. Good work sir.

Originally Posted by Milo

Well technically I am a motorcycle nut so I would have to go with vintage Ducati!

A glutton for punishment huh.

Originally Posted by sercher

A glutton for punishment huh.

I like to think....more Tortured soul!!!!!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Milo

Potential Issues – please comment.
Blondes vs Brunettes
2. After oogeling over the blonde boards for a while I thought I would go and unearth the other boards too..........I forgot how nice these dark timbers where and when I hit them with a bit of mineral terps the figure really jumped out!!! But alas, I feel that these boards are going to be way too dark. They will be excellent for the end caps and vices, they are slightly thicker around 68-70mm vs the 63-65mm of the blondes..........

Milo I have a dark-coloured bench & a light-coloured bench, & frankly, I don't notice that working on either confers any advantage. I suppose some things like dark-coloured tools are easier to see against a light background, but really, it's the workpiece that you need to see. I know I sometimes struggle to see marks on dark wood, despite the four 40 watt daylight fluoros burning just above my head, but that has something to do with my age, & nothing to do with the colour of the bench top. My biggest problem is the way tools hide under shavings, or scuttle under something while I'm not looking. They sit there, listening to me searching & cursing, then just as I'm about to lose the plot completely, they sneak out & sit where they should have been as if they've beeen there all the time......

Curiously, most laboratory bench tops I've encountered are dark coloured and the reason I was given is because they don't reflect excess light into your face & make it easier to see what you are working on.

Go figure, as our Septic cousins say.........

Cheers,

Thanks Ian

I am going to have to have a really good hard think about this.

From an ascetics point of view the base on this thing looks like an alien monster out of a superhero comic, its big, rough, dark, mean looking. So in a way the darker boards would look fantastic. However, my garage workspace is pretty dark and dingy so the blonde boards definitely stand out more. I am going to play around with this idea for a bit longer, it will require a combination of both, the blonde boards are not wide enough to cover the main part of the bench hence the short & dog hole strip will have to have another colour so a combo of both will prevail. It will come down to what works the best.

I have heard some colourful language coming out of your shed before…..I didn’t want to say anything at the time but it does sound similar to whats happening in mine from time to time!

Thanks again

Bryan

Bryan - congrats. on both counts, the daughter and the bench!!!

I think when I get back from Brasil I will personally come around to inspect that dark timber. I might even find a suitable use for it!!!

Originally Posted by Milo

Another mention is the bio metal blade I popped into my band saw, at ¾ inch it resaws this stuff really easily and I would highly recommend one of them for rough resawing big stock.

Looking good Milo! I have just bought some ironbark off Polski. Most are 260mmx65mm and I was looking at getting them resawn. However, I do have a 14" bandsaw.

I'm interested in the details of your bandsaw and particulars of the blade you bought.

Regards
Rickey

Hi Ricky

This wood I have I think is a combination of Tallowood, Iron Bark or Spotted Gum, so like your it weighs a ton! I tested a piece on a 1/2 normal 4 tpi blade, my feed rate was a bit to fast and I ended up kinking the blade and wrecking it.

Lucky for me my Delta 14' bandsaw can take up to 3/4 inch blade, so I called up

Queensland Bandsaw Service
79 Frederick St, Northgate QLD 4013 ph: (07) 3266 1988

The chap there recommended a Bio-Metal blade in 3/4 3TPI (you could go 4 TPI also).

Bill Paulin popped out on Saturday to give me a hand to rip and joint the boards for the top and he was very impressed how my little 14' handled this mega wood. Word of warning slow down your feed rate, take your time and let the blade do its thing.

If you don't have 3/4 inch capacity the try a 1/2 say in 4TPI but just take your time and ensure that you have infeed/outfeed support.

Let me know how you go.

Bryan

Originally Posted by artme

Bryan - congrats. on both counts, the daughter and the bench!!!

I think when I get back from Brasil I will personally come around to inspect that dark timber. I might even find a suitable use for it!!!

BWAHAHAHAHAHA........................... Your a funny guy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Get some Brazilian Mahogany whilst your over and sail it back!!!!!!!

Thanks Bryan, I will let you know how I get on - might be a while yet though. I know what you mean by the infeed and outfeed support. Worked out my stuff weighs around 16kg a linear metre for the 260x65

Originally Posted by Rickey Herb

Thanks Bryan, I will let you know how I get on - might be a while yet though. I know what you mean by the infeed and outfeed support. Worked out my stuff weighs around 16kg a linear metre for the 260x65

Rickey

sounds like tough stuff!

Get SWOMBO on the other end and see how she goes...make sure she wears gloves otherwise you will never hear the end of it..........as mine copped a few splinters!

Originally Posted by Milo

Hi Ricky

This wood I have I think is a combination of Tallowood, Iron Bark or Spotted Gum, so like your it weighs a ton! I tested a piece on a 1/2 normal 4 tpi blade, my feed rate was a bit to fast and I ended up kinking the blade and wrecking it.

Lucky for me my Delta 14' bandsaw can take up to 3/4 inch blade, so I called up

Queensland Bandsaw Service
79 Frederick St, Northgate QLD 4013 ph: (07) 3266 1988

The chap there recommended a Bio-Metal blade in 3/4 3TPI (you could go 4 TPI also).

Bill Paulin popped out on Saturday to give me a hand to rip and joint the boards for the top and he was very impressed how my little 14' handled this mega wood. Word of warning slow down your feed rate, take your time and let the blade do its thing.

If you don't have 3/4 inch capacity the try a 1/2 say in 4TPI but just take your time and ensure that you have infeed/outfeed support.

Let me know how you go.

Bryan

Seeing is believing. I'm now a believer!