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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Canberra
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    566

    Default Heretical Work Bench

    About ten years ago, my wife commissioned a friend of ours to build me a workbench as a surprise for my birthday. The original bench was made of kiln dried Aussie hardwood and metal frames with a plywood bottom and pegboard sides. This workbench suits me fine as it has sentimental value, however it wasn't built for fitting a vice (or two) or with sharpening saws, and vibrates terribly. The bench originally looked pretty much like this on both sides:

    Unmodified side.jpg

    Over the years, I've picked up the odd vice or two (woodworking, not so much in the way of bad habits) and last year I managed to get hold of two 18th century vices that were in a shipping container that I won on an eBay auction. Both vices were in shocking states, and the larger of the two was incomplete and had a fair chunk of rot in it as well:

    Auction.jpg

    Rather than see these go to waste, I decided to add them to my bench, which meant that I have needed to beef it up a little As these are terribly old vices, I was reluctant to destroy their historical value until I remembered that these would have been burnt if I didn't buy them, and secondly that they were already in a shambles when I purchased them. Putting them to any use was better than nothing Hence the title "Heretical Workbench" - as I am sure that my use of old materials to do this will offend (or at least horrify) somebody

    The lessen vibration, I've added an old recycled wooden 4" x 2" to the underside, rebating in the original welded steel legs, which also provided extra support for the wooden vice:

    WIP - Heretical Workbench 01.jpg

    The leg vice is my current project. I needed a backer, but couldn't source the same vintage or type of wood as the original vice, so picked up some 80yo (ish) wood that I have managed to get to come up alright:

    WIP - Heretical Workbench 02.jpg

    WIP - Heretical Workbench 03.jpg

    WIP - Heretical Workbench 04.jpg

    The wooden 4" x 2" has also had some mitre track fitted, to allow me to put in a deadman, after I install the leg vice. It would be nice to be able to afford one of those beautiful Benchwork's models, but if I did grab one of those, the only deadman anywhere near my workbench would be me after my adult supervisor found out what I spent the money on

    It's not complete yet, but I'm getting there and will post updates

    Craig

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  3. #2
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Dundowran Beach
    Age
    76
    Posts
    19,922

    Question

    Sorry, but I think your bench top is, sensibly, good quality kiln dried pine.

  4. #3
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    566

    Default Ha!

    I think you might be right about that! All these years and I never even considered pine! Ha!

    Craig

  5. #4
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    North of the coathanger, Sydney
    Age
    68
    Posts
    9,417

    Default

    as it's a heretical bench makeover you might have to consider an exorcism as part of the process
    regards
    Nick
    veni, vidi,
    tornavi
    Without wood it's just ...

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    blue mountains
    Posts
    4,882

    Default

    Nice to see those old vices saved. As for the bench do what you need to make it work for you. My new bench has already had mods done and it is less than a year old. I reckon there is no perfect bench that will cover all your needs. Good benches evolve.
    Regards
    John

  7. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    566

    Default The Heresy Continues....

    My Heretical Workbench is still a way off being completed, but it is progressing

    IMG_4844.jpg
    IMG_4845.jpg
    IMG_4847.jpg
    IMG_4848.jpg

    I will be adding "wings" to make it a little wider and also to bring it up level with the top of my bench. So nice to put the original wooden screw back to proper use

    Craig

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Albury Well Just Outside
    Posts
    13,315

    Default

    Good read so far. Will be watching to see how this turns out.

  9. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Canberra
    Posts
    566

    Default Progress... of a sort.

    I've been distracted by a heap of other jobs that needed doing far worse than my bench, or so I'm told.

    Anyway, the "wings" weren't going to work out, so I luckily happened to have another ancient sleeper lying around, "just in case".

    I've started trimming it down to size and gave the first side a quick coat of Danish oil to get a good look at it and make sure it mis-matches the rest of the wood, in keeping with the eclectic look of the rest of the bench

    Carter Scrub Plane and Heretical Workbench 01.jpg

    Once I flatten the other side, it will be time to give the wood a bit of shape. I may as well gussy it up a bit and have some fun

    Craig

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