Thread: Kat's Solid Door Version Work Bench WIP

Originally Posted by Geekgirl

Tomorrow, I hope to get all the cutting done, then route the 3mm groove and biscuit slots for the 0 biscuits.

All going well I will have some nice photos tomorrow
Kat.

Hmmm well I forgot I am making the drawers out of 9mm MDF, so no biscuits (they are 4mm and you need 4 mm each side So I am gluing and screwing (using 6g 5/8" cs screws with a 2mm pilot hole) this is slowing me down. I have the two larger draws completed now 6 to go

I am having a problem with my brain and the painkillers, I have made a couple of mistakes (one was the order in which I screwed the sides together, the front and back are screwed into by the sides, I first up did it the other way, cut the bottom to suit and when I put it right the bottom was now the wrong size I also had a problem with measuring the bottoms, they are in 4mm grooves, I wanted 2mm for expansion (it does not get much colder than it is right now lol) I have filled the extra holes on the front of one draw.

I need more of the 3mm white MDF lol, lucky it is not too expensive

I do not have much to photograph yet, maybe sometime next week. I have to go to see my Nana in hospital tomorrow, have a rehearsal to attend on Saturday, and the WWWS on Sunday.

Kat.

I have finished the drawers, built a quick ramp (for the 65mm step into my store room) loaded up the drawers wheeled it into the store room..... NEARLY

When I designed the bench I made it 700mm wide, this is 20 boards side by side. Mine turned out to be 38-39mm which has made it about 750mm wide (as I have already dropped of a board). I did not think this would have made much difference..... IT HAS.

I can not get it into the store room WITH THE VICE fitted For tonight I have pulled the vice off.) I am going to have to remove the saw from the triton and remove 50mm or so, then I can get it through the door with the vice attached and the soft jaws screwed in (I had to remove the vice so I could re screw the rear Jaw, I had used a 20mm screw which bit ~5mm in (I need one 10 or so mm longer

It does roll very well along the path (all concrete and with a bit of a run up I can get it in the room

I am hoping to do this tomorrow

I also need to laminate some pine and make a pull rail for the drawers (I have set them back ~30mm so I can make a nice drawer pull (Another bit for the router One of the reasons for the Drawer pulls is it SHOULD help cut down on crap landing in the drawers from the bench

I now have a mini Lathe and extension to sit on top of the bench, Plus a Tormek T7 sharpen all my tools (I also have a friend who is a chef who If I can sharpen her knives to her liking she will get me to do them regularly (may also pick up the rest of the food court (I am hoping to pay it off by sharpening things for people)

Kat.

OK BIG progress today.

I have finished the drawers, they now have handles

I have cut 130mm off the width of the top It now fits through the door way

I need to sand the bench all over

Build the sliding deadman

Then I can give the bench a few coats of varnish

The first photo shows the new width of the top and the piece removed.
The second photo shows the front with the drawers.
The third photo shows the profile of the drawer handles, these were made with a "drawer pull handle" router bit for the groove in the bottom and the top was rounded over with a 12.5mm rounding over bit.
The last photo shows a ramp I have made so I can get it into the store room

Kat.

Nice work Kat. Does the ramp mount to the side of the bench when you aren't using it?

Nice going so far.

I agree - it looks good. Well Done.

Thanks guys

John, the ramp is only sitting there so I can shut the door, I do not want it to live outside in the elements

I have enjoyed the build so far, I will enjoy using it when I am finished (I have used it to make the drawer unit, sharpen some tools with the T7

I so love the feeling of using tools (in this case the bench) that I have made, they just make me feel warm and fuzzy

I will post the photos once I have finished the varnishing (Just waiting for the weather to warm up a bit the last few days it has been cold and wet

Kat.

Hi all,

I have had fun today i gave the bench a great sand today then I gave it a coat of varnish. I will give it a light sand and re varnish the top

Here are the photos from today I love the colour coming through in the wood

I also spent some time sharpening my new wood turning tools on my Tormek T7 I am hoping to give them a test in the next day or two

Kat.

The bench has come up a treat, Kat.
Well done.

Thanks Hermit,

I am really enjoying woodworking I am developing a list of projects already (next major is probably a wood rack to store my timber to be recycled

Kat.

Originally Posted by Geekgirl

Thanks Hermit,

I am really enjoying woodworking I am developing a list of projects already (next major is probably a wood rack to store my timber to be recycled

Kat.

Yeah, now the real fun begins.

It's luxury having a decent workbench, isn't it?

Like you, I decided that a timber rack was needed next, but I took the easy way out and bought one from Carbatec, a 5-shelf unit, due on Friday or Monday.

Originally Posted by Hermit

Yeah, now the real fun begins.

It's luxury having a decent workbench, isn't it?

Like you, I decided that a timber rack was needed next, but I took the easy way out and bought one from Carbatec, a 5-shelf unit, due on Friday or Monday.

Hi Hermit,

I am looking forward to it I gave the bench a second coat on the top and side after a 240 grit light sand

I have medical appointments tomorrow

Friday I am looking at building 3 wood racks (so I can place wood up to ~5m) I am using the left over douglas Fir which was used to hold the ends of the floor joists, they have 3 nail holes every ~400mm. so they will make a great wood rack.

Rough plan is to make 3 of 140mm x 38mm x 1800mm backs, drill 32mm holes in at ~ 80 degree angle (measured from back) then I will turn off cuts of wood to suit the 32mm holes, these will be ~ 340mm long (I will cut the ends at the same angle so that I get the dowel supported the full depth of the back plank

I still need to drill Dog holes on the bench, BUT I am waiting to see if I can get some Veritas bench dog attachments first (as these will set the spacings

Other projects:

Bench hook for sawing boards on the work bench

As I can not buy the plastic dogs from Carba-Tec (they can not find them in Perth lol) I am going to turn a pile from Jarrah scraps and leave the head square, I will drill a countersunk hole in the centre of the top so I can screw a block between two if I need, or a buffer that is different ... I can also make them with different tops eg 11mm high square, 17mm high etc.

I have some scrap to play with on the lathe, I have a few lenghts of Meranti 42 x 19 x 1800mm for practising joints I want to play as I want to be able to make things with proper joints, which I have not done since 1999.

I hope others who have finished their benches recently are having fun


Kat.

Kat, you can get 3/4" diameter low profile plastic bench dogs from Rockler, here: - Rockler Bench Dogs - Rockler Woodworking Tools
$US8.19 + postage. You'd need to check on the postage.)

I need some too. I have 8 plastic dogs, but they're 20mm diameter and won't quite squeeze into the 3/4" holes. Might try sanding them down a little, before I lash out and buy some.

I looked at Veritas hold-downs, but went with the Gramercy ones because they're simple, strong and cheaper. I don't regret it.

A bench hook is on my list too. Will only take a few minutes, but I never get around to it. I guess I will when I really need it.

Another pretty useful accessory is a shooting board, particularly for box-making, so I have one of those on my short list too.

Great looking bench Kat. Im glad you decided to put a good finish on your bench before using. Alot of people finish their bench are start using it without finishing. I did and regreted it later because their were stains I couldn't sand out. Look forward to seeing your wood rack.

Bret