Thread: Redefining the Aussie WorkBench

Originally Posted by Skew ChiDAMN!!

Yes, I'm sure I've spotted a pair of steam catapaults...

Lou, if you really want to launch your work across the shed, it's easier just to buy a lathe.

Or a twisted wire wheel. :eek:

Originally Posted by 9Fingers

I don't know Lou, I think I like your original design with just the twin tenons. I think that would be enough. If you want to sure, just wedge them from the bottom.

I think I would agree; this sort of traditional joint is extremely strong, and if wedged, even more so.

To prevent racking, it's not one joint but the whole structure that needs to be considered. A triangulated frame will be strongest in all dimensions, but simply triangulated with single or double tenons along the lines of principal force will be quite enough.

Gidday

Some great discussion on 'The Joint' not sure which way I'll go yet. :eek:

Anywaz I finally got some time to continue working on the sole of the foot of my Bench. I roughed things out with a router then attacked the finishing work with Handtools.

These kind of jobs are great skill builders and also give you a feel for how the stock can be worked.

With Ash you need to take care not to get to carried away with things as you can easily kick up long chips or 'chip out' your stock.

Its a good solid Hardwood that can be worked well with good planning and
technique...................Anywaz heres a few Pics of me in action

REgards Lou

I just keep taking out stock to my markout lines and move along till I get to the end.

I'm not to concerned about anything thats left over cause I'll take to it with my LV LA Smoother.................perfect for this kind of job

Gidday

Once Finished with the chisels its onto my smoother n tidying up with my palm sanders................you can see the progression to close to final finishing.

As mentioned I love a handscraped finish............so will give the stock a run over with some hand scrapers after glueup!

Regards Lou

Gidday

Started on the Mortises of the Foot n got em done today. Just did the job with a Mallet and chisel...........pleanty of fun.

I've found I get a really clean n neat finish to the lines of the mortise if I score the markout line with a marking knife (Here I'm using a hobbie knife) makes things so much easier ........................

I completed the first Mortise before I started this one!!!

Originally Posted by NewLou

I just keep taking out stock to my markout lines and move along till I get to the end.

I'm not to concerned about anything thats left over cause I'll take to it with my LV LA Smoother.................perfect for this kind of job

G'day Lou.
Why on earth did you chisel out the soles. Why not save a heap of time and effort and just screw and glue some hardwood pads of the requisite thickness to it.
Coming along nicely.
Cheers

"Why on earth did you chisel out the soles"

Well I guess I could of done that ...........But had fun chiseling them out. theres still pleanty of stock there to provide ample strength

........................In a nutshell it was Fun!!!

REGards Lou

You can see here how I went about chiseling out the mortises. No dramas here and once again a great skill builder

.........................Tenons up next!!!

REgards Lou

You must get a lot of enjoyment out of doing that. But can I say this, even in the old days they had drill braces which you could have used to to take away the majority of the waste before cleaning up the sides with the chisel.

But I guess it has to be the journey you enjoy. I'm definately not as patient as you. Time poor me is.

Hey there Boban

Its really not that hard Boban or takes a lot of time. In fact by the time I dick round with a brace or set things up on my drill press n forstner bit Its not much quicker if at all than using a Mallet n Chisel.

You'd be suprised how quick a sharp blade with a few proficent strikes of a Mallet can make short work of this kind of job!!!..............mind you the steel on my Stanleys is crap and it dosent take long tilll they ding up!!!

BUT still I get a fair amount of use outta them before i start to really loose the edge......................then its back for another Hone!!!!

................TRy it you might just be suprised!!! I'm really interested in how long you think It takes to chisel out a mortise like this?

REgards Lou

I'd stick a drill bit in my cordless and then chisel it out. I reckon about 5 mins for each.

Without the drill and chisel alone, at least double if not triple that. To be honest I really wouldn't know because I tend to think about what I want to achieve and the quickest way to get the best result. This usually involves the use of machinery to do the grunt work and the handtools to tidy and clean up the piece.

Funnily enough, I was fixing floor joists yesterday to my mezzanine level when I ran out of Paslode framing nails and tried to use "Otter" brand nails in my gun. They are truly crappy nails (75mm x 3.05mm) as they kept on bending over. I didn't want to stop and go to Bunnings until I was finished, so I ended up hand nailing about 100 nails. It was OK for the first 10 or so. After that I didn't get much joy out of this type of work, which I consider to be grunt work.

Similarly, I would use a power plane to remove large amounts of wood. This has to be one the best tools around although tends to be shunned by most "fine woodworkers". Why, I dont know.

Hey Lou,

I've been watching you work on the feet of your new bench and there doesn't seem to be that much "meat" on them. How thick is the section of the feet that you're cutting your mortices into? It might just be the pictures but it doesn't look that thick. Doesn't look like much more than about an inch. Do you reckon they'll be strong enough?

Regards,
Mirboo.

Originally Posted by NewLou

"Why on earth did you chisel out the soles"

Well I guess I could of done that ...........But had fun chiseling them out. theres still pleanty of stock there to provide ample strength

........................In a nutshell it was Fun!!!

REGards Lou

Stay true to the darkside Lou. You're building a workbench that should last your lifetime, enjoy every second of the process, which clearly you are.