Thread: Redefining the Aussie WorkBench

Lou
Great stuff. I'm enjoying your WIP pics and am learning heaps. I reckon the Dark side methods are not that bad at all. It would be interesting to see how much better and easier one of those top of the range japanese chisels lasted compared to your stanely.

Woody1

Originally Posted by Mirboo

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?

YEr good point Mirboo

I think that its more to do with my digital camera cause its a cheapie..................I measured and there a bit under an inch and 1/2 of stock there. This should be ample but if not its going to be a challenging repair

As for chisels the only set I'm going to get is some Lie Nielsons down the track...............I'll do a comparison then BUT Australian Wood Review has already done a fantastic Chisel roundup a few additions ago it turns out that the Lie Nielsons hold there edge much longer.

Not sure how they hold up against Japanese chisels though I think Steve's (AKA: AuldBassoon) got some LN's would be great to get some comments from him.

REgards Lou

Because the design of your bench has only one leg at each end, you are going to be supporting all of the weight of your bench, plus anything you happen to be working on, with only about an inch and half of ash. Because of the design of your foot (i.e. the bit you chiselled out from underneath), this relatively thin section of ash (in my opinion) has no support directly underneath. I don't reckon its thick enough and I reckon you need to beef it up a bit.

Regards,
Mirboo.

Lou mentioned the chisel review done by AWR. This review was covered in issues 44 and 45 (September 2004 and December 2004). In short the testing that was done put the Lie-Nielsen chisels ahead of the Japanese chisels that were tested.

In issue 44 there were 3 different brands of Japanese chisel, Iyoroi, Fujihiro and an ebony handled version from Carba-tec, that were compared to 9 different Western chisels. The Japanese chisels came out on top after all 12 chisels were subjected to the same testing procedure. Lie-Nielsen chisels were not featured in the comparison at this stage because they were not yet available in Australia.

In issue 45 the Lie-Nielsen chisels, which were by then available in Australia, were subjected to the same testing procedure as had earlier been used and this time the Lie-Nielsen chisels came out on top. It was reported in issue 45 that the Japanese chisels had averaged around 30 cuts through the test pieces before the edges started to break down, whereas the Lie-Nielsen chisel made between 50 and 100 cuts before starting to fail.

Regards,
Mirboo.

Hi

While I express my admiration for the bench being created, I am disappointed that it is nothing more than a slight variation on those that have "gone before". This is not really the impression given in the original post

I'd like to invite all forum members to help me re-define the concept of the modern workbench.

The initial post REALLY caught my attention, to redefine the workbench

Although Workbenches have traditionally had a great run on our forum their tends to be a fairly traditional take on design, materials and execution. For the traditionalists out their this thread is not going to be for you!!!

But this IS another fairly traditional design and is DEFINITELY suitable for the traditionalists.

Although once seeing making a traditional workbench a right of passage; After much deliberation I just cannot justify making a hardwood benchtop outta stock I could use for better purposes.

You have done just what you said you would not do, just chosen what looks like good quality timber that could be used for a decent piece of furniture!

So heres the brief:

1. Bottom section to be made outta solid stock but not necessarily using traditional joinery methods.

How much more traditional can you get than M&T joints and wedges?

2. Benchtop to be made of MDF with tempored masonite top or similar alternative to hardwood top!

So what happened in the translation? MDF to ASH?

3. Benchdog holes are to be replaced with T-Track for sliding Benchdogs.
4. Bench design must incorporate some kind of holddown

5. Benchtop must include an area for inlaid magnets & Vacuum Clamp

6. Exploration of placement & best vices to use

These I expect will eventuate

At the end you'll all get to see me make the Design ............. So I'll be the Guinnea Pig for anyone interested in making something the same or similar. This will be the showpiece of my new Shed

In broad terms we have seen these bench designs before.

The most important thing to remember is that I'd like her to be a real workhorse that you can bang the odd screw nail etc etc into without having a heart attack.

Yes, that would be good, but your (beautiful) creation is more a work of art than a truely useful "beat it up" workbench. My RHS (Rectanbular Hollow Section) steel frame workbench, with a thick MDF top covered with a replaceable 6mm MDF top, flat and level, securely bolted to the wall, gets a real workout every so often. Sure, it's NOT pretty, but it does NOT move and it really does get a "hammering". (I do a lot of mechanical repairs as well as woodwork)

Storage is not a consideration as our ultimate aim is to create the most durable; versatile and efficient worksurface possible.

This is not necessarily your achievement. No doubt though you will have a nice workbench at the compeltion of the project, just NOT the workbench I thought could be achieved with the input from so many smart forum members.

Please feel free to contibute I'm espically interested in design ideas outside the square.

What "outside the square" ideas have been included in your project.

PLEASE do not miscontrue this post, I do admire the workbench being made, it's just NOT what I was hoping would be achieved. I was hoping for a truely "radical" or at least different approach to workbench design/features etc, even if it was bolted together.

Look in some of the American woodworking magazines for some fantastic alternatives to "standard" workbenches.

I think this thread just got legs for ten more pages .

What are you going to do when you want to edge joint a board that is shorter than the distance between your front vice and the support on the right-hand leg?

Interesting post Peter. I like the way you've commented on each of the design points.
I too was looking forward to something different in workbench design. However, thinking about it, there's not a lot that can be done with workbench design that's not traditional. Notwithstanding some of the designs in the US mags each of us has individual needs with a workbench. You - for instance - do a "bit of mechanical work as well as woodwork" and your bench is designed to cater for that. I have a bad back and arthritis and have designed and built my bench to accommodate that. "Darksiders" have different requirements again to the electron consumers.
The point being that whatever bench any of us decide on we will be influenced by our own unique needs and the traditional concept of a work bench.
Maybe Lou was being a tad ambitious by looking to redefine the workbench. Maybe it should have been refine the traditional design by seeking to marry the ideas of forum members into a functional (multifunctional even), affordable and modern workbench.
I'm sure Lou will take your comments in the spirit in which they were given.
Cheers
Mike

Originally Posted by Shedhand

Interesting post Peter. I like the way you've commented on each of the design points.

Thank you Mike

I too was looking forward to something different in workbench design. However, thinking about it, there's not a lot that can be done with workbench design that's not traditional.

I don't necessarily agree on that point. Considering this " Notwithstanding some of the designs in the US mags" and this "each of us has individual needs with a workbench". I anticipated the "unique needs" of each of us could have beed "compiled" into a useful assortment of ideas. From this collection could be borne a suitable workbench with individual needs, while combining those "other" ideas that are of the "that's a good idea, I can use that in my work" kind.

"Darksiders" have different requirements again to the electron consumers.

Hving been a "Darksider" once a long, long time ago, (in a galaxy far away, oops) I now use "the force".

The point being that whatever bench any of us decide on we will be influenced by our own unique needs and the traditional concept of a work bench.

Sure, I agree with that.

Maybe Lou was being a tad ambitious by looking to redefine the workbench. Maybe it should have been refine the traditional design by seeking to marry the ideas of forum members into a functional (multifunctional even), affordable and modern workbench.

Maybe...

I'm sure Lou will take your comments in the spirit in which they were given.

I hope so.

I would like to see this subject reinstated in another post with perhaps some "separate" location for the collection of suggestions to be "pooled" without too much extraneous text. This way we could have the ideas mentioned and or discussed and also keep the basic idea in a list of other ideas.

Is there anywhere on this BBS that we could "store" the ideas that may prevail?

I would be happy for Lou to "look after" the thread if he has the interest (Lou?).

To start it off if you like, I prefer either the four legged approach or a fully enclosed workbench with drawers/shelves etc. I also prefer a "fixed" to the wall or floor workbench - but then I bend some faily heavy metal in my engineers vice held in my woodwork vice At least one side would require an overhang of approx 150mm.

Originally Posted by MrFixIt

Hi

While I express my admiration for the bench being created, I am disappointed that it is nothing more than a slight variation on those that have "gone before". This is not really the impression given in the original post

I think that Lou had the best intentions in that regard but decided what was best for him was a variation or combination of what was available. I agree with you and share the same admiration of his journey/progress/result.

Im not dissappointed with what I see as his sharing of his reasoning process. If nothing else it enables others to analyse his responses to certain options and choose for themselves.

For mine, I hate to see the waste of space underneath the bench. That is, no storage cupboards, but I've got plenty of crap I need/want to store.

I for one think Lou`s bench is spot on. It gives the feel you want to put in 100% effort on constructing beautifull furniture. If some feel happy to having a lump of MDF on some steel tubing thats fine, but it wouldnt inspire me like Lou`s great bench. And i think one of the best features of his bench is the lack of storage underneath. A bench is for fine work not a cupboard for storing rubbish

Originally Posted by Lignum

A bench is for fine work not a cupboard for storing rubbish

Like my planes, chisels, saws and other hand tools

Fair enough Boban, but i still like it completly clear. Its simmilar to a dining table, you dont have storage under it for your cutlery and plates, they go elswhere. I like my bench the same. Each to his own, thats why i like Lou`s because he has taken on board so many peoples ideas

Originally Posted by Lignum

Fair enough Boban, but i still like it completly clear. Its simmilar to a dining table, you dont have storage under it for your cutlery and plates, they go elswhere. I like my bench the same. Each to his own, thats why i like Lou`s because he has taken on board so many peoples ideas

I like what Lou's doing as well, but we have different ideas all the same.

The analogy with a dining table isn't appropriate as most dont sit at their bench. I think the more appropriate anology would be the kitchen bench. As you said, each to their own.