Thread: Redefining the Aussie WorkBench

Well sitting at that bench would be a bit a pain given the bottom rails.

Seriously, though, that design has some merit. 3 areas for cabinets and 3 open areas. Possibility for 6 or more vices. Need a bit a space though.

There is six vices. The back half just shows construction details. Ita scale modle at 1:10. The real deal is 3mt from front to back

Are you going to build it? If so, I think an independent thread would be of some interest.

Ive just about finished eight:eek:

Originally Posted by Lignum

Ive just about finished eight:eek:

Are you building doll houses or something. I'll ask my daughter if she needs one.

OK, I'll bite, why 8 and where did they go. My guess is a school. 6 students to a bench, great idea.

School - Four small (1200mm) and four large (1500mm) The pic is one of the frames of the small one (not me in the pic )

Lou, have you thought of a 1:10 model of your bench? We all have so much excess small of cutts, with me, i just dress to size and store in tubes. IE; 9.5 x 9.5mm, 10 x 2.2, 6.5. x 2.2 etc, and just quickly cut and join with hot-stuff and accelerator. Its surprising how you can get a good feel for the peice when you take a pic and how you visulise construction so much easier and make design adjustment. You have great CAD drawings, but being 2D it dosnt come across as a good old fashion model

Gidday Lig

No I didn't think of dressing up a small scale model. I like to see a piece evolve as I go................

BUT certainly agree with you on the merits of developing a scale model for complicated 'pieces' or for use as a design development or refinement tool.

AT this stage I'm really developing my CAD design SKILLS BUT will certainly consider use of models down the track!

Great to see a peek of your benches have they rolled out of you shop yet???

Hope you took a few WIP shots along the way!!!!!

REGards Lou

Lignum (and Lou),

This is an excellent thread, Lou. Learnt a lot from the reading of it.

Lignum, I like people who think outside the square (does that qualify as a pun?) but what strikes me with your octagon is the size. Assuming you have room around it, my problem is the distance, front to back. Am I right in assuming each student has 1.5m from front to the back of their part of the bench? (..."The real deal is 3mt from front to back"...) This means they could have to lean over 1.5m to get that wayward screwdriver or bit of wood that has been pushed back there? If they are small schoolkids, that would be a bit of a stretch wouldn't it?? I'm 6' and it would stretch me.

Thanks again for an excellent thread.

Chris

Chris If you look at the model their is a hexagonal tool well built in. The small bench its 600mm back from the front edge and on the large its 680mm back from the front. Its amazing just how massive the large ones are when you stand in front of them no to mention just how heavy they are (60ks of vices on each bench) :eek:

Originally Posted by Lignum

I like to sit at my bench But to have something different hows a hexagonal bench to sit in the middle of your shed

Hmm, space allowing (which I certaily don't have), that's a very interesting idea.

How do you manage jointing long boards with this setup? or perhaps you have a dedicated bench for that sort of thing?

Ok...............

Well after a lot of thought I decided that the double tenons would have been strong enough for the join between the leg and the feet of my Bench.

BUT have decided to go ahead with a hybrid joint deigned by our design team anyway. Its a bit of a mix between the joint design earlier and a few of my own ideas.

Not sure how this is going to go and I must admit I'm a little concerned about woodmovement issues BUT having the Xtra beef to ensure no racking is worth it..................... JUST! :eek:

I've just laminated some of my stock and will saw n chisel out what I don't need to suit the Join

Cleanup was with a LV LA Smoother n A card scraper. ALso you can see how handy the Veritas Hold Downs can be.

Time to shape the stock for the joinery.....................

REgards Lou

Gidday

Heres some more pics of me in action............Shaping my stock for the joinery of the leg to the foot of my bench

I use a sharp marking knife or hobby knife to keep a hard line along where I markout. Then I slightly undercut and she stays true. Dosent have to be perfect where the glue goes and makes for quick work to get all the stock out ready for glueup.

Initially I use a Gordon Mallet to finesse the stock out then get my heavy mallet to drive out great chunks a stock (Works for Me) I find I have alot more control over how muck stock I remove with a lite mallet.

I'm a real Ogron so I've had to use every trick I can till I get good at light finesse work.....................Lots a FUn!!!