Thread: Redefining the Aussie WorkBench

Mike, NASA solved the heat tile adhesion problem.

They used dog shyte...


Cheers...............Sean

Lou,

What's the tape for?

On another subject. My little pup deeply chewed the legs of a nest of tables. It's a white pine-like softwood that had been shellaced/french polished about 50 years ago. If I sand back and re-form the shape of the leg with epoxy, can I stain/paint it?

Without hikacking the thread I'm interested in wood-filler vs epoxy. I'v found that filler doesn't work on external shaping.

How does epoxy respond to finishes, if at all?

Gidday

Today I started practicing Stopped Dovetails that I'll be incorporating the end caps of my Benchtop. I thought it'd be interesting so that you guys can see the progression. Bear in mind that this is the first time I have ever attempted stopped dovetails.

I'm hoping to develop my technique well enough to produce VAriable size Dovies for the End Caps.

HAs been a great day getting into these...................

REgards Lou

Hey there Lou, great start, look nice and clean.
jacko

Gidday

Well after playing with a few designs I think I've finally come up with a look I like for the Dovetails that will go in the endcaps of my Bench. Once again this is my first attempt at doing joinery of this nature. (I love my Woodrat)

Heres the progression of how the joint evolved. I've resigned myself to the fact that I will probably make a few mistakes so I also practiced some repar skills.

I mixed some Wet System epoxy and added microfibers until it had a consistancy of mayonase. Then I added some fine ash sawdust........................Hey presto!!! The ultimate gap filler matched to the color of the stock!!!

You can see the results in the last PICS!!!.....................now I just gotta practice this Dovie profile so that I can get close to nailing it on he real thing

Regards Lou

Great looking dovies Lou Is that a woodrat design? or your own. Either way it looks fantastic. Hey, maybe "black" in the epoxy would look great, it would be like an inlay in a dovetail

Really impressive dovetails Lou, this bench will be to other benches as the Sistine Chapel is to Blue Poles.

Get on with it!

Originally Posted by Lignum

Is that a woodrat design? or your own.

Hey Lig..................The dovies are my own design MEant to be a pleasant mix between austhetics and strength.

You'll notice the middle tail design will be stronger than say if I had have kept it level with the outer tails is still real tricky work though! The Woodrat just provides the accuracy I still gotta be real careful otherwise........................... DOH!!!!!

HAve any of you guys got any tips on doing this kind of joinery? was a real challenge with the potential for major disasters every step of the way!!!

Only thing I found really helpful was to really take my time and break down each step of the process having a small break to reflect in between.

Hey Bodgy thx for being my official Wip cracker!!! any chance of a post of your Bench????

REgards Lou

Originally Posted by NewLou

Hey Bodgy thx for being my official Wip cracker!!! any chance of a post of your Bench????

REgards Lou

No worries Lou, I originally posted this back in the dark mists of antiquity, when I was but an apprentice, not the lofted 'most valued member' as is my current rank.

I'll try and find the piccies, yet I fear, you will be disappointed. It's not for nothing I choose the sobriquet 'Bodgy'

Mind you, I did build it in two days and it survives....

Here you go Lou, best picture I could find. The originals must have been deleted. Ignore the planes, but you can get a good idea of the bench. 2 metres by 600mm. Traditional with tool well. Oregon 4 x 2 top and 4 x 4legs, M&T stringers of 4 x 2, with 4 x 2 xntre rail. Lots of dog holes, but never enough. Front and end vises.

If you think it looks beaten up in these photos youse should see it now.

Next time, same design but all hardwood and better quality vises with (maybe) square dog holes or T track.

To give added solidity I keep my 1.2 metre lathe on the bottom bracing.

The top just fits on the base - not attached, but can't move anywhere except up, which I remember when hoicking the vise that little bit tighter on the upward stroke.

Piccies (of sorts) http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ighlight=bench

Gidday

Well I've learn the lesson of surface prep once to often so have been sanding sanding and then some more sanding. I've finished the base n got my stock for the top slab skirts n end caps.

So far I'm really happy with my progress but have been held up regularly by a lack of coin n indecision about the top slab. BUT after a lot of agonising I've decided to go with a sacrificial melamine surface that I can ding up screw crap into n the like to my hearts content

I just know if I went for laminate or hardwood I could't bear to use it as a real bench (to me at least) should be used.

Besides I have what I call me Gronks Bench n as you can see shes used n abused with screws n the like forever being slaped into it. Really handy though for long stock preparation.

REgards Lou

Theres nothing like the swoosh of a low angle smoother n you can see the almost jewell like finish it produces. My prefered method is then to go onto a card scraper n finish through the grits starting from 220 grit n on.

I keep hearing that you don't need to sand once you learn how to use a scraper n plane properly BUT I gotta say I must have a long weay to go cause my hands always feel plane marks if I dont scrape n sand. Pewrhaps I should start rounding te corners of my plane blades slightly???

Anways heres the results when I first started this kind thing it took me ages . Now I've refined the process dramatically being mindful not to over sand (Those of you that have seen Neil on the forum video know what I mean)

.........................Anywaz back to the Shed

REgards Lou

Originally Posted by NewLou

Pewrhaps I should start rounding te corners of my plane blades slightly???

Lou, next time you sharpen the blade, hold it at 45 degrees and pull the corner over the stone - without pushing down. Do this every time you sharpen or hone. It doesn't have to be a fancy drawn out process, you just need to take a hair off the corner.

How were your thumbs Lou?