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  1. #16
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    In the shed, Melbourne
    Age
    52
    Posts
    6,883

    Default

    G'day Lignum,

    • "so its to have a full bank of drawers",

    • "A workbench is to be used not admired. So screwing and drilling holes in the top on a daily basis will occurs"

    So does my bench fit the criteria? With 3 x 500mm deep drawers with full runners 680mm deep. Bench is 800mm deep.

    Legs are 100mm x 100mm.

    Based on what you've replied with I wish i had taken shots of my bench before I put the top on so you see its framework - you could park a truch on top of it and it'd hold.

    One reason for me not putting dog holes in was that I'd get dust , shavings etc. in my drawers all the time. So what I do is nail a bit of wood either side of the stock into the bench when I plane and rip it out when I'm done.

    Agree on tools wells, room is too important to lose working area and get filled iwth rubbish. At 3m long my bench is too short, it's never enough room.

    "housed into the legs and screwed - no need for tenons" - right on brother.

    " And lastly, but very important two lots of double fluros for very strong light." - got one double directly overhead of the bench, and a double behind me when working at my bench.
    I make things, I just take a long time.

    www.brandhouse.net.au

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  3. #17
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Victoria
    Posts
    5,215

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    Waldo, yours looks like a great work-horse. Built to make-stuff A showcase bench would be oh so nice for assembly and delicate work, but i find when you are getting into it stuff just ends up everywhere and a big flat solid surface preferably away from a wall if space permits is what i want. I also find 45 x 95 KD legs with bracing and ply covering to be increadably strong and heavy. It would be fantastic if everyone posted a pic of their bench, that way we could all pic some details here and there that we like and put them to good use. Lous project will be a ripper to follow. Cant wait

  4. #18
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Lost in Space
    Age
    53
    Posts
    2,406

    Default What a great start...............really appreciated fellas!!!

    Gidday

    Looks like the good old workbench gets the passion burning a bit like sharpening

    Man some great posts here FANTASTIC STUFF!!!!

    It certainly poses some interesting questions:

    Should a Bench be build round the woodworkers habbits or should the woodworker adjust his habbits to the workbench??

    Racking appears to be the Bane of workbench design....................I'm wondering how much weight a workbench needs to be to avoid racking?

    Should a Workbench be a jack of all trades eg: Provide a flat surface, provide storage...........Or a master of specific purposes eg: Be an extension of the woodworkers skills and a specific tool within its own right?

    No doubt these answers will be governed by available space and the type of work a bench will be used for.

    Regards Lou
    Just Do The Best You Can With What You HAve At The Time

  5. #19
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    42'55'03.70 N 85'31'19.66 W
    Posts
    237

    Default

    This years Tools & Shops issue of Fine Woodworking had an interesting workbench made out of birch plywood with an MDF top. Looked solid and cost around $200 to make. Has anyone else seen it? Can't find any pictures online. Maybe I'll scan a page from my magazine.

  6. #20
    Join Date
    Nov 2004
    Location
    Port Pirie SA
    Age
    52
    Posts
    6,908

    Default

    Check out Jan issue #119 of American Woodworker...

    Torsion box top, 6 draws, vice... and a expanding roll out assembley table that fits underneath it!
    ....................................................................

  7. #21
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Casselman, Canada
    Posts
    91

    Default

    One option that has not been mentioned (or I missed) is to use the underside of the bench (using built in frame work) to store clamps. Based on the average length of a workbench I would think that would be a perfect place to store them and free up other areas of your shops. Just a thought

    Mark
    __________________________________________
    When all else fails- buy new tools - shiny expensive ones

  8. #22
    Join Date
    May 2001
    Location
    Queanbeyan
    Age
    59
    Posts
    1,252

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    I thought this was the great australian work bench.

    There was a young boy called Wyatt
    Who was awfully quiet
    And then one day
    He faded away
    Because he overused White


    Floorsanding in Canberra and Albury.....

  9. #23
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Pambula
    Age
    58
    Posts
    12,779

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    Should a Bench be build round the woodworkers habbits or should the woodworker adjust his habbits to the workbench??
    Your bench should be built to suit your way of working, your height, and the kinds of things you make, otherwise it will always be a compromise. Just like sharpening, there is never going to be one 'ultimate' design for a workbench. There may be for you but it will be different to mine.

    For example, I hate the idea of putting T-track in the top of a bench. It will collect sawdust. Small tools and scraps of wood will fall into it. It will become damaged over time and not slide properly. To remove or replace the dogs you'll have to slide them all the way to one end. If you want two dogs parallel to the vice, you'll have to fiddle around. But that's just my opinion.

    Weight will not prevent racking. Weight will prevent the bench from sliding around the workshop. The way to prevent racking is solid bracing, which you can achieve a number of ways. My bench does not rack at all because the stretchers under the bench top are housed into the legs. It's the world's ugliest bench but it is solid.

    My suggestion is that you make this your penultimate bench and then one day when you've been using it for a couple of years, you'll know what needs to be done to improve it.
    "I don't practice what I preach because I'm not the kind of person I'm preaching to."

  10. #24
    Join Date
    Aug 2002
    Location
    Sydney, NSW, Australia
    Posts
    5,014

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by silentC
    Your bench should be built to suit your way of working, your height, and the kinds of things you make, otherwise it will always be a compromise. Just like sharpening, there is never going to be one 'ultimate' design for a workbench. There may be for you but it will be different to mine.

    For example, I hate the idea of putting T-track in the top of a bench. It will collect sawdust. Small tools and scraps of wood will fall into it. It will become damaged over time and not slide properly. To remove or replace the dogs you'll have to slide them all the way to one end. If you want two dogs parallel to the vice, you'll have to fiddle around. But that's just my opinion.

    Weight will not prevent racking. Weight will prevent the bench from sliding around the workshop. The way to prevent racking is solid bracing, which you can achieve a number of ways. My bench does not rack at all because the stretchers under the bench top are housed into the legs. It's the world's ugliest bench but it is solid.

    My suggestion is that you make this your penultimate bench and then one day when you've been using it for a couple of years, you'll know what needs to be done to improve it.
    Wise words from mr C.

    Personally, I don't see what's so wrong with a traditional bench.
    After all, the design has stood the test of time pretty well.

    I think a tool well is a good idea too. My current bench doesn't have one but I may well include one in the next bench I make.

  11. #25
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    In the shed, Melbourne
    Age
    52
    Posts
    6,883

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by silentC
    The way to prevent racking is solid bracing, which you can achieve a number of ways. My bench does not rack at all because the stretchers under the bench top are housed into the legs. It's the world's ugliest bench but it is solid.
    G'day,

    To add to what SilentC has said and back him up and as I have done, the legs of my bench also have stretchers under the bench top are housed into the legs. For bracing I have two lengths of redwood 140ish x 45ish bolted to the shed frame, the bench in turn is bolted to the bits of redwood (could've used something other but they came off a verandah that was being demolished so they were nix.
    I make things, I just take a long time.

    www.brandhouse.net.au

  12. #26
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Location
    Pambula
    Age
    58
    Posts
    12,779

    Default

    By the way, David Marks' bench is based on a traditional style. It has a double row of dogholes adjacent to a full width end vice. I can't remember if it is twin or single screw. The problem with the single screw versions is that they rack if you are only clamping using one benchdog. The single leg style is nothing new either but there's not much point in that approach if you are going to put storage underneath.
    "I don't practice what I preach because I'm not the kind of person I'm preaching to."

  13. #27
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Mid North Coast NSW
    Posts
    78

    Default

    Lignum,

    Any chance of a picture? I am just thinking about building a bench, yours sounds great.
    Man can wait long time with open mouth for roast duck to fly in!!

  14. #28
    Join Date
    Aug 2004
    Location
    Lost in Space
    Age
    53
    Posts
    2,406

    Default

    Gidday

    For those interested DarrylIF initiated a fantastic thread called "The Perfect Workbench" which tops the number of Views in the General Woodwork section. This thread gives an excellent rundown on all things to do with traditional style Workbenches including racking etc etc.

    http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...esc&sort=views

    I've deliberately avoided words like ultimate or perfect and certainly arn't interested in an apples verses oranges debate. There have been a number of brillant traditional style posts on Workbenches:

    BitingMidge - WorkBench Structural anatomy
    http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ad.php?t=15197

    Zed - the bench is coming together
    http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ad.php?t=12779

    And also some great examples of a marriage of old and contemporary approaches to workbench construction my favourate being Kiwibrucee's

    Kiwi Workbench
    http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ad.php?t=16535

    In addition Derek Cohen fronts some great discussion around workbenches in the Best of the Best here:
    http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ad.php?t=16776

    and yours truely has done a lot of testing of new ideas and observation of my own work habits here:
    http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...ad.php?t=19716

    My hope or intention is to continue developing a marriage of all these great ideas and use the fantastic expertise of positive forum members to if were lucky...................develop something a bit different or special

    Just mabe that will end up creating a design thats enjoyabe to use............. fits like a glove to my workstyle and gives me that special sense of enjoyment and satisfaction that all great tools give when in use.

    Who knows it might just do the same for you to

    Regards Lou
    Just Do The Best You Can With What You HAve At The Time

  15. #29
    Join Date
    Jun 2004
    Location
    Melbourne, South East Subs.
    Posts
    395

    Default

    Agree with Lou, this thread is turning up some ripper ideas.

    I still don't have a dedicated/purpose built bench. Along one wall I have a long (about 4 or 5m, I haven't checked) square section steel framed bench salvaged (with permission) from the vacant factory next door. It has a melamine top and two shelves, but it's most interesting feature is the nearly full length flouro light which sits under a translucent perspex window in the top.

    It's next to useless for woodwork and tends to gather the crap that has no other home. The light is kinda cool, though.

    The other surface I use is a sheet of melamine covered particle board screwed to an old metal table frame. More of an assembly table, this is covered in glue, stain, poly, old sandpaper etc.

    one more thing I do a lot is lay framing pine on sawhorses for gluing up panels. Gives a level reference surface (sort of) and leaves access for clamps and cauls. Mess is never much of a problem for me as I have a high crap threshold, but I find this method conducive to working clean.

    Which brings me to my point! Since I use mostly power tools my main bench (when built) will need a few GPO's plus underbench tool storage, probably big pigeon holes. At least one vise on the front with provision for dog holes in the rail or skirt as well as the top. It should be centered in my work area, with a shelf of the same height fixed to an adjacent wall.
    I'm also thinking of building a glue up frame which can sit on the bench when needed- picture a length of rail track made from timber, with packing tape on the sleepers. Perhaps even carpet strips glued on the opposite side so it can be flipped and used as a soft mat for sanding panels.

    I'll keep the dodgy melamine table. Everyone needs a dirty table.

    Sawhorses are invaluable IMO. Versatile and portable, they perform the most important task of funiture and cabinetry- KEEPING STUFF OFF THE GROUND.

    I might pinch Lignum's idea of a trolly for hand tools, consumables and pencils etc.

    Bench design for me is a two way street; it has to meet my style but it also should encourage good work habits, such as accuracy and good housekeeping. I dont think it can be viewed entirely separately from the issue of workshop layout, either.

    Anyway, forgive the long post; writing this helped me to get some of these ideas sorted out. Ta.

    Rusty.
    The perfect is the enemy of the good.

  16. #30
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Location
    Northen Rivers NSW
    Age
    57
    Posts
    2,837

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Shedhand
    Haven't seen him here for a while but Dazzler built a ripper. If he sees this he might like to show and tell. I won't presume to give details as it's his baby. But I was mightily impressed at how solid it is.
    Ohhhh shucks.....thanks shedhand

    Mine is 3mm steel and will be around long after I am in the grave.

    Super heavy, the steel will never rack or move and I can replace the top whenever I like.

    I am planning on doing a new top for it that is a little flasher.....after I grab some new ideas from this thread.

    http://www.woodworkforums.ubeaut.com...=dazzler+bench


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