Thread: Tiny-big bench in Vic Ash

It's the first woodworking bench that I have built, and has a few other 'first times' too, e.g. draw boring, flattening with hand planes, and probably a few other things.

It's based on Guy Dunlap's small workbench (PDF plans, and build video), and customised for my space. It has a small footprint, at just about 1200 long. In my shop, I want to run this bench perpendicular to a wall. For that reason, I went with a big end vice, which will do most of my clamping operations. Later, I'll add a plain screw woodworking vice to the front, for times I want to joint an edge, or do something with a long board.

I'm left handed, so if all this looks backwards to you, that's why.
Dog holes to come later, and I'll also build a little cabinet to go underneath at some point too. But for now, I'm calling this done.

Quite pleased with how this turned out. It's was a pretty fun build, and relatively quick too - about 8 weeks from buying the timber to applying finish. That was important to me, because I think of the workbench mostly as a tool, and I didn't want it to be a huge project that gets in the way of building other projects.

The hardest part of this project was fitting the Lie Nielsen chain drive vice. There's a lot of steps, and as Mike Farrington says, "you really need to be on your woodworking A-Game to install this - there is very little room for error". For anyone installing this hardware, his installation video is worth a look. Being aware of that, I really took my time. Thought things through, marked out accurately, used a lot of router templates and bushings, and did many test cuts to get this right first time.

One aspect that I might have overlooked is radial expansion of the bench top. This wouldn't be an issue if I'd installed the vice to the front. But because it's on the end, and because the LN hardware is a precision fit, there's a real chance the threads will bind up if there is any significant expansion. That'll be a wait and see!

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Thanks to the many forum members who helped out with know-how at various stages. The result is all the better for your input!