Thread: Traditional work bench - let me run some ideas past you...

You were forced to clean it up weren't you Ian

Very similar dimensions, though mine I'm hoping to make a fair bit longer and most of my frame will be ~100mm sqaure posts. I was also considering a tail vice screw for making a front vice, your design confirms that my idea is worth trying

I respect the way you've constructed this bench Ian, strong and functional. Moreso the fact that you've constructed your own vice, I really enjoy making my own for $20 less, even if I spend days doing it I'm glad I'm not alone.

Do you reckon some front vice dogs would be much help to you? I hadn't really considered these, but during the design stage is the time to think about this stuff isn't it!

Dave.

Originally Posted by IanW

Hi Dave,
Went out to the shed with camera & tape this morning, so here are some pics & statistics.

Ian,

If you are missing your glasses, you left them on your workbench in the shed

Originally Posted by chrisp

Ian,
If you are missing your glasses, you left them on your workbench in the shed

Is that where the damn things are!

( I've got at least 4 pairs of them, left at strategic locations.)

And I still can't find a pair half the time!

And yes, of course I cleaned the bench up for the pic - I think that's the first time in 2 years the entire top surface has been bare.

Bit hard to explain about the extra dogs without a pic, but what I have in mind will allow me to clamp chair seats more firmly than I can with the tail vise & single row of dogs. It's only when I'm actually making chairs that I feel the need, of course, so you can understand how quickly slips down the priority list. Only had my luverly new shed for a bit over 2 years, so most spare moments have been spent getting it organised the way I want it, but it's all coming together, now, & I will eventually turn my attention to these sorts of issues - after I catch up on the backlog of jobs SWMBO has planned, of course................

Cheers,

Thanks for this post fellas
I'm looking at rebuilding a bench that is currently affixed to the wall, and making it moveable so I can work around it.
and your discussion is helping in the planning process
thanks again

I've just started reading Scott Landis' 'The Workbench Book' book (it finally arrived),and I'm already hooked. I've only read the intro so far because I'm at work, but I can see me being up all night with this one

Hi Dave,

Well, you are not on line so I would guess you are still engrossed in the Scott Landis book. Onya !! Good read that one. I likes the photos, lots of ideas there.

Have fun.

Cheers,
Pops

Thanks Pops, I am having fun

I've read a good portion of the Landis title now and I'm coming to the conclusion that it really is more of an illustrated historical study than it is a technical reference. Landis is placing considerable emphasis on the history, while lacking in a lot of referancial substance. Don't get me wrong, it's a great read, Landis is a great writer and I don't regret the purchase in the least, but it's very much in the style of a novel. Unfortunately the substance of the book isn't a great deal of help in terms of the decision making process when faced with designing your own bench.

The Schwarz title, as recommended by Derek, on the other hand, is a master peice of technical detail and design theory. Of course, the contents are entirely subjective in nature because Schwarz is effectively walking the reader through his journey of workbench evolution and presenting deisgn features based on their merits as he sees them. However, the width and breadth of his knowledge are based almost entirely on his personal experience, thus the recommendations of his book are seemingly well founded and definitely well explained.

My only gripe with the Schwarz text is the lack of understanding of some of the elements he used in his designs. This is where Landis' work is invaluable. Landis explores the historical use of many of the elements Schwarz uses in his designs in much greater detail, though in a purely informative way, rather than giving opinion regarding technical merit.

I think anyone looking to build a bench should definitely get a hold of the Schwartz's book; this alone will give you 90% of the information you need to make good choices in design. The remaining 10% must be gained from a chronological view of the woodworking trades of the past and how woodworkers used their benches to achieve their goals. In my view the Landis title is equally important for completely different reasons.

I wonder if there are books like these available for every tool in the workshop? My brain hurts just thinking about the shear quantity of knowledge I don't have.

Dave.

Hi Dave,

Dammit man. Now I have to buy that Schwarz book. Had my new bench thoughts all sorted out after the Landis book, but now it seems I need more research. Thanks for the short review on the usefulness of both books. Onya.

Keep us posted on your progress.

Cheers
Pops

Actually Pops, for an experienced woodworker the Schwarz title is less relevant. For someone like me it's awesome because I don't really know what's going to work for me, but someone that has some background with the various elements of a traditional workbench might find this knowledge somewhat redundant.

In fact, I'll re-qualify my original statement and say; any inexperienced woodworker should get this book.

But hey, knowledge is power. Power to the people!

Dave.

I've got a couple more ideas I'd like to swing past y'all. Firstly, an extension of the removable tool well mentioned by jaspr, I'll design the tool well(s) to be remavable, and to have the ability to insert a thick lid in its place. This way I have a tool well, clamping capacity and a continuous surface if necessary. What say you?

Secondly, there are a few people out there that wished they had designed the tail vice arrangement so that it would accept two rows of dog holes for clamping larger boards. Now, I've never seen one, but if you built a traditional tail vice with the under-bench bracing, there might be a way to include a second set of dog holes. I'm thinking that a wagon vice style arrangement could be including in the parallel bracing under the bench top nearer the rear of the bench. It would be complicated, but I think it might be possible.

I might sketch this last item up tonight and ask your opinions of my idea. The obvious alternative is a wagon vice parallel to the tail vice.... I'll come back to this one later.

Dave.

Originally Posted by kman-oz

. . . . Firstly, an extension of the removable tool well mentioned by jaspr, I'll design the tool well(s) to be remavable, and to have the ability to insert a thick lid in its place. This way I have a tool well, clamping capacity and a continuous surface if necessary. What say you?

In principle a good idea but I just know I wouldn't end up using it as I would either end up with
a) tool well overflowing with tools and sawdust too full to put lid on.
b) Tool well with lid on covered with tools and sawdust, and too much of a cleanup needed to take lid off.
Worse still, a tools hidden in the tool well with the lid on and piles of crap on top of it . . . and where the bleep is that tool - crikey! will just have to buy another!

Secondly, there are a few people out there that wished they had designed the tail vice arrangement so that it would accept two rows of dog holes for clamping larger boards. . . . .

Looking forward to your sketch.

Cheers

Originally Posted by BobL

Worse still, a tools hidden in the tool well with the lid on and piles of crap on top of it . . . and where the bleep is that tool - crikey! will just have to buy another!

Point taken, however, it only takes me about 4 hours worth of work to get angry about the mess on my work surface and clean it up thoroughly. I'm usually pretty good about keeping my active work surfaces clean... it's the inactive surfaces that are covered in crap

I think this will work well for me, excuse the pun.

Originally Posted by kman-oz

Point taken, however, it only takes me about 4 hours worth of work to get angry about the mess on my work surface and clean it up thoroughly. I'm usually pretty good about keeping my active work surfaces clean... it's the inactive surfaces that are covered in crap

I think this will work well for me, excuse the pun.

Yeah - I fully understand, I start out with a clear bench but before I know it I am working within 2 ft^2 of the vice and do I stop to clean up -, NOooooo - to eager to carry on.

Originally Posted by BobL

Yeah - I fully understand, I start out with a clear bench but before I know it I am working within 2 ft^2 of the vice and do I stop to clean up -, NOooooo - to eager to carry on.

I don't think you're abnormal, Bob!

I'm way better than I used to be - try to return each tool to its rightful spot after use, but you still end up with quite a few that are going to be needed again shortly, & 'shortly' seems to get more 'longly' as the day wears on......

Then there are the various bits you are carefully fitting, which need to be within easy reach - well sort of easy - just under the #7 and the block plane & 2 or 3 marking gauges, a chisel or three, and the mallet.......

Cheers,