Thread: YAWBT - My new workbench

Ian, you are spot on. The old duck who was selling it was very pleased at my enthusiasm for it... but gulped and went pale when she was told its fate.

She was a bit posh in a well-to-do suburb, so it may have been one of those grandfather-hand-me-downs that she has reluctantly let go to a keen-eyed antique collector.



Gods! The barbarians are at the gates!

Im particularly liking those massive deep drawers.

Actually, I took a much more critical look at the full-size pic instead of just glancing at the thumbnail & I'm starting to think I'm dead wrong!

There is something about the wide & variable gaps round the drawers, the fairly rough round-overs on their fronts, plus the not-very well-executed D/Ts (& 'wormy' sides of unknown species) & the Mahogany drawer bottom on the drawer you pulled out that suggests to me this might be one of those made-in-Indonesia imports that were brought in by the container load about 30-odd years ago. They were made from genuine Mahogany (Swietenia sp.) that was planted a long time ago as shade trees for coffee, so I was told. It should be easy to establish if my supicion is correct, the inside joinery is usually as rough as it gets, though I once saw very well-made stuff in a small interior decorator type shop in North Sydney. I got chatting to the shop owner & she told me they had them made by "special" craftsmen to their specifications. Hmmm, maybe, but they were a cut above most of the similar stuff I'd seen, and an order of magnitude better than the couple of Mahogany bedside tables LOML bought from a place dealing in similar stuff here in Brissie.

So if my suspicions are correct, you may proceed with your plans with a clear conscience, methinks....

I have to say, I can't quite see in my mind's eye how this COD is going to metamorphose into a workbench, so I will watch the process with interest. To my way of thinking, deep drawers and tool storage do not a happy marriage make - lots of shallow drawers are my preferred option. The portable bench I made a few years ago (when advancing decrepitude made my original portable bench un-portable) is more or less what I plan to take when we move to more restricted quarters. Fits nicely.jpg

I judge it's a bit shorter and a bit wider than the top of your COD. The tool chest under has LOTS of shallow drawers: Drawers done.jpg

I've just got to get some working drawings for a Tardis, so I can re-design the toolbox to hold about 3 times what it holds now & I'll be right.....

Cheers,

Hehe, everyone knows I tend to exaggerate. A priceless relic! The lost Arc! Priceless heirloom!

Perhaps, in the eyes of many, it is simply the 70's version of IKEA.

I look at these things and always think of capitalism - people will only pay what they will pay. No point investing business time in a detail few, if any, know exists let alone care about.

Good for the sublime artists of this forum to thrive!

Tomorrow I'm hoping to get a bit of a start. Im the proud new owner of 2 handmade kiridashi, 2 "line" kihiki and a new "cutting" Kehiki kanna - which I think is absolutely incredible! Naturally, all are Japanese made. Good for kumiko

Originally Posted by woodPixel

Good for kumiko

Yeah well, good luck with that. Talk about a dark art.

Oh ye capricious gods! Grant me the strength to ACTUALLY BUILD a bench!

I look at the problem in the mirror each morning...


On HOLD FASTS, what would be the minimum thickness needed for them to work properly?

Any opinions?

Would 45mm be enough?


I'm making a mini-workbench first (others here have motivated me) then upon achieving THAT small goal, a larger balcony bench. (Time to let the old BBQ table and benches be just that)

Originally Posted by woodPixel

On HOLD FASTS, what would be the minimum thickness needed for them to work properly?

Any opinions?

Would 45mm be enough?

from Holdfasts by Gramercy Tools

The holdfast is designed for 3/4" hole in a workbench top of a 1 3/4" thick or thicker.
6 1/2" reach. Maximum clamping 7 1/4" in a 2" thick benchtop.

45 mm is marginally thicker than 1-3/4", but not by much. I'd be a bit leery using Grammacy hold fasts in a softwood bench top

Originally Posted by woodPixel

IanW's giant threaded vices have been sitting here saying "usssseeee me".... "I'm lonely....."

I was on Gumtree Wednesday for a completely unrelated search and it said, "you might be interested in this...".... well, yes, yes I was!

It is an oak benchtop from the TGA here in Canberra. It is 2450x750 and 35 thick. Its pretty heavy indeed! Took my son and I to lug it and I'm no whimp.

It isn't particularly flat (as can be seen).... but I've two questions for the Brains Trust:

-- Would you prefer a long bench, i.e. 2400 if you could have it, or should I go with one that is a more standard 1800?

-- The top is finished with something unholy. It is as tough as all buggery. The 40 grit belt sander barely touches it. You can see in the photo where I've given it a blast and I can assure you it was hard going. It stank badly, a nasty chemical burning unhealthy smelling nasty... any ideas what it might be and an easier way to remove it?

I was thinking of using a router based sled to zing off 2mm or so, which would get it flat and take care of the finish. But there might be some other way I hadn't thought of!

All thoughts are welcome!!

Attachment 415853 Attachment 415854



...

In regards to the build, I've been on the back foot with client orders, so a nice spanky bench was lowered down in the list of Immediate To Do's

On design matters, these are the ideas so far:

-- IanWs beautiful screws (thankyou thankyou!)
-- A Roubo style
-- Use the new oak top and use the 50mm gum underneath. Laminate them together (not a problem, for I've 6 monster Frontline Clamps). I was thinking a 75mm top will be good for my hand tool ambitions
-- Route out 50mm circles and put in plugs for the nasty holes before....
-- Im ordering the Axminster Parf Guide System for doing bench dog holes
-- Giant legs flush to the front and side skirts
-- Drawers underneath (the shelf to the left can be removed if I shove all that Festool crap underneath the new bench)

I just found this thread, fantastic another bench build and semi local!

Whoaaahhh those vice screws! What...how.. I want one.

I decided im going to be slower and more careful this bench build and a minimum use with my 3/4" bit for my holdfast. Only have one but works perfect in nearly any thickness over 50-60mm from memory

Looking forward to seeing progress and material selection. Good pick up on the bench top


Sent from my SM-A515F using Tapatalk

Here we are, ONLY 2 and a half YEARS after I started this thread.

Judging myself harshly this is a long time between idea and doing, but judging by others builds I'm bang on target


Now, things did change for me, somewhat radically and without choice, but ces't les vie.

NOW I've a new idea!

It was inspired by watching many Japanese videos on how they use benches for working, my being fat and inflexible with a dud hip (birth), dud knee (high adventure!), crunchy back (mugged!) and a few bullet holes.... makes ground work a challenge.... This last weekend I blasted through a bunch of stock preparation using a Veritas Scrub, Jack and smoother on some hard-as-buggery pallet timbers. I also had a bugger of a time cutting as the edges of the bench was terrible - no support - an a-ha moment(!).

It went really well, so I thought to have a think about a bench I can drag around, kneel on, sit on, bang hammers upon and plane upon.

This, attached, is my idea (a mini-Roubo picnic stool mashup!). I can't recall seeing this design previously, probably because it doesn't really work... but perhaps Mr Roubo missed something here. (A big bench is next)

There are my thoughts....

-- Using a standard Bunnings panel of Beech ($109), Acacia ($99) or Merbau ($129) that is pre-made in 2200x600x26mm one can use TWO sheets and make this bench. Pine is also an option.
-- Cutlist is very simple (will put that up later, its simply drawn in my book)
-- There is almost no waste
-- Corners are massive dovetails. I'll put that detail and an explosion diagram up later.
-- There is a vice on one end
-- One can bore their own dogs where ever
-- The dogs aren't intended to be Parf-table-accurate things, or replicate the 96mm(?) centres of Festool. They are simply 100mm separations down a mid line, as I liked the symmetry
-- Easily flipable for lefties and righties

Dimensions!

-- 1500mm long
-- Uses 26mm timber
-- 52mm top and left side for Gramery holddowns
-- 500mm tall. I am 196cm tall, so my knee bend height is probably a little different than most
-- Height can be extended 200mm without using more materials (see Sheet 1, at the end. Its spare)
-- Length can be extended 200mm " " " "
-- As designed it will weight 35kg in Acacia and 40kg in Merbau.

WHY?

-- The end section is so I can support material and saw it (the gap is for the Japanese pull saw)
-- I can use the end vice to hold recalcitrant jobs while sawing (again using the centre)
-- I chose 1500mm long so if I make a left AND right version of the bench, they can be used as saw-horses for sheet goods (of width 1200mm)
-- Being a bit of a Fat Bastard, I can sit down while working
-- I can kneel on this to stop things moving

Additions?

-- There is a section of 2200x200 left over which could go towards making some sort of extra brace for the non-support side, or wide feet
-- I am still thinking about that cutlist, it bugs me about the spare timber
-- I can see 3 fixes to reduce cuts already... so onto version 2 !


I'll put up the plans and everything if anyone wants to build their own.


knee bench - facing.jpg knee bench - offside.jpg knee bench - kneeling.jpg layout.jpg

Double Think! Added Newness!

Here is version 2

-- Dovetails added on
-- A decent vice... I'll be using the wooden vice supplied by the ever-generous IanW, may the gods bless him with wines of excellent vintage.
-- The cut list is now more efficient. 5 fewer cuts
-- More efficient wood use. Still 2 sheets. A bench for $200 is a bloody bargain!

Problems I foresee are:

-- The nut behind the vice isn't catered for in the diagrams (see post 1 for a picture of IanW's mighty ingenuity)
-- Will this Big Nut interfere with clamping?
-- Should the Central Divider be double thick like the whole bench top?
-- The idea of the divider is to protect the vice thread from damage. It is long enough to allow centre sawing at one end AND offer a sneaky clamping space
-- I thought to add as many clamping surfaces as possible
-- I thought to add the "spare" bit of 1500x150mm along the bottom on the opposite side of the main clamping/holdfast vertical surface..... hmmmmm.... would it get in the way?....


Dimensions aren't perfect for the final job, as the sheets are 600mm wide and obviously 4 cuts of 150mm plus kerf aint gonna go! ... plus a few Oops-factors, flubs, planing and sanding.....


knee bench 2 - facing.jpg knee bench 2 - offside.jpg knee bench 2 - kneeling.jpg knee bench 2 - vice off.jpg knee bench 2 - underside.jpg knee bench 2 - vice.jpg

Bloody HEAPS of spare.

These can be fatter and wider easily.... just a matter of PUMPING THOSE NUMBERS!

By all the Gods I love Cutlist Plus as a program. Pure champion. Worth every cent.


Edited: rotated a few bits to match the grain (such as vice faces), fattened kerf to 5mm and added a 2mm part-padding for trimming up. Program made an even BETTER layout, all of these wicked little options are click click click and DONE. Niiiiicccceeee.


cutlist sheet 2.JPG cutlist sheet 1.JPG

So, after a day of doing NOTHING I managed to find that what I've reinvented is called a split top saw bench.

Sort of.

All the others have limited purpose, rather than my own fabulous example of gripping ingenuity and vice-clampy cunning....


I did finish Version 3 of the plans, plus a finalised cutlist that is so simple that a child can follow it.

It should make an excellent project when made in left-right pairs.


I should note, with horror, that wifeypoo DID see the Sketchups on the PC screen this morning and declared they would make excellent BBQ stools AND a nice table for in front of the telly.... what have I created! A monster!


Off to Bunnings today to grab some of those sheets.

Plans for my benchtop mini-bench have been complete for a while.

The idea for this is so I can put it up on the table inside or on the BBQ table outside for smaller work or when I make kumiko/lamps/displays.

The entire design maximises the use a single panel from Bunnings (2200 x 600 x 26 in Merbau or Acacia) with minimal waste and ease of cutting.

The benchtop size is 550 x 478. Surfaces are 52mm thick with plenty of places to grip work and hold the mini-bench down. Total weight in Merbau is 21kg.

These ideas are free to use for your own projects. The cutlist is done with Cutlist Plus Fx.

Capture.PNG mini bench 550 fat tenons - Front.jpg mini bench 550 fat tenons - dimensions.jpg mini bench 550 fat tenons - underside.jpg


Once this is done, I'll make the sitting-bench.

edit - added newness - I thought to add that this is 272mm tall, which means its designed to handle Gramercy Holdfasts, which are 9 3/4" long. This means it can hold down the thinnest of timbers without the bottom of the holdfast fouling on the table upon which the minibench sits.

The various legs are all through tenon and draw bored. This is for ease of making (drawbores are easy, plus this minimises clamps), plus ease for n00bs to make a decent work surface at lowest cost/tools/skills.

If anyone wants the Sketchups and/or cutlist raw files to noodle themselves, just ask and ye shall have.

Cuts are done. Things are rough as I'm so out of tune! Its not so effortless to get back on the bike is it

This is what an entire panel breaks down into....

IMG_20210519_163435.jpg

and these five parts are all that's left.... these will be used to make tenon wedges and some dowels for the draw-bores, but that's it.

IMG_20210519_163546.jpg

Gosh those Merbau panels are heavy, I don't think 21kg is right unless I've become feeble! . Only had my little balcony but it was good fun (but cold! Only ~6° today).

Tomorrow is glueup ... and temperature depending, trueing up those rough edges, adding the roundovers and tenons.

Not having a shop is a PITA!

Thought to mention, this job has highlighted my need for a proper shooting plane.

If any of my loving followers are excess a left-handed Veritas shooting plane that can go to a wonderful home... look here --> Veritas Shooting Plane - LEFT