Thread: Two work benches

This is basically a steel frame onto which I put a sheet of 34mm chipboard. That was sealed underneath with epoxy.

I then milled up some floorboards and glued them onto the chipboard with bostik ultraset (flexible)

Nothing fancy, just sanded and finished.

First pic shows the back beam which is a prelaminated peice available from timber yards.

Second pic shows the groove routered on side side of the void. I also had to do the other side.

Third pic is the finished dog hole strip which I did on the drill press. In pic 2 it is already glued in place.

Fourth pic is just the way I trimmed off the ends. I did this on both sides so as to leave a tenon for the end caps to attach to.

Fifth pic shows the female part of the shoulder vise mechanism I bought from Timbecon (show unmodified in picture 2). I cut the flange a bit and painted it black. It is epoxied into place.

Was the fish photo supposed to be there?

The bench looks very strong, what is over the top of it?

What is it? a bench fish?

Al

Pic 1 is the dis-assembled sliding dog mechanism. The two pieces of rounded brushbox fit into the groove I made on either side of the void.

Pic 2 is the assembled sliding dog

Pic 3 shows how it all fits together except for the bit that attaches the vise screw to the sliding dog

Pic 4 - another great use for the Domino. This is how I attached the end cap. This will allow for any movement in the top.

Pic 5 - Underside of the bench

Pic 1- the voids in beam (from the fingerjointing) are filled with epoxy.

Pic 2- almost done

Pics 3 and 4 - I used the leftover strips and laminated them up to face the vise. I also painted the vise black.

Pic 4 - The tail vise assembled and in use with a temporary handle.

Originally Posted by Groggy

Was the fish photo supposed to be there?

The bench looks very strong, what is over the top of it?

Brushbox flooring.

... and its stuck tergether with fish glue?

Very nice work Boban!!

Any chance of a quick run down of the installing the vice, how you decided on the placement of the benchdogs and is that a hole for a square benchdog I see or is that for the vice?

thanks
Wendy

Boban,

Very impressive mate. I like them.

Hi Boban,

Like everyone else said, Top job mate. You make it sound so quick and easy to make such an impressive bench, or two.

If only they were in my shed.

Cheers
Pops

Originally Posted by rufflyrustic

Very nice work Boban!!

Any chance of a quick run down of the installing the vice, how you decided on the placement of the benchdogs and is that a hole for a square benchdog I see or is that for the vice?

thanks
Wendy

The sliding dog type tail vise was featured in a woodsmith magazine from memory.

I modified it slightly in that I put in an extra strip of timber between the sliding dog mechanism (see the two pictures above) and the front apron. In the woodsmith design I think the groove was cut into the apron. I didn't want this, but that meant that the dogholes end up a little further back from the front of the bench.

The big square space actually houses the sliding dog. You might notice the two grooves on either side of the space. The grooves allow the sliding dog to move within that space. To build it you basically router the groove on either side before you glue up.

The actual timber I used was a product called lamibeam. This is basically a pre-laminated beam made from aussie hardwood, fingerjointed together to give it some length then sold by the metre to builders. I used two lengths that were about 400mm wide to begin with.

I had to rip the front peice in order to install the vise.

When I did that routered the groove on one side.

Then I glued in the dog hole strip.

Then I glued up the next strip and then I glued on the apron.

You can install the sliding dog after this is complete if you make it as shown. Then its a simple matter of connecting the metal piece that attaches to the end of the vice screw. Its better to you use a coach screw for this as a ratchet is much easier to turn than a screwdriver in that tight space.

BTW - Dont bother with dovetailing the end caps of the bench as the the action of the vice works against the dovetail. DAMHIK. That's only true for the tail vice side of the bench.


I can always take more pictures if necessary. Just let me know.

Well it certainly tips the scales!

Does this mean work on the shed has halted to let me catch up with my DC.

Cheers,

P

Thanks Boban
Now I understand what you were showing us

cheers
Wendy