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  1. 7th July 2008, 06:04 PM #1
    Vernonv's Avatar
    Vernonv
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    Cool Free Woodworking Bench

    Before you send me a PM saying you'll take it, that's what it cost me to make, not what I'm giving it away for.

    I've been meaning to make a half decent woodworking bench for quite some time and finally found the time. I had a budget of $0 so decided to scrounge through all the old timber I had lying around.

    The bench is around 2000mm x 900mm by a tad over 900mm high. The main part of the top is cypress (new and reclaimed - old pergola) and it is surrounded by tallowood (not sure where I got that from) and at the vice end has some sort of pine or oregon or something (old servo garage door). The legs are tallowood that had been lying out in the paddock for a decade or two. The "feet" are red iron bark? that used to be a fence post (bottom rotted away). The leg "stays" are stringy bark I think - not sure where from.

    Even the screws and vice (dawn 175) were either free or left overs from other jobs.

    It's nothing flash, but I'm very pleased with it ... now better get on and do some "real" work .
    Cheers.

    Vernon.
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  3. 7th July 2008, 06:41 PM #2
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    Vernon now thats one nice looking bench simple but very nice great finish too
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  4. 7th July 2008, 06:54 PM #3
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    Great job, looking good

    Like that little tablesaw in the background
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  5. 7th July 2008, 06:57 PM #4
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    Terrific. Looks great.
    Reality is no background music.
    Cheers John
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  6. 7th July 2008, 07:11 PM #5
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    those diagonal "braces" are an unusual design detail

    how well does the bench resist racking?


    ian
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  7. 7th July 2008, 07:22 PM #6
    BobR
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    I am just planning on building a new workbench myself. I must say that I like your price better . Looks good.
    Bob

    "If a man is after money, he's money mad; if he keeps it, he's a capitalist; if he spends it, he's a playboy; if he doesn't get it, he's a never-do-well; if he doesn't try to get it, he lacks ambition. If he gets it without working for it; he's a parasite; and if he accumulates it after a life time of hard work, people call him a fool who never got anything out of life."
    - Vic Oliver
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  8. 7th July 2008, 10:46 PM #7
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    Thanks guys.
    Ian - before I put the braces in there was a little bit of movement (not much, but more than I wanted), but with the braces it is rock solid.

    Big Shed - Yeah that saw is a beauty. Only a fairly recent acquisition, but I wonder how I ever managed without it. With over a 5" cut and a sliding table I can use it as a jointer.
    Cheers.

    Vernon.
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  9. 8th July 2008, 12:36 AM #8
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    Lools good Vern, do those diagonal braces go to a strecther or the table top?

    Be good to see some piccys of your shop?
    ....................................................................
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  10. 8th July 2008, 01:23 AM #9
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    Very smart simple looking bench. I think I may be getting carried away designing mine. Well done Vernon

    prozac
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  11. 8th July 2008, 11:55 AM #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Harry72 View Post
    Lools good Vern, do those diagonal braces go to a strecther or the table top?
    The braces are fixed (screwed and glued) to the table top - the table top is about 40mm thick, with an 85mm skirt.
    Cheers.

    Vernon.
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  12. 8th July 2008, 01:50 PM #11
    shaver59
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    Default Bench

    Just great and all recycled/reused, a man after my own heart.
    Stewie
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  13. 18th July 2008, 11:19 PM #12
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    Great bench, and great use of what's laying around.

    Interesting vice placement. Are you a leftie?

    Tex
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  14. 19th July 2008, 09:09 AM #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tex B View Post
    Are you a leftie?
    No, I'm a rightie. I just like that placement as it just feels "right" for me - I'm not exactly sure why it feels right ... but say I am cutting (with a handsaw) a length of timber in the vice. If I am standing facing the short side, my body is behind the bench and not off to the side (so I can put my left hand on the bench while cutting if I wish). If I am standing against the long side, my right hand is closer to the side of the bench and therefore I can comfortably cut as close to the vice as I wish.
    Also if I was doing some heavy chisel work (again facing the short side, chisel, left hand, mallet right) - I would better access to the open end of the timber (if the vice was on the left hand side the bench could be in the way. Any force going right to left it better handled by the bench because the pivot point of the bench (left hand foot) is diagonally down, whereas if it was on the left hand side of the end it would be directly down.
    Last edited by Vernonv; 19th July 2008 at 09:15 AM. Reason: speeling
    Cheers.

    Vernon.
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