Thread: Redefining the Aussie WorkBench

Come on over Lou, plenty of room over here in the West. You might want to bring your house with you though, houses are scarce and pricey

We'll keep the kettle on for you !

Cheers
Pops

Originally Posted by echnidna

Good looking practical workbenches

hello my name is jason, i can see that your post was from elsewhere but do you have the other pics as mentioned, re pine workbench. thanks very much .j

Originally Posted by NewLou

Gidday

I'd like to invite all forum members to help me re-define the concept of the modern workbench.

Although Workbenches have traditionally had a great run on our forum their tends to be a fairly traditional take on design, materials and execution. For the traditionalists out their this thread is not going to be for you!!!

Although once seeing making a traditional workbench a right of passage; After much deliberation I just cannot justify making a hardwood benchtop outta stock I could use for better purposes.

So heres the brief:

1. Bottom section to be made outta solid stock but not necessarily using traditional joinery methods.

2. Benchtop to be made of MDF with tempored masonite top or similar alternative to hardwood top!

3. Benchdog holes are to be replaced with T-Track for sliding Benchdogs

4. Bench design must incorporate some kind of holddown

5. Benchtop must include an area for inlaid magnets & Vacuum Clamp

6. Exploration of placement & best vices to use

At the end you'll all get to see me make the Design ............. So I'll be the Guinnea Pig for anyone interested in making something the same or similar. This will be the showpiece of my new Shed

The most important thing to remember is that I'd like her to be a real workhorse that you can bang the odd screw nail etc etc into without having a heart attack.

Storage is not a consideration as our ultimate aim is to create the most durable; versatile and efficient worksurface possible. Please feel free to contibute I'm espically interested in design ideas outside the square.


Regards Lou

I've just finished scanning through pages and pages on this thread, and have been having a great laugh since about page 10. Apart from not having a solid timber top and dog holes this bench is hardly the big break from tradition that this thread set out to achive . I see wedged through mortices and decorative dovetails. Lets face it, most of us woodworkers can't help ourselves, given half an oppertunity we'll make things a little nicer and a little nicer untill........

Sorry you havn't been able to finish the bench yet Lou, I'm sure it'll be a ripper.

Ben.

YEah YEah Yeah

In the Middle of doing an apprenticeship at the moment once finished n set up my first project will be to finish My Bench ..................... Spend brief moments lurking between TAFE jobs n trying to teach myself how to Tig................

I might have a few more surprises than u think as she'll probably end up being a fusion of Joinery n metalwork processes.................

The real idea behind this whole thread was just to get people thinking ....................

LOL I'll be BACK!

REgards Lou

Originally Posted by NewLou

I might have a few more surprises than u think as she'll probably end up being a fusion of Joinery n metalwork processes.................

That could look really good....... Oh and be practical and sturdy to.

Looking forward to it.

Gidday

Its been a few years down the track N unfortunately the old Man Nicked me old WorkBench slapped some hardwood ontop n banged a vice into the Benchtop! Amoungst screws n all sorts of other nasties that have been screwed into the Benchtop the old fella turned the dream into a Frankenstein fit for purpose................his purpose n good on him!

In sum Shes become a tinkerers Bench that dad loves N i havent got the heart to reclaim it. So I couldn't think of a better idea than to start again YAY!

I've managed to hang onto a few accessories n essentially have Vices n such ready to go. And have just got the Bug back to get into Woodworking again...........................first Retool HNT Gordon

When I was doing my time as a Welder the most desirable asset of all the workbenches Ive seen worked on and drooled over was MASS n Stability.................mostly Big Mostly Heavy (super heavy) N mostly steel monsters

The other thing old boilies tend to be are (tight as) n love doing things on the cheap n love doing things to a high standard as cheap as absolutely possible

Looking at the proliferation of workbenches going round n the way they tend to be made I couldnt build one for under 2K that have taken my eye

But with a few scraps of steel ive managed to hang onto N a few Sheets a Plywood N Mdf I think I can get away with making a Great Bench

re-visiting my earlier claim of redefining the Aussie Workbench..................... Breathing some fresh air into some alternative Ideas

Being a man of my word as per above the new beast is going to be an interesting synergy of Plywood, MDF and Steel Scraps (pipe n channel)

As homage to David Marks (I loved Good old Woodworks) shes going to be a Trestle Design .....................

Would you Believe a torsion box (Well not quite but you'll see) trestle design Bwahahaha..................................Anywaz time to crack open Sketchup Planing has begun

Regards Lou

Gidday

Having been the longest Benchmake WIP ever I used to have an amazing team of Woodworking Engineers Aka: Forum Members who made countless super useful suggestions so please feel free to comment critic trash bash and mash along the way (For those who remember me im pretty thick skinned n love a yak) great ideas really make the process Fun...........and further thought provoking!

Dilemma one was how to keep costs down For me this will mean a lot a salvage and use of sheet goods MDF n PLYWOOD before the swarm flies in I want to re affirm that this in no way is a TRADITION BENCH BUILD Big Cheers to those who go down this path for me I just havent got the funds n hope to generate thought and a result about how to make a great WorkBench thats awesome fit for purpose n has bucketloads of MASS & STABILITY

After some thought (which i might add resulted in me breaking out in a sweat ) I wanted to attempt to cookup a Hefty Design that could HAVE MASS loaded to it as a Design Feature

What ive come up with is a torsion box inspired inner core skinned with Plywood Here a few SKETCHUP PICS to get some thought going.......................

The Plan is that each Component is built separately n almost fits together in a modular fashion. Im thinking the Steel components channel n pipe (Other salvaged bits n bobs could be used possibly heavy dowell Cheap Timbers etc etc etc ) will add weight. N the hope being: can be utilised as a stressed member within the skin........................In laymens terms make it super rigid Heres a few more Pics to expand on where were heading

Feel free to rocket me some comments

The Bottom Stretcher cavity's & Maybe the Top Stretcher could be filled with pretty much anything Old Weights Rocks/Stones/Junk/Scrap Metal/Tools? preferably anything that wont get moisture into the Plywood.......................Adding to its Mass! Some Kind of system Plug even a removable panel could be used to add/remove weight to these as required.

It may be worthwhile adding removable panels to these sections? in the North position on the bottom stretchers N perhaps the Front Vice side on the top stretchers ?????

Here's some more Pics to get an idea of what's going on here:

Well it sure looks redefined. I'll pull up a chair and watch.
Regards
John

I'm with you John, chairs out.

Hey Fellas Welcome for the ride

Heres the first Prototype im not to sure about the skirts yet im wondering if theres a 'sweetzone' forumites have discovered the Sketchup model is at 200mm my guts telling me from 70 150 mm

So to cover the bases the far side has a mini skirt .................. comparitively speaking

Being a Welder has anyone been successfully using a Woodies Bench for Welding too ? .......................Ive got a few ideas...........................

Perhaps a story for down the track ......................


Any thoughts suggestions tweaking ideas really appreciated

Regards Lou

Hi Lou

the "new" "aussie" bench I really like is Stuart Faulkner's "MyBench" Features — MyBench

In regards to your design. (my thoughts in no particular order)
I think the single pedestal you've designed will result in a less stable top (front to back rocking) than could be achieved by placing the material in the pedestal into two longitudinal frames.

mass is really important when hand planing and chopping mortices. At other times much less so. I've "added" mass to my current bench by storing my F and G clamps on a shelf under the bench. I could have easily used bags of sand to add mass.

rigidity -- aka resistance to racking -- can be achieved with well fitting mortice and tenon joints, or a plated structure like you propose.

the full width end vise. I'm not really sure about this. I think a wagon vise or small cast iron vise is a better option.

the wide face vise. Really needs to be movable. I'm attracted to the removable Moxon style vise (attached to the main bench when required using hold downs)

top thickness. Has to be thick enough to accept a hold down.

Materials. cheap is good. Very good !



thanks for sharing your thoughts and journey

Thanks Ian your comments all are interesting I’ll address each of your issues once she’s made.

Trestle tables have ‘A history’ of being considered prone to racking movement and the Like.
Yet Guys like David Marks from Woodworks used a Trestle style Table throughout the 6 series of Woodworks without an issue (Good enough for me!)
Also I have an affiliation for Trestles as a boilermaker all the heavy work was done on metal trestles large 20 and 30 meter Ibeams UBeams n Pipe and the Like often the jobs weighing Multiple tons
As a tradesman as you see things work without failure after a long enough period of time you start to trust and have an affiliation for it……………….I have that trust in trestles when there done right they work

Further your Suggestion to add another pedestal doubles the cost OUCH! No thanks ……………………………
Gets me thinking though it may be useful to Brace the MDF from underneath with Pipe (Could be done keying the pipe into the skirts to reinforce the Benchtop- Thanks IAN ……………got me thinking!
You could always Dyna Bolt the base directly into a concrete floors etc etc as the Ultimate addressing of Bench Movement on floors BUT not always an option if your renting etc and further most issues can be addressed with good design. For me (not everyone of course – just me) the Vice options provide the most versatility for fastening work (The way I do it) In addition I can always Add and reduce MASS as required with this design Essientially add/subtracting weight to suit a particular Job.

Can be handy when swinging a Sledge Hammer n planning Ive got some 40mm n 12mm Plate Steel that may be useful as inserts into the benchtop for a Bash Plate…………food for thought
Also I like to move around my WorkBench and not get stuck having to stay at home base…….. For me Options n Versatility Trump all……………
Im really curious and keen to learn why should the wide face vise be movable? Why would I make a separate Moxon Vice to my Bench? Am interested in your thoughts? And the Moxon Trend ……….
Top thickness is 58mm 3* 18mm Hard MDF (See Rob Cosman Canadian I think? on MDF Benchtops) More than enough for Hold downs (Ive got 2 Veritas Adjustable ones laying round I think) But they can be Reinforced with homemade Steel Washers inlays etc etc

Regardless lots of thought provoking comments appreciate your words IAN