the workbench you build before you have a workbench to build your workbench upon

i built this using a circular saw, pencil and combination square, two sawhorses, a drill and a shifting spanner...

(actually, I think there may have been some chisel work on the through mortices that hold the front skirt to the frame)

the legs are two sections of 45 x 90 framing pine bolted together; the top three layers of 18mm cd ply (with a sacrificial 4mm mdf top sheet that gets replaced periodically); the bottom the rest of the 18mm ply - the whole lot cost less than $200, as i recall

all the frame mortices are made by trenching the individual pieces and it all locks together like a jenga puzzle...

Attachment 232191Attachment 232192

Thanks for this, mhewitt, a great pic. Bench looks very solid!
Suppose Berrima district looks beautiful Miss it all much!

Good job, looks remarkably similar to my bench......if I can just make one suggestion, you put a sacrificial mdf piece over the front skirt too, that way if it gets damaged you can flip it, reverse it, replace it so the rear jaw of the vice stays clean.

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Originally Posted by Ueee

Good job, looks remarkably similar to my bench......if I can just make one suggestion, you put a sacrificial mdf piece over the front skirt too, that way if it gets damaged you can flip it, reverse it, replace it so the rear jaw of the vice stays clean.

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good idea

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Originally Posted by Old farmer

Thanks for this, mhewitt, a great pic. Bench looks very solid!
Suppose Berrima district looks beautiful Miss it all much!

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old farmer? you used to farm around here? i bet you miss it...

yes, it is beautiful; spring is springing and the blossom is forming on my fruit trees

Yes, mate. The place has been in the family for 3 , now 4, generations. Our eldest has it now and is a clever farmer, no doubt enjoying doing things his way!! Being somewhat old-fashioned, I stayed with pure-breed cattle, plus the sheep, but he is a fan of cross-breed vigour and is doing well.
Thanks for replying, mate, and every good wish to you and yours.

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Originally Posted by Old farmer

Yes, mate. The place has been in the family for 3 , now 4, generations. Our eldest has it now and is a clever farmer, no doubt enjoying doing things his way!! Being somewhat old-fashioned, I stayed with pure-breed cattle, plus the sheep, but he is a fan of cross-breed vigour and is doing well.
Thanks for replying, mate, and every good wish to you and yours.

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he's a lucky man... i wish i'd been born into a farming family

Great build. You might keep this for a while is my suspicion. :U

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Originally Posted by Christos

Great build. You might keep this for a while is my suspicion. :U

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I built a bench a lot like that one........four (?) years ago. Still using it, still my main workbench.

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Originally Posted by seanz

I built a bench a lot like that one........four (?) years ago. Still using it, still my main workbench.

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One day I'd like to build a proper cabinet-maker's workbench and move this one on to rough duties... at the moment it does both the good and the rough work.

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Originally Posted by mhewitt

One day I'd like to build a proper cabinet-maker's workbench and move this one on to rough duties... at the moment it does both the good and the rough work.

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A good bench is one that is used. Yours fits that mould perfectly:). Looks extremely serviceable to me.

Regards
Paul