Sturdee’s Workbench.

[Sturdee]

As some of my previous posts have shown, my workbench was in dire need of renovation and having bought a pack of flooring timber earlier this year, thanks again Bruce, I decided to totally rebuild the bench.

Originally I built my workbench in the very early stages of building the workshop (even before the floor was poured and with all the stumps still in place) and was made out of recycled timber and covered with a masonite top. Later a chipboard top was added and finally the stump in the middle of the bench was removed.

After removing the chipboard and planing the timber planks (150mm*65mm) I added 2 pine framing studs to increase the size of the bench and to allow easier installation of the 2 new bench vices.

Photos 1 –3 show the original bench with the studs and vices installed and photo 4 shows one of the new vices. The dark square in the centre of the bench is the opening where originally a stump was.


Peter.

[Sturdee]

After installation of the 2 new vices I installed one of my old ones on the end to use as an end vice and then covered the surface with the hardwood flooring.

The finish is two coats of Ubeaut’s sanding sealer and finished with their traditional wax. As my bench is a workbench, and used for all kinds of work not just woodwork, this finish is good and quickly repaired if needed.


Photos 1 –3 show various views of the finished bench.


Peter.

[Sturdee]

Whilst occasionally I have urges to revisit Dark Age techniques and would appreciate having dog holes most of the times the holes would be an inconvenience. Building on New Lou’s idea of using T-tracks, thanks again for that link Lou, I incorporated 2 sets of sail track at right angles near each front vice. This allows me to use a fence on the workbench, as well as holddowns, which together with a removable vice fence can be used to clamp timber as if I had dog holes.

Photos 1 and 2 show the details of the fences.

Photo 3 shows the end planing block.

Photo 4 shows the end vice system. The board can be used on any of the sail tracks giving maximum versatility.

Photo5 shows the Sturdee hold down in use and clamped to the sail track.


Peter.

[Sturdee]

For special vice work I made a number of pads that slip over the vice and bench, being a carpet face pad, a clamping face for round and odd shapes held vertically and also for clamping them horizontally.

Photos 1 & 2 show the front and back side of the face pads.

Photos 3 – 5 shows them in use, they can be used on either front vice.


Peter.

[Sturdee]

Finally I mounted my metalworking vice on some blocks so it can be clamped onto the bench as required.




Peter.

[Auld Bassoon]

G'day Peter,

That looks really excellent - but then how can a jig builder get by without a 'master' jig eh?

Seriously, the new w/bench looks a treat!

Cheers!

PS It would be interesting to hear how you find Lou's idea of using T=track (or sail-track) plus fences instead of traditional dog holes and hold-downs actually works in practice. I must say that when I first saw the pic with the T-track, I wondered what you were up to...

Cheers!

[boban]

Once again Peter, absolutely no forethought and a completely crappy outcome as a result.

[gazaly]

Pete, I'm sitting here watching The New Inventors thinking there should be a tv show called

The New Sturdee

[E. maculata]

Now it looks like a proper woodworking bench Peter BTW nice timber

[Sturdee]

PS It would be interesting to hear how you find Lou's idea of using T=track (or sail-track) plus fences instead of traditional dog holes and hold-downs actually works in practice. I must say that when I first saw the pic with the T-track, I wondered what you were up to...

Cheers!

Steve,

Lou posted a link to a guy who put about 8 T-tracks across his bench and has been using a similar system for a while. The 2 sets are adequate for my needs and is very versatile.

The fence on the workbench is clamped down using 2 bolts and will not move even when a board is clamped between it and the vice bearing in mind that pressure is applied along the whole of the vice ( 405mm ) not just a few dogs.

BTW it is easier to make than the holes and you can't drop small bits and screws down them.


Peter.

[Sturdee]

Now it looks like a proper woodworking bench Peter BTW nice timber

Yes the timber is nice and the vice pads are from a structural pack. Most of the flooring pack is good and a bit of putty hides the minor faults.

BTW what timber is it.


Peter.

[Wood Borer]

Very nice looking, practical and cleverly designed Peter.

[Wild Dingo]

Well done mate!

But... yer shed scares the beejeesus outta me! I mean its soooooooooo.... soooooooo... welll.... sooo... tidy

Weres the sawdust... wheres the disorder... the mayhem... the chaos :eek:

ooooooooohhh the pain

[E. maculata]

Peter looks like a good deal of tallowwood and a few pieces of stringybark/mahogany thrown in the mix.

[doug the slug]

nice bench peter, once again some ideas i can use