New workbench progress, pics, video and question.

[Scott W]

I finally got to do my bench. I would have finished but alas, I am catching a cold.

Here were my criteria...
1. Quick 2. Capable of holding work for all types of hand tool work. 3. Some level of historic/traditional appeal. 4. Cheap. 5. Knockdown 6. No plywood. I don't like the smell of it cutting.
Here is what have. Again, I would have finished in a day but coughing too much.

My question is about split top vs tool tray vs all solid. Any thoughts? I paused because I suddenly got indecisive.

First up is where I am at with an uninstalled old Columbian vise and a pop up bench stop got from a fellow netter. I will add a shelf the length of the bench later. Also, I used a 2x10 skirt for ease of reaching under. I am surprised to be honest about how stable it is.


I know I am violating all the workbench height rules....I am at 39 inches tall by 7 ft by 24 inches. I think I will drop it by 2 inches.

Ever make an 8 foot shaving? This curly stretches out. Workmate is not a good planing bench btw.



My son is learning tools. I was supposed to have made him a mini one like mine but see note about cough...ran out of "go".



Just in case the video doesn't show...he was so excited use a plane again. Notice the ugly winding sticks...Aluminum channel found.



Now, what to do with the top?

[Alan S]

Looks good to me. You might consider mounting the vise at the end of the bench where the aprons don't interfere, and you can use it as an end vise if you want. Holdfasts are recommended, even with a vise.

It is split now. It's easier to not change that, and I don't see any real advantage to doing so, unless you really want a tool well. The crosswise bearers make both edges stable, and confine expansion and contraction to the middle gap.

Your assistant looks good too, but the bench might be a smidgen high for him.

[highpi]

Well, you'll get folks in all those camps. I like a solid top but I can see where a split or tray would be beneficial. I could work at any of the designs but of the benches I have made, I always gravitate back to a solid top and drawers underneath. It's all about the real estate.
When you first thought about building the bench, what type of top came to mind first?
Ken

[Scott W]

highpi said:

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Well, you'll get folks in all those camps. I like a solid top but I can see where a split or tray would be beneficial. I could work at any of the designs but of the benches I have made, I always gravitate back to a solid top and drawers underneath. It's all about the real estate.
When you first thought about building the bench, what type of top came to mind first?
Ken

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I had a roubo before and liked it. No split or tray. Had to get rid of it two moves ago. Then I took a class at the Roy's class and used a tool tray and liked it better. I have yet to see a pic of a Nicholson style with a tool tray like I'd like.

[Scott W]

Alan, I have the Gramercy hold fasts and the LV one with the brass twisty knob.
I'd prefer a wooden face vise for this style but I have this one and I was committed to low costs.

[iclark]

If you sister one of the legs, I don't think that it would be very hard or expensive to add a leg vise. Just cut a dado for the bottom slot of the vise before you attach it to the existing leg. Then drill the hole for screw with its center lined up vertically with the middle of the slot.

Alternatively, you could drill the apron with staggered holes down the length for use with holdfasts like some of the old European benches.

Either way, that would let you use the metal vise as an end vise as suggested.

[Scott W]

I appreciate the suggestions on the end vise but that isn't my preferred way of working. I had my roubo setup with that and a leg vise. I didn't use the end vise because our just didn't feel right and I did like the leg vise but I had this Columbian for free. At this point I don't plan to use a tail/wagon/end or leg vise. That could change.

[iclark]

I look forward to seeing how it turns out. I have been accumulating parts for my bench build for a couple of years now. So, I always read these threads with much interest.

My current bench has a shoulder vise and an end vise. So I know that my next bench will not have a shoulder vise.

[JimBelair]

iclark said:

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Alternatively, you could drill the apron with staggered holes down the length for use with holdfasts like some of the old European benches.

Either way, that would let you use the metal vise as an end vise as suggested.

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Why would one have a wide apron and NOT drill it with holes for holdfasts?

[overland]

There's an excellent discussion about workbenches for children on the Lost Art Press web site. Maybe you could use some of the ideas to build something for the little guy. Here's a link:

http://lostartpress.com/pages/forum#!/lo...-for-a<img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yellowcry.gif" />unread