rrich1 Posted April 18, 2017 Report Share Posted April 18, 2017 I purchased Jay Bates' woodworking bench plans this week and plan to build it in the near future. It is simple design and will suit my needs with some room to grow with add on vices if needed. I want a leg vise for sure and maybe a tail vise for use with dog holes later. I plan to use the bench on rockler type castors where it will drop the base onto the floor. What woodworking benches do you guys have? Anyone want to do a bench build? I am not sure yet on what material I want to use. There is a sale at my woodshop this weekend for 15-20% lumber which might make it doable out of maple, ash,or something else. What do you guys recommend or what are yours made out of? Here is the link to Jay's article on the bench. http://jayscustomcreations.com/2016/01/build-a-woodworking-workbench/ 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SetBuilder Posted April 18, 2017 Report Share Posted April 18, 2017 Sorry, but I have to laugh as he's using a Paulk bench to build his work bench. I would rather have the Paulk bench. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rrmccabe Posted April 18, 2017 Report Share Posted April 18, 2017 I like the Rob Paulk bench too but if you want to chop wood with a chisel, I would rather have something with more mass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisK Posted April 19, 2017 Report Share Posted April 19, 2017 I've been plotting and planning for months now and have gone so far as to purchase Chris Schwartz' Workbench book. I'm not done reading but have been pretty inspired by the Nicholson and a modifed roubo with a crotch. Not sure what I'll use but I'm thinking about actually doing pine for the structure and something hard for the top and vises. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJr. Posted April 19, 2017 Report Share Posted April 19, 2017 Some of you may remember that last year I built a worktable from a piece of 3'x5' butcher block that my dad found. Well that was great until he found a 4'x8' piece of butcher block. So last week I built a new base and finished it last night. This piece is 4'x8' and about 2" thick. This is a sturdy bench and it is very heavy! I just recommend whatever size you think you will need...build it a little bit bigger, and after about a week, you will wish you went even bigger!!! 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rrich1 Posted April 19, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2017 3 hours ago, ChrisK said: I've been plotting and planning for months now and have gone so far as to purchase Chris Schwartz' Workbench book. I'm not done reading but have been pretty inspired by the Nicholson and a modifed roubo with a crotch. Not sure what I'll use but I'm thinking about actually doing pine for the structure and something hard for the top and vises. ill have to check those out. which book do you have? he has a few workbench books Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SetBuilder Posted April 19, 2017 Report Share Posted April 19, 2017 Just an idea, try looking on craigslist for bowling lane wood. The beginning is usually maple and then transitions into a hard pine. I once did all the floors in a small house out of bowing lanes. I even used it on the kitchen counter tops. They were 2 1/4 thick, about 42in wide. They would make a nice work bench top as well. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jronman Posted April 19, 2017 Report Share Posted April 19, 2017 @SetBuilder what do you think of an oak workbench top? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisK Posted April 19, 2017 Report Share Posted April 19, 2017 6 hours ago, rrich1 said: ill have to check those out. which book do you have? he has a few workbench books https://www.amazon.com/Workbenches-Design-Construction-Popular-Woodworking/dp/1558708405 Its a great book be has a couple of really solid designs. The problem I have is do I build it now or wait to see if we build a garage. There is no way I can move the bench if I build it in my basement shop. If I build it now, it will spend its life downstairs if we decide it's not reasonable to build the garage. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Foneguy Posted April 19, 2017 Report Share Posted April 19, 2017 20 minutes ago, ChrisK said: https://www.amazon.com/Workbenches-Design-Construction-Popular-Woodworking/dp/1558708405 Its a great book be has a couple of really solid designs. The problem I have is do I build it now or wait to see if we build a garage. There is no way I can move the bench if I build it in my basement shop. If I build it now, it will spend its life downstairs if we decide it's not reasonable to build the garage. If it stays in the basement ... it would make a hell of a laundry folding table !!! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SetBuilder Posted April 19, 2017 Report Share Posted April 19, 2017 6 hours ago, Jronman said: @SetBuilder what do you think of an oak workbench top? I'm not that knowledgeable on hard woods. I know butcher blocks are usually made with Maple or Walnut. Red oak has an open grain. For me a lot would depend on access / cost of materials. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rrmccabe Posted April 19, 2017 Report Share Posted April 19, 2017 I think its all about movement. There is a lot that goes into how you build a top. Needs to be able to move seasonally as the weather changes. And you dont want to go back and re level the top of a regular basis. From a rigidity standpoint I think most woods will work. Even 2x4s on end. But from a movement standpoint you need to pick the right wood including how that species of wood is ripped. If I could afford it, I would probably use maple or certain types of beech. In my Rob Cosman workshop class I watched him build a bench out of vertically laminated MDF. Was actually pretty impressive and cant beat the cost, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisK Posted April 19, 2017 Report Share Posted April 19, 2017 2 hours ago, Foneguy said: If it stays in the basement ... it would make a hell of a laundry folding table !!! Dude!!!!! That's sacreligious!!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SetBuilder Posted April 19, 2017 Report Share Posted April 19, 2017 How's this for some MDF? We also used some "water proof" MDF recently. We put a set in a pool for a shoot and it held up surprisingly well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rrmccabe Posted April 19, 2017 Report Share Posted April 19, 2017 I would say its a two man job working with a 4x8 sheet of that stuff. 3/4" is hard enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jronman Posted April 19, 2017 Report Share Posted April 19, 2017 53 minutes ago, rrmccabe said: I would say its a two man job working with a 4x8 sheet of that stuff. 3/4" is hard enough wow 2 by mdf. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rrich1 Posted April 19, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 19, 2017 Went to my local woodworking store and got some prices and measurements of the available stock. they are going to open up their warehouse for their sale too with more stock in it. Trying to figure out what it would take to build it all out of hard wood or possibly just the top. mainly looked ash, maple, hickory, and even cherry. hickory and cherry would make for one sexy workbench! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jronman Posted April 19, 2017 Report Share Posted April 19, 2017 14 hours ago, DaveJr. said: I noticed you had a bin full of pencils. Is it fixed in one spot or can you move it around the bench? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveJr. Posted April 19, 2017 Report Share Posted April 19, 2017 3 hours ago, Jronman said: I noticed you had a bin full of pencils. Is it fixed in one spot or can you move it around the bench? I was debating on putting it on a french cleat so I could move it around but I usually only take a pencil and maybe a marker when working on something. I just nailed it to the stretcher so it was out of the way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jronman Posted April 19, 2017 Report Share Posted April 19, 2017 1 hour ago, DaveJr. said: I was debating on putting it on a french cleat so I could move it around but I usually only take a pencil and maybe a marker when working on something. I just nailed it to the stretcher so it was out of the way. I'm designing a bench with cleats. I'm not too far yet. I'm hoping I will be able to use the cleats for adding to the table. Maybe an extension wing for sanding, one for staining, or something small like a magnetized deal to hold loose screws and bits. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rrich1 Posted April 21, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2017 So I spent two hours today drooling over many different woods that would look great as a bench. All more than I would like to spend though. Then I was trying to figure out a good combo of woods one for the base and another for the top. Still more than I want to spend. In the end I am going to go with southern yellow pine. If I can find a good contrasting/complementary wood I will put a few strips in for accent. Will go back tomorrow to get it. Should still be there tomorrow. If not I'll find something else. LolSent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rrich1 Posted April 21, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2017 I'm so indecisiveSent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChrisK Posted April 21, 2017 Report Share Posted April 21, 2017 Remember that it's still a work surface dude! You'll end up putting a Purple Heart inlay and then cry like a School girl when you hammer in a chisel onto the top!!!! Hahahahahahahah 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rrmccabe Posted April 21, 2017 Report Share Posted April 21, 2017 Just now, ChrisK said: Remember that it's still a work surface dude! You'll end up putting a Purple Heart inlay and then cry like a School girl when you hammer in a chisel onto the top!!!! Hahahahahahahah True ! My projects and abilities are commonly hindered because I dont want to mess up my bench. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rrich1 Posted April 21, 2017 Author Report Share Posted April 21, 2017 Remember that it's still a work surface dude! You'll end up putting a Purple Heart inlay and then cry like a School girl when you hammer in a chisel onto the top!!!! HahahahahahahahLol. I know it's a workbench first. Little pizzaz wouldn't hurt though. I was thinking one strip on the long sides and maybe one in the legs. Nothing overdone. Sent from my Pixel XL using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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