Sometimes I'm too smart for my own good.

[gsmittle]

This weekend I got to spend a total of eight glorious hours in my new shop, busily building a workbench. Cut the legs and the whatever-you-call-em's that go between the legs on the ends of the bench. My first attempt at through mortise and tenons--after a little fiddling I got them to fit pretty well.

Went to work on the dadoes for the stretchers next, cutting them a perfect 1.5 inches wide. Unfortunately, I forgot that I had milled the strechers to 1.25 inches.

**Sigh**

The good news is it's only pine, not nice expensive hardwood. The bad news is I'm short on extra lumber. My plan is to fasten the stretchers with bolts and nuts, so I guess I could stuff a shim in the extra quarter inch....

Argh.

g.

[Pappy]

It's a workbench. Shop tables/furniture is the place to try new things and learn from your mistakes. Shim 'em up and worry about making it strong.

[cabinetman]

Your lucky you have solid wood. My first bench was a piece of plywood on top of cinder blocks. When I could afford a table saw, I mounted a circular saw underneath. Man was I cool or what.



"I'M NEVER WRONG - BUT I'M NOT ALWAYS RIGHT"

[LinuxRandal]

It would be a good poll, to see how long everyones first bench lasted, or if it's still in use.


You think that is bad, I have a friend, who had a old circular saw, with the optional table, (converting it to a table saw) and a CHEAP router. He is one of those type that can make a $100,000.00 bar, with a pocket knife, gum, bailing wire, and some old pallets. When I see his work, I want to sell my tools (come on, it's supposed to be fun, not make you feel inferior, we get enough of that in life).

Build it, learn from building it, use it, learn from how you use it. Laugh about if, and build version 2.