Show off your Workbench

[horacec]

I really like your table saw. Can you show a close up of the fence??? I'm looking at the white material you added to the face. And did you add extensions to the front and rear rail?? How long??? It looks like you put a ruler on the extension?? Can we get more detail?? I'm wanting to make changes to mine. Your's looks incredible......
Horace

[ssmith1627]

i just went thru the begining pictures, how do you actually flatten the top? i saw the lines you inscribed to show to yourself what areas didnt get sanded, but how do you make sure that such a large surface is level once done?

Edit: six casters? doesnt that cause your bench to rock to see-saw when the ground is not flat?

I actually built half the top trying to just align each board with the next when applying glue and clamps. The results were horrible but luckily I found another use for that thing....lol The second time around I put about 5 biscuits between each two board and that really kept one aligned with the next. That left you with a top you can flatten with a belt sander. I built the top first. I was horrified that I would build the whole bench and then never be able to get the top to come out satisfactorily.

Others have used a jig with a router to flatten a top. If you attach a board to each side and get them perfectly level with one another, you can use a piece of plywood or MDF to span the gap between those two boards that a router can ride on. You move the router all over the top and it will flatten it for you. I wish I'd seen that done earlier because I may very well have tried it.

I have a jointer now so I'd love to try another bench top -- mine came out fairly well but as you can see from the pics there are some "cracks" between some of the boards. Nothing that interferes with the workings of the bench -- it's just looks. But it is a workbench so it doesn't have to be perfect.

I've had no problems with it being tippy / rocky from the six casters. My garage floor isn't perfect but I've really had no issues with the thing. The plans were from the Dec/Jan issue of Family Handyman at the end of '05.

The other guys have posted some great pics as well. This was a great thread. It's always fun to see what others have done. You can't beat this site !

Steve

[footprintsinconc]

steve, thanks for answering my questions. i appreciate it.

you're right, others have done a great job. my design is really similar to yours is the layout sence and the top is what i was going to do initally aswell.

well, keep posting, i've got to start this weekend on my bench

regards,

[BigguyZ]

I agree with Steve that a Jointer really helps with making the top. I made the same bench that he did, and until I bought about 8 more pipe clamps, my top had some gaps between the boards. I went with the router sled method of planing the top. It works, but makes one heck of a mess!

[gimpy]

Chris (cgengo), I made one of those last year. I really like it. Mine does have the two shelves in it. I also bordered the top in white pine from H.D. and made it 1/8 inch high so I could put hardboard in it. Works fine. I used the double-sided stick carpet tape, although, I wish I had made it 1/4 inch proud high. I think the 1/4 inch would lay flatter, easier than the 1/8 inch top.

Yours looks really nice. All the others look really nice, also.

Frank

[stleestv]

http://www.hartvilletool.com/product/11881

check out the casters here, if you are a memeber of forums.woodnet.net you can also get a 15% discount on them. if i recall, the most expensive thing on my bench was for the 4 casters. I hadnt discovered hartville yet . but most everything else I got rolls around on hartville casters.

i wont be able to snap a pic of my workbench until next weekend when I go home

[Kiwi Dust Mite]

Taken from my wip section on benches

http://www.hostmybb.com/phpbb/viewfo...forum=woodwork

Well 99% so. Just a coat of poly on the inside of the doors to seal them and were done.

For those of you who have followed the progress of this bench heres the final part. Now its complete and I can get on with other things.

Details are:
Dimensions - 1800 x 620 x 1000mm height. I'm tall so its built for my prefered working height.
Workbench Frame - Oregan Pine aka Douglas Fir
Workbench Top - Oregan 50 x 50 laminate with Rimu border.
Vise - German cica late 1800's from an old cabinet maker here in NZ. There is a shoulder vise that is the same vintage.
A 730 x 1200 x 565 cabinet with shelving and 3 x drawers, on black drawer slides. 3/4 extention variety.
Vise Jaws are 125 x 50 Jarrah and are 360 mm in length.
Finish is 2 coats of poly.
Door and drawer fronts are 12mm mdf. I was going to use tongue and groove Kauri but I now have a project for it. Drawer bodies are 17mm ply with recycled self made Kauri Handles.
This whole process has been a labour of love. I set out to make a good sized general purpose workbench and I think its come out pretty well.
Next bench will be a European styled cabinet maker workbench and will incorporate the old shoulder vise hardware ... but thats for later. In the mean time there are projects requiring attention.
Piccies below show what the cabinet was designed for. Powertool storage, dust free and out of the way.

[Uncle Hook]

You might get some ideas here.

http://www.woodworkzone.com/bin/hype...nch&Qualifier=

[Kiwi Dust Mite]

Some very nice benchs here. Mine is adapted from one thats featured on this site.
http://www.workbenchdesign.net/

[hermit]

I know this is an old post, but I wanted to show mine! Never got around to it before. Its not exactly designed for an outfeed table, but may give some ideas. BTW, the frame is from regular framing lumber from Lowes. The top is 3 layers of MDF with a skin of hardboard.
http://www.bt3central.com/attachment...1&d=1175919778
http://www.bt3central.com/attachment...1&d=1175921229

[ryan.s]

I know this is an old post, but I wanted to show mine! Never got around to it before. Its not exactly designed for an outfeed table, but may give some ideas. BTW, the frame is from regular framing lumber from Lowes. The top is 3 layers of MDF with a skin of hardboard.
http://www.bt3central.com/attachment...1&d=1175919778
http://www.bt3central.com/attachment...1&d=1175921229

Great job on the bench Hermit. Looks very nice.

[pmf2000]

I Just Finished Mine

I just finished this a week or so ago. More details can be seen on my website - www.responstolight.com

[footprintsinconc]

oh boy, its been such a long time since i visited the site. i am currently making my bench. got the base made, the walls for the cabinet/drawers cut, the leg cut to join to the base, but not cut to lenght yet. the bench is partially assembled to see dry fit. will post pictures when i get some what complete, maybe just before the top gets on.

hermit & pmf2000: how did you attach the legs at the bottom and top?

regards,

[pmf2000]

oh boy, its been such a long time since i visited the site. i am currently making my bench. got the base made, the walls for the cabinet/drawers cut, the leg cut to join to the base, but not cut to lenght yet. the bench is partially assembled to see dry fit. will post pictures when i get some what complete, maybe just before the top gets on.

hermit & pmf2000: how did you attach the legs at the bottom and top?

regards,

Here you go!

[footprintsinconc]

thanks for the picture!

what i meant was the attachment of the vertical leg to the horizontal member at top and bottom. was it a mortise and tennon joint or did you also use lag bolts into the vertical legs from the bottom and top of the horizontal member?

regards,