Okay, so let’s say this blog sucks, at best. Or at least the author sucks at keeping it updated. It’s just hard when I squeeze in an hour here and there and next thing I know, it’s almost done and I haven’t taken any pictures :-0
But, I said I was going to blog the build so I’m not giving up no matter how sporadic the updates!
I got a lot of shop time this weekend and made great progress on the bench. I still have it upside down but the day when I can flip it over is in sight :-)) I finished mortising all the legs into the top a while back. I also installed my end vise prior to that but I don’t believe I ever took a picture. Well, here’s the bottom of it:
Over the last week I got all of my stretchers milled and got the short ones mortised in.
Yesterday evening I wrapped up the weekend by getting one of the long stretchers mortised in.
So when I went to bed last night I was feeling pretty good. Only 2 more mortises to chop then my bench will be functional! I need to make some drawbore pins and drive them in but I can do that after it’s upright. On the plus side, I did, by some fluke, end up with really good, tight M&T joints so even just dry fit it’s pretty rock solid. I figured once I have it upright, I’ll fit a shelf in and install my leg vise then I can make storage to go underneath when time permits.
But I woke up this morning and cursed a little. It dawned on me what a PITA it would be to install the leg vise with the bench on it’s feet. Boring the hole for the screw will be much better on the drill press but that could be done with a brace and bit. But the mortise for a parallel guide is a different story. I am definitely doing the bulk of that work with the drill press! I am so sick of chopping mortises that I’m tempted to throw all my chisels away so I’ll have a good excuse to never do another one. Only kidding of course. Sort of.
So, that’s the state of the never-ending bench build. I should get the last stretcher finished up and do a final dry-fit this week. Then I’ll get the leg vise under way. Hopefully it’ll be a painless process but we shall see.
Until next time I make any significant progress…
-- Kenny, SW VA, Go Hokies!!!
13 comments so far
waho6o9
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8968 posts in 3549 days
#1 posted 06-05-2017 01:30 PM
Great work Kenny!
That’s one stout workbench.
Woodknack
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13543 posts in 3352 days
#2 posted 06-05-2017 02:02 PM
Keep at it Kenny, you’ve almost got it beat.
-- Rick M, http://thewoodknack.blogspot.com/
johnstoneb
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3165 posts in 3145 days
#3 posted 06-05-2017 02:02 PM
good looking bench. I know what you mean about working and not taking pictures have that problem myself.
-- Bruce, Boise, ID
WayneC
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14359 posts in 5070 days
#4 posted 06-05-2017 02:18 PM
Looking awesome.
-- We must guard our enthusiasm as we would our life - James Krenov
HokieKen
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16022 posts in 2111 days
#5 posted 06-05-2017 02:28 PM
Thanks for looking in guys. I CANNOT WAIT until this thing is done!
I’m pretty sure it’s the other way around Rick but thanks for the vote of confidence!
-- Kenny, SW VA, Go Hokies!!!
builtinbkyn
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3026 posts in 1913 days
#6 posted 06-05-2017 03:07 PM
Looking forward to seeing the upside of this Kenny ;)
-- Bill, Yo!......in Brooklyn & Steel City :)
TheFridge
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10861 posts in 2458 days
#7 posted 06-05-2017 04:52 PM
Yeah buddy!
What are you gonna do for anti racking?
-- Shooting down the walls of heartache. Bang bang. I am. The warrior.
Northwest29
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1706 posts in 3463 days
#8 posted 06-05-2017 04:55 PM
Great work Kenny! Should be very useful and last many years.
-- Ron, "Curiosity is a terrible thing to waste."
HokieKen
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16022 posts in 2111 days
#9 posted 06-05-2017 05:01 PM
Thanks gents.
For the leg vise, traditional parallel guide.
For the end vise, I already did this:

-- Kenny, SW VA, Go Hokies!!!
EarlS
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4215 posts in 3320 days
#10 posted 06-05-2017 08:41 PM
I know how you feel. I wrote a blog when I was building a FLW desk and I never could find the time to sit down and write a good update. The project seemed to drag out endlessly but one day it was done and now I’m getting things ready for another desk build that will take a long time. There’s something about a big project that is oddly appealing. BTW – I’m having serious bench envy. I just installed the same vise on my 2×4 and melamine kind-of-sort-of work bench table top, big flat area. It doesn’t look nearly as nice and at-home as yours.
-- Earl "I'm a pessamist - generally that increases the chance that things will turn out better than expected"
theoldfart
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12300 posts in 3423 days
#11 posted 06-06-2017 01:01 AM
Ken, build looks good and I couldn’t agree more on the leg mortises.
-- "With every tool obtained, there is another that is needed" DonW ( Kevin )
galooticus
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50 posts in 1874 days
#12 posted 06-06-2017 03:12 AM
Looking good!
Think of it this way: after tackling these mortises, regular furniture size ones become easy forever.
-- Andy in CA
Roger
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21048 posts in 3776 days
#13 posted 07-05-2017 09:10 PM
Plenty o beef right there.
-- Roger from KY. Work/Play/Travel Safe. Keep your dust collector fed. [email protected]
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