LumberJocks Woodworking Forum banner

Project Information

This workbench was inspired by a truckload of free oak boards that I ended up with. I don't like oak furniture, but I thought it would be perfect for a bench. Its my first real bench, and I built it to be practical more than beautiful.

The entire top is laminated with 3/4" boards with varying widths from 2 1/2" to 4". The top is about two feet by four feet. Its small, but I barely have room for it as it is. The last photo (above) shows a piece of curly-figured Oak (which I've never seen before) that I used for the tool tray.

The base is construction grade 4×6 Doug Fir painted black.

I installed two large vices and a hold down for chopping dovetails. The front vice is a really nice, old Craftsman with a quick-release mechanism that I bought from the flee market years ago. The vice I used as a "tail" vice is unmarked except for "U.S.A." The Hold down is marked "Sheffield England 146" and was a gift from my boss.

DSC_6470

Both vices got 8/4 solid oak jaws to facilitate the use of Veritas brass bench dogs, which I ordered from Lee Valley. I made the tail vice jaw extend the entire width of the bench for clamping large and irregular pieces.

DSC_6447

I went to Home Depot for 7/8" dowel stock for temporary vice handles because I know it only comes in some cheap semi-hard wood. But I found a dowel in the pile that was spalted-whatever wood and I decided I liked it enough to make it permanent. So I gave it Bubinga caps and black leather cushions to protect it from the impact of sliding back and forth (thanks for the idea Todd).

DSC_6472

I still have several bench accessories that I want to build including a chest of drawers built into the base for tool storage, bench hooks, chuting boards, etc. But the first of the accessories I made was a movable lamp stand. I can place it in any dog-hole so I always have light where I need it for hand tool use. Or I can remove it completely when it is in the way.



DSC_6454

I have been researching, collecting, restoring and sharpening an accumulation of beautiful hand tools that I haven't had much opportunity to actually USE since I haven't had a proper bench. I think this will be a turning point for me as a woodworker as well as my work. I can't wait to cut my first hand-cut dovetails.

I blogged the building process of this bench HERE in my series Hand Tool Journey if you would like more information.

UPDATE: Here is a link to the completed chest of drawers I installed in the bench:

Gallery

Comments

· Registered
Joined
·
1,466 Posts
Thanks for all the comments! Sorry I left out the dimensions. Its about 2' x 4'. Next time I'm in the shop I'll get exact measurements for you including height.

The dimensions were based solely on the amount of lumber I had to work with.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
380 Posts
Great design and execution, Blake. Bravo. AND the #62 looks great too.

always,
J.C.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
4,054 Posts
Excellent job all around , Blake !!
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,243 Posts
Nice Bench Blake many happy times ahead …..
 

· Registered
Joined
·
313 Posts
She's a beauty Blake! I wish I had the room for a bench like that. Looking forward to those hand tooled projects.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
244 Posts
Blake, This is great. I like the legs and love the oak top.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
5,163 Posts
Blake, this is a wonderful addition to your shop. This is a tool that will get a lot of use in your shop and a nice way to use up the "free" wood. I like the lamp addition as well. I am sure you will have as much fun using this as you did building it.
 

· In Loving Memory
Joined
·
2,704 Posts
You go Boy! Wow, cool bench and I mean cool. Nice job. Mike
 

· Registered
Joined
·
86 Posts
Thanks for sharing. I, too, don't care for oak furniture, but have come into some oak boards and now I know what to do with them!
 

· Registered
Joined
·
2,489 Posts
Mighty fine, Blake. It'll last a lifetime and then some, good work.
 

· Registered
Joined
·
73 Posts
wow, nice looking bench… lots of great details included… wish I had a good supply of oak to use on my shop cabinets and benches…
 

· Registered
Joined
·
17 Posts
Love the blue paint on the craftsman vise. what is the name?

jon
 

· Registered
Joined
·
1,466 Posts
Thanks but, "what is the name?" ...of what? If you are referring to the paint, sorry, I'm not sure what its called. Its just blue spray paint. Probably Rustolium.
 
Top