Project by petropoliskhan | posted 10-27-2018 06:12 PM | 2195 views | 4 times favorited | 16 comments | ![]() |
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Hi Lumberjocks,
Here’s my workbench.
It is 1700mm ( 67 inches long), 950mm (37 inches high) .
I don’t know how much it weighs but i believe it to be sufficiently heavy.
It is dead flat, extremely stiff and has is exactly what i wanted ,in term of size and vises.
The design is based on scandinavian workbenches. AND yes it is entirely made out of laminated birch plywood.
I am not equipped to deal with large sections of lumber and have didn’t want to have to worry about seasonal changes. I know that i must violated a bunch of workbench making rules but i must say that i am happy with the result. Also the price of the plywood vs quality hardwood made this project possible on a limited budget.
Special thanks to Frank Klausz, Rob Cosman and Carter Whitting for the inspiration, sharing the knowledge, tricks , how to’s etc….
I hope you like it
Alex
-- I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realise that what you heard was not what i meant
16 comments so far
Hazem
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261 posts in 2258 days
#1 posted 10-27-2018 07:17 PM
Wow, that is just lovely.
How did you flatten the top?? Normally you would use a hand plane but I can’t imagine that would work on plywood. You should have made a video of the build process.
builtinbkyn
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3027 posts in 1951 days
#2 posted 10-27-2018 07:33 PM
Wow is right. Nice bench and I bet it’s sufficiently heavy. Like the shoulder and tail vise. I think I’ll go that route for the next bench. Nice work! Oh yeah, how did you flatten it?
-- Bill, Yo!......in Brooklyn & Steel City :)
TungOil
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1383 posts in 1505 days
#3 posted 10-27-2018 09:40 PM
Looks great, good idea to use plywood, should never have to reflate the top!
-- The optimist says "the glass is half full". The pessimist says "the glass is half empty". The engineer says "the glass is twice as big as it needs to be"
Terry O
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161 posts in 2275 days
#4 posted 10-27-2018 11:40 PM
Great looking bench, I built a bending table out of 3 layers of 18mm Baltic Birch—dead flat, winter and summer, and it is heavy.

-- Terry O, Stonewall, MB, Canada
AJ1104
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1243 posts in 2670 days
#5 posted 10-28-2018 12:36 AM
Alex. This is a really slick bench. Great job with the BB plywood. I would also like to know your procedure for making it dead flat. Enjoy using it.
-- AJ
swirt
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6024 posts in 3982 days
#6 posted 10-28-2018 01:12 AM
Very nice looking bench. Seems to be strong and well made.
-- Galootish log blog, http://www.timberframe-tools.com
Rick Dennington
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7137 posts in 4205 days
#7 posted 10-28-2018 02:48 AM
That is one great looking work bench…..You did a stellar job on the building of such a stupendous project……!!!
My only objective would be that it is too narrow and too short for my likings, personally…..I like a big wide and long bench….Mine is 101” long x 42” wide and 42” tall……!! More room to work on…!! But that’s just me…!!
-- " There's a better way.....find it"...... Thomas Edison.
TheFridge
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10863 posts in 2496 days
#8 posted 10-28-2018 03:24 AM
It may be plywood be that doesn’t detract from it. Excellent work.
-- Shooting down the walls of heartache. Bang bang. I am. The warrior.
therealSteveN
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7242 posts in 1585 days
#9 posted 10-28-2018 05:59 AM
Great bench, and I can’t think of how you could make one to be more stable to wood movement. Looks to be well mounted for work holding, has a nice base for support, and unless you hit it with a truck, it should remain sitting where it is.
Nice job, congrats on your 3, and thanks for posting.
-- Think safe, be safe
John
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2023 posts in 2280 days
#10 posted 10-29-2018 12:42 AM
Beautiful work!
-- John, Sunshine Coast, BC, Canada.
petropoliskhan
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12 posts in 898 days
#11 posted 10-29-2018 08:52 PM
hi lumberjocks,
Alright you got me!

I was able to flatten the bench with a little gizmo I have laying around in the shop at work.
Thank you very much to those of you who gave really nice comments and to everyone who took a few seconds to look at my work.
I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I’m not sure you realise that what you heard was not what i meant
-- I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realise that what you heard was not what i meant
dannmarks
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1025 posts in 1592 days
#12 posted 10-30-2018 10:37 AM
Did you just buy and acme Screw and retap a pipe fitting or what? I think that is what I will do to make a great vise on the cheap. Or something along that line… Love the vices and the cool cam clamp idea too. Really neat. Where did you get that cam Clamp?
dannmarks
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1025 posts in 1592 days
#13 posted 10-30-2018 10:39 AM
Flattening could be done with a simple router on a frame. The CNC Machine is basically just that application only way way better. Really fun project.
remdds
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40 posts in 3636 days
#14 posted 10-30-2018 01:34 PM
You have me curious about the “gizmo laying around the shop at work.”
What kind of projects do you do at work? What is the gizmo and how does it work?
Very unique bench! I was admiring the trestle legs without noticing the plywood top.
It also is obvious you spent a lot of time laying the top out in such an interesting pattern.
Nice job!
petropoliskhan
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12 posts in 898 days
#15 posted 10-30-2018 06:14 PM
Remdds,
Thanks’for the comment.
The little gizmo I was talking about is cnc router of the type pictured above .
I work for a company that manufactures bespoke furniture ,using modern equipment during the day and enjoy practicing using handtools for fancy joinery as a hobby.
-- I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I'm not sure you realise that what you heard was not what i meant
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