Project by moosejaw | posted 02-21-2012 02:16 AM | 12560 views | 12 times favorited | 14 comments | ![]() |
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This project was actually last winter’s work. The new shop needed a bench. It is a trestle style frame made of White Ash. My first attempt at mortise and tenon jointery. I installed the large Wilton woodorking vise with some big honking Ash jaws.
I (unfortunately) purchased a pre-made maple top as I did not own a planer or jointer yet. I jointed and planed the ash for the frame at a friends shop. I just couldn’t bare to ask to use the shop again for another stack of wood. I didn’t have enough clamps yet for the big glue up either. Now things are looking pretty good as the last of the big tools have been purchased. (Well maybe not all the big tools….........please don’t tell my wife) :)
It is a big heavy bench that has already had lots and lots of use.
What a fun project.
-- Ray
14 comments so far
PurpLev
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8652 posts in 4702 days
#1 posted 02-21-2012 02:20 AM
looks great. I wouldn’t consider purchasing a pre-made top “unfortunate”, just leaves you with more time for other things.
-- ㊍ When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.
Martyroc
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#2 posted 02-21-2012 02:32 AM
That looks great, very sturdy, I hope you get many projects created for us to see using this bench.
-- Martin ....always count the number of fingers you have before, and after using the saw.
waho6o9
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#3 posted 02-21-2012 02:33 AM
Very nice work bench!
a1Jim
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#4 posted 02-21-2012 02:41 AM
Great looking bench well done.
-- https://www.artisticwoodstudio.com/videos
cabmaker
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#5 posted 02-21-2012 03:11 AM
Ray that s a very clean looking bench. enjoy it
JR_Dog
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#6 posted 02-21-2012 03:12 AM
That’s what I’d like to get building right now… I’d like a couple of them. I’m not going to say I have a shop until I have a few nice benches like this.
woodshaver Tony C
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#7 posted 02-21-2012 03:36 AM
Very nice massive solid looking work bench!
-- St Augustine FL, Experience is the sum of our mistakes!
moonls
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#8 posted 02-21-2012 02:39 PM
This sturdy bench should serve you well for many years. The “store-bought” top was a good idea for you.
-- Lorna, Cape Cod
hhhopks
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#9 posted 02-21-2012 06:41 PM
Look great.
I hope mine will come out as good.
-- I'll be a woodworker when I grow up. HHHOPKS
lazyoakfarm
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#10 posted 02-21-2012 09:31 PM
A much better bench than mine! My bench has not made it off the paper yet. Great looking Jointery, thanks for letting us see the before shots.
Beginningwoodworker
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#11 posted 02-22-2012 01:22 AM
Nice woodworking bench!
LeslieC
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#12 posted 01-18-2013 03:21 AM
Looks great. I bet it’s really sturdy.
-- There is nothing like a Grateful Dead concert.
bbrown
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#13 posted 10-16-2019 04:42 PM
Have you been happy with the Wilton vise. I’m looking at the 7” no. 144.
Thanks,
—Bill
-- Traditional Woodworking & Carving classes at my shop in Coastal Maine: http://www.MaineCoastWorkshop.com
moosejaw
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#14 posted 10-17-2019 12:42 PM
Hi Bill,
It has been a few years now and the vice has worked perfectly. I use it on every project. If you look at the wood attached to the vice it has bench dogs on the active side giving me lots of clamping possibilities. Along with 2 holdfast on the bench top nothing moves when sanding, chiseling, cutting, etc.
-- Ray
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