Project by wunderaa | posted 05-24-2012 04:24 PM | 8962 views | 10 times favorited | 19 comments | ![]() |
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Having seen the amazing work benches here on the site, I know this isn’t exactly worthy of sharing the same kudos. I wanted to post this mainly to show off my first use of SketchUp. If you haven’t used it, give it a try. Being able to make your own cut lists, check fits for complex joinery, etc. is invaluable.
I had been working on an electronics work bench for a long time and figured it was time for something a little more fitting. The bench is made of 2×4’s, 4×4’s, A/C plywood, and hard maple. I picked up a bunch of 2×2 maple at an estate sale, so I figured I’d make a laminated top. To add a little heft, I added two additional sheets of A/C plywood underneath. The frame is mainly held together with carriage and lag bolts.
The feet were made from 7 laminated layers of A/C plywood. I designed it in sketchup so that the legs would accept stepped tenons from the legs. By making 3 different types of pieces (plain, with shoulder, and with shoulder and tenon), the legs were assembled so that the mortise was “built-in” requiring no additional work. The legs were then glued into the feet for a very very solid base.
Not the most functional bench (yet), but it suits my needs. I’ll upgrade with drawers, dog holes and a proper tail vise soon.
Size:
Top – 28×84”
Height – 33”
19 comments so far
waho6o9
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8975 posts in 3550 days
#1 posted 05-24-2012 04:47 PM
Awesome bench.
Bertha
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13588 posts in 3667 days
#2 posted 05-24-2012 05:16 PM
Specatular. I love the trestle legs.
-- My dad and I built a 65 chev pick up.I killed trannys in that thing for some reason-Hog
OregonWoodRat
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174 posts in 3260 days
#3 posted 05-24-2012 06:26 PM
I like the design. The top is Awesome.
-- Peter, A man convinced against his will is of the same opinion still.
SirFatty
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547 posts in 3185 days
#4 posted 05-24-2012 07:14 PM
Hi,
Nice bench… I wonder why use Sketchup when something like Draftsight is freely available? I’ve found Sketchup to be clunky, but that’s just me.
I use Visio to do my drawings.. but have started learning Draftsight.
-- Visit my blog at dave.spalla.com
wunderaa
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248 posts in 3176 days
#5 posted 05-24-2012 07:29 PM
SirFAtty – I’ve used AutoCAD and SolidWorks for years, so I think that experience has made a transition to SketchUp pretty easy. I’ve not used Draftsight, but will have to check it out. Thanks for the insight!
PurpLev
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8642 posts in 4622 days
#6 posted 05-24-2012 07:54 PM
pretty cool bench!
-- ㊍ When in doubt - There is no doubt - Go the safer route.
Infernal2
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107 posts in 3171 days
#7 posted 05-24-2012 08:38 PM
I like that bench! When I get all this bloody stuff off of my porch I was thinking about making a dedicated planing bench along those lines (with an added Japanese style planning stop on one end). I take it with those legs you don’t get much in the way of racking?
Gshepherd
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1727 posts in 3175 days
#8 posted 05-24-2012 09:27 PM
Excellent Bench…. Love that Finish…..
-- What we do in life will Echo through Eternity........
Dan Krager
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4721 posts in 3208 days
#9 posted 05-25-2012 01:18 AM
There is no reason not to expect high kudos on this wonderful salvage. I’m glad you were able to recycle some “junk” into something you will use proudly. It should inspire you to do your best on all the work it sees!
BTW I love SU, but I will look at Draftsight. I thought I had mastered just about every CAD program out there, but Draftsight is new to me.
Dan
-- Dan Krager, Olney IL http://www.kragerwoodworking.weebly.com All my life I've wanted to be someone. I see now I should have been more specific.
Jamie Speirs
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4168 posts in 3830 days
#10 posted 05-25-2012 08:26 AM
A nice big heavy bench
what more could you ask for
Thanks for the drawing info
I must try PC/Cad drawing sometime
The painters complain about my designs
being drawn on the wall. :)
Jamie
-- Who is the happiest of men? He who values the merits of others, and in their pleasure takes joy, even as though 'twere his own. --Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
snowdog
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1167 posts in 4956 days
#11 posted 05-25-2012 11:42 AM
Who would not be proud of that bench. Great job.
-- "so much to learn and so little time"..
douglbe
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374 posts in 4934 days
#12 posted 05-25-2012 12:23 PM
Great, solid bench. I love it when odds and ends come together.
-- Doug, Reed City, Michigan
James Alberding
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80 posts in 3169 days
#13 posted 06-24-2012 07:14 AM
Much nicer than my first bench I’m about to build :)
-- measure once, cut twice...
robdem
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381 posts in 3580 days
#14 posted 07-18-2012 06:35 PM
Nice bench should serve you well . You built it so you should be proud of it and kudos to you for sharing.
Ethan Harris
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300 posts in 3118 days
#15 posted 07-18-2012 06:43 PM
I can’t wait to build my bench. First step, get space…
-- Ethan, CT: Check out my Small Business at http://www.spudwoodworks.com & also follow me on twitter https://twitter.com/Ethan_Woodworks
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