Work bench build - picture heavy.

[woodtickgreg]

Been out of the shop for awhile, working a lot of hours again. I threw my back out yesterday so it may be awhile before I can get back on this. That sucks, I was making really good progress in my spare time. I miss my shop time.

 

[Mr. Peet]

Being you have similar holes to clean out on similar legs, would it be worth using a fence guide for your router and plowing some of the excess before chiseling? Think my router lets me go 2 inches deep, that would be 4 inches. It also sets up clean edges on both sides allowing you to use the drill guide to hog out more material from the middle.

Hope your back gets better soon. I popped my elbow out reaching too fast. Never heard of such, some tenon damage. Can't do a lot. Wife has really has stepped up to help, ashamed to be in the position. Not even old yet. She is ready so off to assist. Have a great weekend however you can.

 

[woodtickgreg]

Being you have similar holes to clean out on similar legs, would it be worth using a fence guide for your router and plowing some of the excess before chiseling?

That's a possibility, but I would have to purchase a deep bit as I dont have one that goes very deep.

 

[phinds]

That's a possibility, but I would have to purchase a deep bit as I dont have one that goes very deep.

You can buy a bit extender pretty cheaply. I have found mine to be stable & easy to use with my 1/2" plunge router. router+bit+extension

EDIT: that link is not to mine. You want to make sure you get one with no runout. Also, they are no good w/ even remotely narrow bits since the collet chuck is fairly big. I use mine with a 1" diameter bit. Haven't tried it with a spoilboard bit.

 

[sprucegum]

I've made some pretty respectable mortises with a 1/2" strait cut router bit with a plywood template and guide bushing. You have to take it a little bit at a time by increasing the depth of cut around 1/2" per pass. I make my templates from 1/4" plywood and screw it in place, you could clamp it but clamps sometimes slip and make a big mess. Probably you wouldn't get depth enough but maybe a good start.

 

[woodtickgreg]

I've made some pretty respectable mortises with a 1/2" strait cut router bit with a plywood template and guide bushing. You have to take it a little bit at a time by increasing the depth of cut around 1/2" per pass. I make my templates from 1/4" plywood and screw it in place, you could clamp it but clamps sometimes slip and make a big mess. Probably you wouldn't get depth enough but maybe a good start.

That's pretty much what I am planing at this time. Buying the bushings etc to do it. Plus kinda gave my back some time to heal up. I have a garage renovation project coming up and by then I should have the tools needed to get back on the bench build, I really need to get it done. Life happens sometimes it seems.

 

[sprucegum]

That's pretty much what I am planing at this time. Buying the bushings etc to do it. Plus kinda gave my back some time to heal up. I have a garage renovation project coming up and by then I should have the tools needed to get back on the bench build, I really need to get it done. Life happens sometimes it seems.

If you can come up with a very accurate template system you could go at it from both sides, probably wouldn't leave much hand work in the center. Back pain is the worst, I can go for months and sometimes years with very few problems. Then out of nowhere it happens. Hope yours heals quickly.

 

[woodtickgreg]

If you can come up with a very accurate template system you could go at it from both sides, probably wouldn't leave much hand work in the center. Back pain is the worst, I can go for months and sometimes years with very few problems. Then out of nowhere it happens. Hope yours heals quickly.

That's the plan, I'll go about half way on each side. Should only have the corners left to chisel out.

 

[sprucegum]

That's the plan, I'll go about half way on each side. Should only have the corners left to chisel out.

I usually cheat and make a rounded corner tendon to fit

 

[woodtickgreg]

So its been a long time but I think im back on the build. Life gets in the way sometimes, other projects, church projects, etc. So I just finished up a church project and I got set up again to work on the bench.
I got the legs set on the old bench to chop the mortices for the cross stretchers.

I made a couple gage blocks to test fit the mortices.

Sharpened up a couple of morticing chisels.

And I did a sanding and filing of a couple crosses for members at church before I get back on the bench.

Tomorrow I have to e.pty out the front of the garage and probably a good part of the wood rack to get to my garage door opener. It crapped out last week. I can hear the motor running but the chain isn't moving so its either a belt or a sheared key. Hopefully I can get this done and out of the way too!

 

[2feathers Creative Making]

So its been a long time but I think im back on the build. Life gets in the way sometimes, other projects, church projects, etc. So I just finished up a church project and I got set up again to work on the bench.
I got the legs set on the old bench to chop the mortices for the cross stretchers.
View attachment 294462
I made a couple gage blocks to test fit the mortices.
View attachment 294463
Sharpened up a couple of morticing chisels.
View attachment 294464View attachment 294465
And I did a sanding and filing of a couple crosses for members at church before I get back on the bench.
View attachment 294466
Tomorrow I have to e.pty out the front of the garage and probably a good part of the wood rack to get to my garage door opener. It crapped out last week. I can hear the motor running but the chain isn't moving so its either a belt or a sheared key. Hopefully I can get this done and out of the way too!

Sounds like a heavy project

 

[daniscool]

So its been a long time but I think im back on the build. Life gets in the way sometimes, other projects, church projects, etc. So I just finished up a church project and I got set up again to work on the bench.
I got the legs set on the old bench to chop the mortices for the cross stretchers.
View attachment 294462
I made a couple gage blocks to test fit the mortices.
View attachment 294463
Sharpened up a couple of morticing chisels.
View attachment 294464View attachment 294465
And I did a sanding and filing of a couple crosses for members at church before I get back on the bench.
View attachment 294466
Tomorrow I have to e.pty out the front of the garage and probably a good part of the wood rack to get to my garage door opener. It crapped out last week. I can hear the motor running but the chain isn't moving so it’s either a belt or a sheared key. Hopefully I can get this done and out of the way too!

I didn’t put any effort into the workbench I have now. As I mostly do carving this works out fine.

I did have an old Nicholson style bench some time back. I traded it with a young buck for a very old carriage makers gouge. I wasn’t using it much and it felt good to give it away.

In respect to the chisels, you may want a tormek for a flat over hollow grind. It makes them very fast to sharpen. It is also a very good excuse to get a tormek.

 

[woodtickgreg]

I didn’t put any effort into the workbench I have now. As I mostly do carving this works out fine.

I did have an old Nicholson style bench some time back. I traded it with a young buck for a very old carriage makers gouge. I wasn’t using it much and it felt good to give it away.

In respect to the chisels, you may want a tormek for a flat over hollow grind. It makes them very fast to sharpen. It is also a very good excuse to get a tormek.

Nope, I'm cheap! My glass and sandpaper method works just fine for me, lol.

 

[sprucegum]

I'm really glad that I built my bench, I have not found anything that I don't like about it except that it could be bigger. If it were bigger it would be too big for the shop. I really like the split top with a removable center tray. I'm sure yours will meet your needs and then some, that is if in fact you ever finish it. Great job

 

[woodtickgreg]

I'm really glad that I built my bench, I have not found anything that I don't like about it except that it could be bigger. If it were bigger it would be too big for the shop. I really like the split top with a removable center tray. I'm sure yours will meet your needs and then some, that is if in fact you ever finish it. Great job

Thanks man, yeah I'm anxious to get it done. I fixed my garage door opener today so I'm good to go back on the build now. I have made several benches over the years, this one will be the culmination of what I learned over the years about how I use a workbench. I think workbenches are kind of a personal thing and varies in design by each individual user. I think benches should be made the way you want it and not necessarily somebody else's design, not that there's anything wrong with that.

 

[sprucegum]

Thanks man, yeah I'm anxious to get it done. I fixed my garage door opener today so I'm good to go back on the build now. I have made several benches over the years, this one will be the culmination of what I learned over the years about how I use a workbench. I think workbenches are kind of a personal thing and varies in design by each individual user. I think benches should be made the way you want it and not necessarily somebody else's design, not that there's anything wrong with that.

I built a leg vise for mine that took quite a few hours and I rarely use it. I made a little sliding block tail vise for using with bench dogs that I use a lot but didn't think I would.The best thing I did was make it easy to move around. I don't move it often but it's definitely a handy feature. As you said the best bench is the one that works for you.