Workbench Build

DLJeffs

Member
Full Member
Messages
4,331
Reaction score
10,074
Location
central Oregon
First name
Doug
Great idea. I bet the hockey pucks are dense enough they don't compress or mushroom over time either.
 

Tony

Hardwood Enthusiast
Staff member
Global Moderator
Full Member
Messages
20,472
Reaction score
27,468
Location
San Antonio, TX
First name
Tony
That's pretty cool Matt, but what is a hockey puck? We don't have those down here :sarcastic: :sarcastic:
 

Sprung

Amateur Sawdust Maker
Full Member
Messages
9,547
Reaction score
15,642
Location
Kewaunee, WI
First name
Matt
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #44
After an extremely busy week, I'm able to take a few days and get some down time. I'm spending some of that down time in the shop.

Last night I straightened up in the shop, got my radial arm saw dialed back in, and cut the legs to length. Today I drilled the legs for the coupler nuts that hold the levelling feet. I drilled a 3/4" hole to drive the nuts into, and then continued with a 5/8" bit for the length of bolt to continue past the nut.

78.jpg

To attach the stretchers to the legs, I decided to get out my Domino and make use of that. Sure is fast and easy!

79.jpg

Dry fit of one end.

80.jpg

Tomorrow I'm hoping to sand everything so I can then glue up each of the ends. Once those are glued, I'll then attach the longer stretchers. Then I'll be able to start cutting mortices into the bottom of the top to accept the tenons on the tops of the legs.
 

DLJeffs

Member
Full Member
Messages
4,331
Reaction score
10,074
Location
central Oregon
First name
Doug
I'm so jealous of this bench.

I have a question (hopefully doesn't detract from Matt's post): When you're laminating boards to make legs or a bench top or whatever, how important is it to alternate grain direction? I was looking at Matt's photos above and noticed that on some legs, he alternated the grain direction (ie one board the end grain curves to the right, the next board the end grain curves to the left). Does alternating grain make a laminated piece substantially stronger? Does it matter?
 
Last edited:

Sprung

Amateur Sawdust Maker
Full Member
Messages
9,547
Reaction score
15,642
Location
Kewaunee, WI
First name
Matt
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #48
Doug, here's where I am going to admit that, when gluing it up, I paid no attention to the grain direction of each board!

Whether or not it matters is a debated topic. For this kind of lamination work, I doubt it matters. If you're edge gluing up into a panel, such as for a table top, then it's more likely to matter.
 

DLJeffs

Member
Full Member
Messages
4,331
Reaction score
10,074
Location
central Oregon
First name
Doug
Thanks Matt. That's kind of what I was thinking. With this size wood, it probably doesn't make much difference. Maybe with thinner wood it would be enough to make it worth alternating grain. Maybe not a strength issue, more of a "stay straight" issue.
 

El Guapo

Member
Full Member
Messages
4,222
Reaction score
4,915
Location
Edmond, OK
First name
Andrew
This is clearly just one big elaborate plan to brag about your Festool domino joiner!!!

Just kidding... great build thread, Matt! Love the pics/progress!
 

Sprung

Amateur Sawdust Maker
Full Member
Messages
9,547
Reaction score
15,642
Location
Kewaunee, WI
First name
Matt
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #51
Some more progress!

Got the ends glued up.

81.jpg

Then the whole base got glued up.

82.jpg

And taken out of clamps.

83.jpg

The bottom side of the top needed mortices for the tenons to sit in. First I marked their locations, then drilled out much of the waste witha forstner bit.

84.jpg

Then out came chisel and mallet.

85.jpg

And the top and the base were put together, some epoxy went into the mortices. Then a first coat of finish got applied. I'm using Watco Danish Oil in Natural, since I have a jug on hand that needs to be used up.

86.jpg

Bottom side of the top.

87.jpg

And there were a few boards that has some curl here and there. I planned for the front pieces of the front legs to show off some curls, even if they are kinda hard to see.

88.jpg

Tomorrow I'll apply a couple more coats of finish to the base and underside of the top.
 

Sprung

Amateur Sawdust Maker
Full Member
Messages
9,547
Reaction score
15,642
Location
Kewaunee, WI
First name
Matt
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #54
Since this is going to also serve as the outfeed for my table saw, that determined the height. I'll use the levelling feet to set it just a hair below the bottom of the miter slots on my table saw so that when I use a miter gauge or a sled, it clears the workbench.

I debated making it level with the top of the table saw, but I really don't want to put a couple groves in this bench to continue the miter slots.
 

sprucegum

Member
Full Member
Messages
3,855
Reaction score
8,112
Location
Vermont
First name
Dave
Since this is going to also serve as the outfeed for my table saw, that determined the height. I'll use the levelling feet to set it just a hair below the bottom of the miter slots on my table saw so that when I use a miter gauge or a sled, it clears the workbench.

I debated making it level with the top of the table saw, but I really don't want to put a couple groves in this bench to continue the miter slots.
Bench is looking great and you will never notice the bench being slightly lower than the saw for 99% of the work.
 

sprucegum

Member
Full Member
Messages
3,855
Reaction score
8,112
Location
Vermont
First name
Dave
This is clearly just one big elaborate plan to brag about your Festool domino joiner!!!

Just kidding... great build thread, Matt! Love the pics/progress!
Kind of glad he did I didn't even know what it was till I googled it. Then I knew I needed one until I saw how much they cost. Looks like a great tool but I guess I will have to struggle along with the old plunge router.
 

El Guapo

Member
Full Member
Messages
4,222
Reaction score
4,915
Location
Edmond, OK
First name
Andrew
Kind of glad he did I didn't even know what it was till I googled it. Then I knew I needed one until I saw how much they cost. Looks like a great tool but I guess I will have to struggle along with the old plunge router.
Way too much dough for how much I would use it or need it, but the guys I know who do a lot of joinery say it is one of the best tools in their shop.
 

DLJeffs

Member
Full Member
Messages
4,331
Reaction score
10,074
Location
central Oregon
First name
Doug
Way too much dough for how much I would use it or need it, but the guys I know who do a lot of joinery say it is one of the best tools in their shop.
It's one of those things you convince your neighbor he has to have. Then you just borrow his.
 

Sprung

Amateur Sawdust Maker
Full Member
Messages
9,547
Reaction score
15,642
Location
Kewaunee, WI
First name
Matt
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #59
I bought mine second hand, so I saved a little off new. This is the second project I've used the Domino on, and it's been great. It was a purchase I debated for some time and decided to go for, especially since I have plenty of furniture builds coming up over the next years. It was either this or a mortiser, and this is what I ended up with. I'm happy so far.
 

Sprung

Amateur Sawdust Maker
Full Member
Messages
9,547
Reaction score
15,642
Location
Kewaunee, WI
First name
Matt
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #60
The base and underside of the top ended up with 3 coats of finish. Monday it was dry, so I applied a coat of paste wax to just the base portion. After waxing the base, I got it set on the floor right side up. This morning I was able to sand it, then did a wipe down with water to raise the grain. I think raising the grain is important before final sanding, especially on a surface that will see a lot of use. I gave it a final light sanding this evening to smooth out the raised grain. Then applied the first coat of finish.

89.jpg

Tomorrow I'll apply the other two coats of finish. Once it's dried, I'll get it in place, adjusted to the right height, and levelled. I'll give the finish at least a few days to cure before I install the vise.

It may not happen right away, but I will get dog holes drilled at some point. I also want to eventually build a cabinet that will go under the bench. Or, at the very least, a shelf. Not sure yet which way I will go. This bench has been very design as I go. I figured out what size I wanted the top to be, and just went from there.

This is going to be such a great surface to work on. It's the kind of workbench I've been wanting for some time.
 
Top