Woodworker: Greg Scala

Scala knew that he needed a workbench that was dead-flat, sturdy, equipped with good vises, and built at the right height for his 5-ft.-9-in. frame. He also wanted a board jack, a Veritas twin-screw end vise, lots of benchdogs, and a vintage feel. He modeled his maple and walnut bench (34-in. wide by 82-in. long by 32-1/2-in. tall) after Lon Schleining’s “Essential Workbench” in FWW #167. Then he added an “outrigger” along the back edge to hold chisels, a built-in paper supply to protect the top during glue-ups, and two moveable lights. Scala also put a row of dog holes in the front apron to support long boards. The bench is finished with polymerized tung oil and Scala says it took him about 100 hours to complete. Go to FineWoodworking.com/extras for a link to an article about making the bench that Scala wrote for the Lee Valley newsletter. From Fine Woodworking #223

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