Replies

1. 
   kennedy136 | Mar 08, 2003 05:38am | #1

   Mark,

            Welcome aboard.  You've got a good name BTW.  Now to your questions.  The heart pine would definitely do the job, especially the 10/4. However if it is nice stuff it seems to me it would be a shame to waste it on a bench.  That stuff is really hard to come by and will only get harder as time goes on.  Try getting your hands on something else.  Either way I wouldn't use the pine for the top as it is too soft to stand the abuse a bench takes.  Almost any hardwood will work for the legs and the rest of the frame,and depending on how picky you are it does not have to be top quality wood.  I built my bench legs from som 16/4 walnut hearts that I bought as pallet lumber and airdried for several years.  They weren't any good for furniture but they look good on the bench.  For the top I would recommend beech or maple as it will stand the abuse.  I laminated my top from 8/4 beech which I ripped out of planks and then flipped on edge so most of the top amounts to quartersawn material.  I would highly recommend you get the "workbench book" by Scott Landis (available from Taunton as well as others) as there is a ton of information in it as well as ideas for several different styles of benches.  There are several with built in storage.  Also give some serious thought to what style and how many vises you want on the bench.  Take a hard look at your work habits as well as the type of work you want to do in the future and plan accordingly.  I would seriously consider installing a patternmakers vise on one corner.  You can buy these now from Highland Hardware and a number of other sources for less than 225 bucks now.  They are extremely versetal .   Put a lot of thought into it so you won't be wishing you had done something different later.

                                                   Mark

1. 
   BG | Mar 08, 2003 06:30am | #2

   Mark4,

   I would agree with the professor on just about all the points he made.  I'm sure your aware of "Bob's Workench" (his stuff is online) and I kinda like his philosophy too.  Bob says you'll build 3-4 benches in a life time.  I liked that thought because it takes the pressure off a bit and because it allowed me to think of the bench in a different way.  I broke the bench up into 3 parts: top, base, storage cabinet.  Like the professor I saved a bit of money on the base using heavy timbers I retrived from pallets (6x8"). I put my money in the top..maple.  The storage below I'm still thinking about.

   Maybe on my next bench I'll build a better base with a storage unit and move the existing top over to the new bench.  On my third bench, if there is one, I may start from scratch..dunno.

   I think the most important thing is to get a rock solid bench and begin evolving.  I built a cabinet over my bench which has box doors that hold all the chisels and hand tools....do about 3 sets of dovetails a day (all scrap wood of course)...good luck

2. 
   onbelay | Mar 08, 2003 06:56am | #3

   Thanks for the input.  I sort of stumbled across this wood, though I'm aware of its history and scarcity.  I had hoped to really take my time and do a furniture quality piece.  My shop time is for escape and relaxation, so the processof making something I'll enjoyusing and looking at is important to me.  I'm not too sure of the quality of some of it.  The piece I have is 18" long and is checked thru the center the entire length.  In looking at the stack most of the other boards are as well. Doubt I will get anything wider than 5 inches, and probably 5-6 feet long at best.  I seriously doubt there would be enough to make much flooring either, which seems to be how a lot of this is used.

   I had not planned to use this for the top--only the enclosed base.  Had planned on raised panels, nice drawers, etc.  Ihave read Scott Landis' book two or three times as well as others, and pulled out every magazine I have for the last few years featuring a workbench.  I don't anticipate a lot of work with sheet goods (at keast after the honey do list is complete) and my space is limited.  I was planning a wooden front vise, leaning toward a tail vise as opposed to a twin screw end vise, but the pattern makers vise idea is intrigueing.  Its on sale for $199on the website.  I assume it can be fitted with wooden jaws.

   I had planned the same technique for getting quartersawn grain for the top, probably in maple.  Toying with some ideas using exotics like paduak or purpleheart, even ipe.  The latter is pricey but I found sources on the web to get the others at prices,with shipping, comparable to local prices for hard maple.  Have seen benches advertised from Laguna in Rhodesian Teak, and found a website from an  Australian company making them from jarrah.  Looks great but shipping would be prohibitive.  Any experience with any of these?

                                                             Mark

1. 
   kennedy136 | Mar 08, 2003 07:27am | #4

   Mark,

           No experience with the exotics, can't help you there.  I have some other thoughts for you but I'll get to them tomorrow nite as I need to get up early.

   Talk to you then

                                               Mark

2. 
   RW | Mar 08, 2003 06:33pm | #5

   I can say I know a guy who went the IPE route. Granted, he's got a huge shop and a forklift, so lifting the top onto the base wasnt as involved. It was 2" thick, 8' x 3'. He guessed it weighed over 400lbs. But for rock solid, I dunno if you can do better. I believe he used epoxy for the glue and laid the whole thing into a press. (Yes, wouldn't it be nice to have all those tools just sitting there?) At the time, I found the idea very tempting. " I have learned silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet strange, I am ungrateful to those teachers." Kahlil Gibran

1. 
   sophmore05 | Mar 09, 2003 12:30am | #6

   is it just me, or are there a very disproportionate amount of Mark's in this forum...

   I don't know a whole lot about workbenches, but i do know from working on the lathe, that the heavier it is, the more stable it will be when you work on it. So, i'd probly suggest maple or some other heavy wood for your bench.

   good luck,

   mark

1. 
   RW | Mar 09, 2003 03:12am | #7

   Gee, thanks, but I'm not making a bench!" I have learned silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; yet strange, I am ungrateful to those teachers." Kahlil Gibran

2. 
   kennedy136 | Mar 09, 2003 04:20am | #8

   Mark,

           I agree with you. It does seem that there are a lot of "Marks" on this forum.  I guess we'll just have to bear with it and pay attention to the nicknames to keep track of who's who.

                                              Mark

2. 
   kennedy136 | Mar 09, 2003 05:26am | #9

   Mark,

           Told you last nite I had somemore thoughts for you.  First if you want a furniture quality piece then the heart pine might be a nice choice with the added bonus that you already have it.  More money to spend on vices LOL.  Second the more vices the better.  I would also recommend the big record vise instead of a tail vise or more accurately, in place of a tail vise.  I have the twin screw vise made by Veritas on my bench as a tail vise and wouldn't advise it. I have never been happy with it's action and beyond that it (and any other single screw vise for that matter) is way too slow for a tailvise.  The Record has a quick action feature which would be great to use as a tail vise.  You can waste a lot of time screwing a vise in and out in the amounts required by differing lengths of wood, and the need to get into position for the bench dogs to work. 

    If you have the ability to place your bench where it is accessible on 4 sides then by all means do so.  You might consider having a vise on all four corners if you can place the bench this way.  Soon I am going to move to a larger shop where I will be able to place a bench this way.  I'm going to place my current bench against the wall and build another to set out on the floor. 

    I also wouldn't build the bench higher than 36 inches unless you are a very tall person.  I made mine about 38 inches which is great for a lot of things but is too high to handplane panels comfortably.  You need to be able to use your body weight not just your arms and shoulders.  Anyway post some pics when you get it done and if you have anymore questions, don't hesitate to ask.  Best of luck to you.

                                                                 Mark

1. 
   onbelay | Mar 10, 2003 05:21am | #10

   Thanks to you and all the others who have responded to my post.   I'm still trying to plan things out, CAREFULLY, so it's going to be awhile before there are any pictures.  The twin screw vise seems like a good idea, but I'm rethinking that one.  I'm very intrigued about the pattern maker's vise.  Thought these were all antiques and very expensive.  Not exactly sure what all they can really do.  Can you clamp to the front apron of the bench as in a standard front vise?  How do you use it differently than a front vise.  Are there any differences between square and round dog holes other than personal preference (other than the obvious!)?

1. 
   kennedy136 | Mar 10, 2003 05:38am | #11

   Mark,

         The patternmakers vice can do everything you mentioned and they can now be had reasonably enough to not break the bank.  Have a good one.

                                   Mark

1. 
   onbelay | Mar 11, 2003 05:04am | #12

   Thanks for all the info.  I really appreciate your input and opinions.  Will let all know how it eventually turns out.

                                                   Mark

1. 
   kennedy136 | Mar 11, 2003 07:52am | #13

   Mark,

            You are quite welcome.

                  Mark