Replies

1. 
   davamoore | Oct 25, 2002 10:37pm | #1

   One of the recent -- maybe the current -- issues of ShopNotes had a story and plans for building a solid woodworking bench.  Going to http://www.woodsmith.com (same publisher as ShopNotes; you can get to ShopNotes from there) will tell which issue and how to order it...

   ... oh yeah, as I type this I remember that you specified "free."  Hmmm... since most of the plans I've seen have either been in books or magazines, you might want to identify a plan you're interested in and then try your local library.  Sorry, all I can think of are for-pay sites; http://www.plansnow.com is another one of these.

   David

   Look, I made a hat -- Where there never was a hat!

1. 
   Pnut | Oct 26, 2002 01:49am | #5

   I just finished the Shopnotes bench and so far I really like it--I'm waiting for the next issue to build the storage units that will go underneath...It is strong, heavy, and flat...The plans were well written and easy to follow...But like others have said, you don't necessarily save a whole lot of money by building your own...nevertheless, I think the bench will better suit my needs than the Ulmia that I was considering.  One other thing that others may object to is the MDF field instead of solid top...I don't really mind the MDF and when finished, it looks just fine.  I also like the fact that there is no dust collector, er, I mean, tool tray..The approx costs were as follows:

   $175.00 (with tax) for the Veritas twin screw vice.

   $140.00 for the Jorgensen vice

   $300.00 for the 1 3/4 inch oak (my choice of wood, but you can use any other you wish)

   $60.00 for three sheets of MDF

   $20.00 for the bed bolts (but you don't need to buy them--use the ones that come with the Veritas)

   $20.00 for the finish (tung oil and oil paint)

   $60.00 for six Veritas Bench dogs.

   Grand total about $875.00.  Not cheap, but a pretty nice bench.

1. 
   davamoore | Oct 26, 2002 05:19pm | #6

   Thanks for the report... it's always good to hear what it ACTUALLY took to build one of these magazine projects, and how they performed.

   I'm still using my old 2x4 base, solid-core door top bench that I built a few years back when I started woodworking.  Ugly and cheap, without doubt... but I've enjoyed the freedom to scar the hell out of it with no regrets, and with a few clamps, other hold-downs and one old machinist's vise I've pretty much been able to do anything I need (that would, of course, be faster to set up with a real bench and vises).

   Someday... I'm just so busy building other things!

   DavidLook, I made a hat -- Where there never was a hat!

1. 
   DWRead | Oct 26, 2002 11:20pm | #8

   I agree, a cheap and homely workbench is liberating.

   Rich advised me to finish my Strong-Tie bench by smoothing and coating with varnish. I sanded but then decided to use flat latex paint on the benchtop because:

   (1) No fumes

   (2) No cost, because we have cans of leftover wall paint

   (3) I can WRITE on the table! It works for me like one of those huge desk-blotter tablets: Keeps everything in view and doesn't get lost. When it fills up, I'll slap on another coat of paint.

   Edited 10/26/2002 4:20:28 PM ET by DWREAD

2. 
   LeeEschen | Oct 31, 2002 10:35am | #11

   Thank you, PNUTIII, for your cost report on the Shopnotes workbench. I plan to build a similar bench, the base will actually be from the Woodsmith workbench, published a few months earlier, but the Shopnotes bench has a better top design, with deeper facing on the front vice and the use of the Veritas twin-screw as the end vice.

   My own changes will allow me to get by with only 2 sheet of MDF, ripped at 32", for the top 2 layers, and the 2 16" pieces left will make the third layer. Though the cost savings is minimal, I like the efficiency of materials usage. A 32"x96" workbench top will look about like the flight deck of the USS Enterprise but my workshop will eventually be (when I rebuild it next summer) about 40'x40', so I think it will fit.

   What finish did you use on the MDF? I'm considering just leaving it as is, or perhaps a thinned polyurethane.

   --

   Lee in Cave Junction, Oregon

   On the Redwood Highway

2. 
   DWRead | Oct 25, 2002 11:17pm | #2

   If you want a really easy bench--but it ain't no beauty--check out these at the Strong-Tie website:

   http://www.strongtie.com/ftp/fliers/diy-project.pdf

   If you want detailed instructions, look at the links that say "Australia only." The measurements are metric, but it tell you the order in which to assemble pieces.

3. 
   riverr1 | Oct 26, 2002 12:27am | #3

   http://www.terraclavis.com/bws/benches.htm

   Someone here led me to this site.

4. 
   WilliamHF | Oct 26, 2002 01:27am | #4

   Tage Frid published an adequate description of his workbench in the 4th issue of Fine Woodworking magazine. They were also offered in more detail as separate plans which Taunton Press sold, at that time, for $6.00.

   The original plans published by Taunton Press, Copyright 1976, were corrected and re-published as "Corrected, June, 1977." Those who had purchased the plans originally received the corrected version gratis.

   Frank Klausz published an article in Fine Woodworking re his own bench. It's similar in style to that of Tage Frid but significantly stronger/heavier. See Issue 53 page 62 and forward.

   Both the Frid and the Klausz are so-called "European" workbenches.

   William

   I make something, sometimes twice, each year.
5. 
   jdpeck | Oct 26, 2002 05:24pm | #7

   There is, of course, The Workbench Book, by Scott Landis and published by Taunton Press, parent of Finewoodworking and the host of this web site.

6. 
   randyhow | Oct 30, 2002 07:37am | #9

   Here's a fella that has inspired my next bench.

   http://www.cwru.edu/UL/pershomepages/wpc/bench.html

   As well as one of his favorite links...Bob and Dave’s Good, Fast, and Cheap Bench

   http://www.terraclavis.com/bws/beginners.htm

   Good luck!

7. 
   BG | Oct 31, 2002 01:59am | #10

   The American woodworker has a simple workbench plan. 

   Scott Landis's name kept on comming up when i was looking..so I went to the library...reasonable price.

   In the end I designed my own...liked the Hoffman bench as advertised on Woodcraft web site.  Lastly, Bob's workbench was a great resource.

   To the point, Bob says we will build four benches over a life time.  I put my money in the top and used a combination of woods for the base.  My cost was probably closer to around $350 with a Jorgenson vise, a recycled vise, 10/4 maple top with 3.5" thick piece on the edges. Built a nice maple drawer.5.5" deep.   Finished in shellac.

   The base...16/4 recycled oak from pallets, 6/4 ash for stretchers...

   Probably weighs about 250 pounds...may attach to a sheet of plywood at the base...

   
   

   ---

   Edited 10/30/2002 7:14:31 PM ET by BG