As I am weighing the options of building my own versus buying my first professional bench, I find myself with a surprisingly limited variety of manufacturers. I keep coming back to Sjobergs, Lie Nielsen, Ramia. Are there any other lesser known companies out there that make a solid bench (e.g. 200+ lbs)? I’ve been looking at Hofmann and Hammer as well.
Note: Size/space is not a problem and budget is $1500 to 2500.
Replies
If it's going to be your professional bench, you should prolly build it.
I agree with the "build your own" crowd. I built the split-top Roubo with Benchcrafted's hardware and plans in 2019. I added a couple of holdfasts and couldn't be more pleased. It is a joy to use every day and saves me endless hours holding stuff. The Roubo design, the mass, and the hardware all make it supremely functional and beautiful. You can find plenty of folks who are happy using softwood, but with your budget, I'd use something like hard maple or ash. I used ash and added sipo for the chop, endplate, and deadman. There are plenty of great You Tube videos on this build, including an excellent one by Dave at Twisted Workshop who built his from southern yellow pine (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpRfl9bzaxk).
There is something really beautiful about the SYP choice. With that said, what I have in place right now in my personal shop is a remnant of what I made when I started out a dozen years ago as a hobbiest. I quickly stacked 2x6s with 4x4 through M/T legs. It is the exact size that I want and is very heavy however, it lacks the proper hardware, the table top isn't dialed in, is missing holes for bench dogs, and it isn't the most attractive bench. I suppose I could also modify the bench to satisfy these by buying hardware and loading it up over to my laguna CNC router at work for flattening/boring holes. Start from scratch vs rebuild new... hmmm...
Time might be my most limiting factor with work and our third little on on the way in June. I'll keep you posted, thanks for the feedback.
If time is limiting, work with what you have. You have the size and weight you want. Hang a couple of good vices, new or used, on the front and end, flatten the top and drill a few dog holes. You are done.
I purchased BenchCrafted hardware and I am in the process of making a Roubo bench using a combination of construction lumber and soft maple.
The Benchcrafted hardware is expensive but very high quality.
I would recommend building your bench for the skill building opportunity.
Obviously there are some vise hardware kits that will allow you to make the entire bench out of construction lumber.
With that budget, build it with the best quality hardware, largest vise and thickest hardwood top you dare to handle, I built mine 42 years ago like that and use it just about every day.
I'm with Gulfstar... when I built mine I did it solo. Last time I had to work on the underside I needed help to flip the top. Time flies!
If you are not certain about the final top setup build a bombproof base and temporary top... build the top when you're 85% certain, you'll never get to 100%. Mine is still a work in progress that will end at my estate sale.
Benchrafted makes a great bench. And hardware. Lie Nielsen makes a great bench. Sjobergs is crap. I don't know the others.
When you saw "professional" bench, are you in the woodworking business, or a hobbyist looking for a top quality bench? If you're in the business, it might be more cost effective to buy a bench. Many have found the price per hour for their work to be a loss in building a bench, as opposed to buying one and getting back to making products for sale.
If you're a hobbies, build it, as Gulfstar and MJ said.
Boy, the Benchcrafted STR bench is beautiful. The Classic is very nice too. They all look extremely solid.
I bought a LieNielsen workbench in 2015. It was expensive. Having said that, I've been happy with it. Wish I would have gotten it at a 39" height (I'm 6 foot tall) and have wooden shoes to raise it.
If I were to build one, I think the simplest one to build would be the one Rex Kruger has been discussing on his YouTube channel. Even if you discovered you didn't like it, it would be a great second bench to have. Paul Sellers or Chris Shwartz (ATC Workbench book which is a summary of his 20 years of workbench exploration) are the two other designs I'd give serious consideration. Good luck and let us know what you decide.
Build for your needs.
You'll gain experience, save money and have a custom fit bench at the end of it all.
One way to go about it is to build a frame (legs) and purchase a pre-made hardwood top top.