I know that work benches is an old favourite, and searches (here and elsewhere) provide 1,000s of pages of stuff. I was fascinated by a recent string started by a guy setting up in a NY apartment, looking for advice on how to create a useable workspace and create a foldaway workstation.
I’m starting again part-time and very small. I once built a full-size, fully-featured cabinet bench, a once-in-a-lifetime project, but that’s long-gone and it wouldn’t be sensible to replace it (although I am trying to track it down – you never know!). Weighed a ton, for a start. But I really miss what it could do (everything except make coffee, and even then I sometimes wondered …)
I need to be able to hold small stuff, I need a really flat surface, I need the equivalent of a tail vice and a set of dogs, with a quick-action Record or equivalent at the other end. I need to be able to hold small pieces of wood and metal up from the bench for carving and rasping. I don’t need a lot of surface (I build mostly small boxes and cases, look soon for some photos in the gallery of my `small planes’ project) and don’t need tool storage. It has to be portable (on lockable castors), but solid enough not to move when I lean in on something.
I know what a conventional approach would more or less look like. What about innovative solutions, new and different approaches? The NY apartment string provided a lot of interesting stuff. In particular, what are the alternatives to a conventional tail vice?
Replies
Kiwimac,
I don't know if Woodcraft has it on their web sight, but they do have a new workbench for woodcarvers (I think). Take a look if you can..kinda interesting.
Yep, it's a Sjoberg. In an ideal world, this would be a nice supplement to a conventional workbench in the 100% complete workshop, but it's too small for conventional use on its own.
Does anyone on the forum know whether Sjoberg exports to New Zealand? Local agent?
Sjoberg benches are available in Sydney, so image getting one to NZed shouldn't be too difficult. Carba-Tec for one have them on the floor of their Sydney outlet phone +61 2 9649 5077 or fax +61 2 9649 7044 and ask them.
Hi 'Kiwimac',
Here's a living room bench. Can't see how it's portable but.
The options for bench & tail vice are varied - look through this site - probably one of the most comprehensive collections of things vice & bench related, link is towards the bottom of the page.
Cheers,
eddie
It has to be portable (on lockable castors), but solid enough not to move when I lean in on something.
Just a thought - rather than caster mount it on the sort of moveable base used for machines. The result should be more shure footed than locked casters.
See this item as a poosible alternative to a tail vice: http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.asp?SID=&ccurrency=2&page=31129&category=1,41637,41645
It's from Lee Valley and called a "Wonder Dog." I have one on my bench and it comes in handy. Ed
Several years ago, Ian Kirby, built benches using a "torsion box" top which I thought was very innovative. Light weight but very strong. If glued up correctly it also would be very flat. Inserting some solid wood panels would make it pretty easy to attach vises & etc. Always thought if I needed some moveable workspace I would try one of these.
Dennis
Greetings!
I belive that Garrett Wade catalog displays a European made wood working bench that folds against the wall. It is a beautiful unit for an apartment dweller.
It is solid, somewhat small. it doesn to roll away as I believe it attaches to a wall. It is the closest thing I think of to what you are asking about.
Might be worth buying a work bench book and getting ideas there and making your own. Its a great project and will give you years of satisfaction-one made by your own hands.
I made my own from an article in one of the first half dozen Fine Woodworking magazines back in 1977 and consider it one of the most important tools in my shop. I wish I had made it 6 or 12" longer. It is about 6 foot long as it is.
Take your time and make one that looks and feels solid, and will last your lifetime.
Ted
Kiwimac,
This is going to be a lousy discription of a posting here from several months ago (wish I could remember who and when). For moving the bench 'he' had wheels that could be lowered and raised..and locked in place in either position. Basically it was a hinge and handle (which were offset from each other) that drove a dowel down, through a couple of collars, with a wheel on the end.
I would also consider a pattern makers vise. Lastly, putting the whole table on a piece of ply which you would stand on when working and folded up on a piano hinge when not in use.
I saved a copy of the picture of that retractable foot. I'll try to attatch it. I'll also try to attatch some picts of a fold down sanding table. I'd like to build one of these someday.
Billy,
Thanks, ya saved me ...
Hey, thanks Guys. Things went quiet for a while on this subject, but we're back! With some excellent suggestions. I find posting a question here and then watching and thinking about the responses really valuable. Thanks again all.
Let me tell you where I'm at.
I've ordered a Scott Landis tail vice mechanism from Atlas Engineering in Canada - very friendly people and great customer service - and have decided a must-have is a wide-opening quick-release Record vice. Don't know about North America, but here in New Zealand top-end Record vices are about $NZ350 ($US175), which is not cheap!
So where does that leave me (or, more accurately, given those decisions, where do I start)?
I'm thinking about (and this weekend will begin to cut out) a narrow but quite long bench with a tail vice at the conventional right-hand end and a Record vice near the left-hand end. I'll also fit a third vice, maybe a carver's vice, maybe a flat vice like those fitted under drill presses.
It's going to be a workstation rather than a "bench". A big beautiful tool designed to hold and present pieces of work for my attention.
I take the point about this being a significant tool. The traditional bench I built more than a decade ago and then sold was my "ultimate". Choice New Zealand native timbers, the best available vice hardware imported from Europe, fine-furniture joinery (including hand-shot joints reinforced with inlaid butterflies of exotic timber). It was cool, and a great motivation to maintain the hghest standards of work (and, incidentally, the best possible guarantee to prospective clients and customers that I was capable of top-end work).
This new bench will also be special, mainly because I'm discovering (re-discovering) that lot of the pleasure I get from fine woodworking is from using fine tools, well. A good bench is a fine tool, thanks for reminding me of that!
More (and a photograph) in a couple of months.
Questions I'm still wondering about:- if it's going to be narrow (like, say, 15-18 inches), how best to brace it so it doesn't tip away from me when I lean in- wheels or a roller frame (as suggested by an early post), and how do I lock it in place (and thanks for the posts on that subject - very helpfull)- Can I sensibly laminate-up 4 inch by 1 inch boards to get a 4 inch thick top? And if I'm thinking of doing that, can I stagger the sandwich to make mortice and tenon joints that effectively make the top and the legs one piece? I made a coffee table like this once and loved the look- steel dogs or shop-made round (or square) hardwood dog- and others will emerge.
This is fun, eh.
Hi mac,
vice price across the Tasman is AUD229 (approx USD130) for a large Record Vise, model 53ED, 265mm wide, 380mm throat opening, quick release.
See them regularly on sale at approx AUD175/USD100.
Good luck with designs.
I still use my first bench, a second hand Record bench, 48" by 16" top with a single 7" vice and double dog holes, storage cupboard underneath, cost USD40. The frame is built lightweight and racked horribly, designed to be weighed down by the tools in the frame. I just glued & screwed plywood panels across three sides of the frame, which took a lot of the rack out of the job, and used 2 off 20L carboys (the poly bottles used to store acid, etc), filled with sand as the dead weight to stop the bench from moving.
(Just came in from the workshop after looking at construction). Top is 2x1 quartersawn beech, laid so that it's 1" deep, with the outer strip being 3x2, into which the dog holes are milled. End caps are screwed in with plugged coachbolts. Solid enough but shows minor movement with the weather. Of course, a thicker top would minimise distortion
Bench is fairly solid now. Not a museum quality work of art, but still functional. It could be made a lot better looking with a minimum of effort should it be necessary.
Cheers,
eddie
Kiwimac,
Getting excited now..can't you go a little faster...lol. Seriously, really like your comments about creating a fine tool rather than a 'bench'. There really is an impact on your phyche (sp?) that plays out in what you do and how you do it. I got a similar boost when I bought the cabinet saw. Let me be clear, my work is pretty crappy but I am threatening....lol.
Anyhow, just a coupla thoughts. I bought the Jorgenson vise ($119)because I like wooden handles and the quick release does not require a lever being pushed.
I put a lot of weight and construction into the base. I recycled oak timbers from pallets a full 4" square for the legs and 8/4x6" ash stretchers (every joint is M&T). I used oak for the sled type feet and, also, a similar design at the top for joining the bench top to the base. My top is only 2 3/4 thick with a 2 3/4x4" piece on the front and back and breadboard ends. The bench top fits over the base. Its heavy and stable but I can put my foot on the sled base if I am working perpendicular to the front for additional stability.
Can't wait to see the pictures...
Hey, if you haven't seen this, this is one cool workbench.
Lots of ideas, and very detailed plans.
Print it out. It's harder to find then it used to be. I'm afraid one day they'll pull it off the web entirely.
http://www.bluehighwaytour.com/2001/Tool_Stand_1.html
Uh Oh Billy!
I checked this when your message first came up, and there was a way cool set of pages at this address - I bookmarked it to look again tonight ... and ... it's gone!
Page not available the message says. I hate it when that happens. Even the parent index page has gone. Was it us, or just a coincidence. I'll check again a couple of times. Anyone else succeed?
It looked like a seriously original workstation (based, incidentally, see the post above, on a torsion box).
I got through about 3 hours ago, again just now
Thanks for the info re shipping
I asked the original questions at the top of this string in a search for some new ideas before embarking on a workbench, and now I'm in a pickle!
The "ultimate tool stand" shown at the http://www.bluehighwaytour.com address above is full of original and well thought out ideas, and my first impressions were correct, it is WAY cool. But it's not a "bench". I love the sanding station idea with dust extraction to a shopvac - that's neat and so easy to do.
So where next? If we're talking about a workstation that delivers convenience, comfort, efficiency and econonmy of space, the ultimate tool stand is one solution, and it sure would deliver. If you don't need to put your whole workshop in one giant container, and what you really need is the best way to hold and present pieces of work, than a traditional bench with the standard layout of vices is what you need.
Trouble is, most of us, me included, need bits of both!
By the way, the quickest way to copy the files from the "ultimate tool stand" site is to select all>copy>paste to a Microsoft Word or equivalent folder, from each page view. Turns all the individual files into one Word document, saved on your computer.
Perhaps you could build something that incorporates some of the ideas of the ultimate tool stand. But, with solid wood top pieces, though you may have to strengthen the sides. Add some woodworking vises and standard bench dog holes.
You would lose the slots for the clamps, but would simply replace that with traditional bench clamping solutions. You could retain the 3 piece top with the tool well. Perhaps making a solid slide in in addition to the sanding table, router table, etc.
Very innovative bench. Really interesting where you get when you think outside the box of the typical workbench. Think of it as your multi-purpose machine of workbenches.
I have the same problem. This would be wonderful for my power tools. But would still leave me lacking an assembly/hand tool work bench. Though it can but used as one you lose your miter saw, planer, and router while using it as a bench. I still may build it, but I'll want another bench in addition. Where to put it all??
Edited 1/24/2003 3:12:27 PM ET by BILLYG83440
Like I said print it. It's an awesome design. Lots of innovative ideas. I found it a couple years ago. Then it disappeared. Took some serious serching to find again. It's funny, but this is one of the best, most detailed plan I've ever seen. Yet, it's a freebee. Some of the plans people want you to pay for are sketches on cocktail napkins in comparason.
I actually copied the whole thing by taking screen shots then saving them into a Claris Works file. Just in case it vanished.
Doubt I'll ever build it, but I might. I have a miter saw, router, and planer, and this would make all of them much more versatile.
By the way, I just checked, and it worked again.
ordered a Scott Landis tail vice mechanism from Atlas Engineering in Canada - may I ask - what was the shipping cost?
Shipping a tailvise to NZ by ups 3-4 days $240.00.
by post air 8-15 days $135.00
by post ground/ship 3-6 weeks $72.00
That's the price you pay for the good life in NZ.
Looking forward to your decision.
Mike Ederman
reply to [email protected]
Hello Kiwimac,
I'm not sure, but I think I'm the guy you're talking about. I've posted many times here about designing a workbench for use in my small NYC apartment. After lots of research here, in the Workbench book and all over the internet, I've come up with a design.
The bench will be a hybrid of hybrids. The top will come off and the stretchers will be bolted so they can be removed. The whole business will fit inside a plywood box on casters that measures 18" tall, about 10" wide and 46" long. I've designed the box to fit under a table in our living room. It will also have a pull-out toolbox that can be attached to the bench.
The top will be 17" wide and 44" long. I'm buying a piece of maple butcherblock (from perfectplank.com) that is 2" thick. Perfect Plank sells a utility grade of butcher block that is perfect for workbenches and is 20% cheaper than the furniture/kitchen cabinet grade stuff. The above top will cost less than US$50 (not including shipping). The base will be made of maple odds and ends that I'm gluing together. I'm using both the Klauz and Kirby designs (from the Workbench Book) for the base, with Klauz's double-wedged trestle bottom and Kirby's bridle mounted top. I'll use stub tenons on the stretchers with long bolts. I'm going to have two tenons on each end of the stretchers, with one bolt right down the middle, between the tenons.
I'm still not sure what I'm going to do about vises. I started out thinking I'd use the pipe-clamp system described in a FWW issue a few years ago. But I'm reconsidering in favor of a standard face vise and some version of a tail vise. I am going to use a planing hook on the front of the bench and some sort of support for long stock for edge planing. That's where I am at this point. Thanks to all for such valuable suggestions.
Mitch
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