Replies

1. 
   WillGeorge | Jul 29, 2005 10:29pm | #1

   NO! Build your own and HAVE some fun!

1. 
   81treehouse | Jul 30, 2005 05:58am | #7

   What do you think this is?  A forum for woodworkers?

   Make something out of wood?  Why?  Can't everything be bought ready to use?

   Just joking!  :-)

   I do agree with you about this topic.  LOL

    A bad day woodworking is better than a good day working -- yes, I'm retired!

2. 
   Napie | Jul 29, 2005 10:57pm | #2

   Agreed, any woodworker worthy of his tools MUST build his own bench and tool chest.  That's just the way it is.  Besides, it's great fun and you get what works for YOU.  My last bench, (the 3rd so far), took about 30 hours and cost under $100 in material, (saved of-cuts from previous projects, bought a Record vice screw for the end vice), not counting my Yost patternmakers vice.  I got that for $50.00 years ago from an old friend.

3. 
   Walker1 | Jul 29, 2005 10:58pm | #3

               < Build your own and have some fun>

              I second that.

                             Cheers.               Walker1

4. 
   dchristy | Jul 30, 2005 12:09am | #4

   I whole heartedly agree!  This is the bench I made (not out of red oak).  If you can get your hands on a copy of this shop notes, its a great bench!

   http://store.yahoo.com/backissuesstore/sn065.html

5. 
   ram | Jul 30, 2005 03:32am | #5

   If you're like me, you might want to make your own bench but not glue up a top. If so here are some links:

   http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10101&storeId=12&langId=-1&productId=32161

   http://www.lumberliquidators.com/shopping/add.asp?product_id=297

    

1. 
   AndyE | Jul 31, 2005 04:00am | #10

   Timely post. I just picked up two of Lumber Liquidators 2x8 tops on Thursday. One to be cut down for an entertainment center top and one to cut down for a workbench for me. I am finally going to build a workbench so I don't have to use my tablesaw for an assembly/work table anymore.They seem nice and solid, all the glue joints look good, and if I make the workbench 6' I can have enough left over to make a chopping block or carving board also.But this thread brings up another question. What size workbench? I see myself building a variety of things, chairs, tables, games and puzzles, lawn ornaments, sculpture,... Is 24" wide enough for a bench? I was planning on adding an additional 6 to 8" to one side of the top. I figure this will give a good amound of space on top and if I need wider temporarily I can throw on a sheet of ply. I will throw on a pic when I get it finished. Most likely some time next spring.Andy"It seemed like a good idea at the time"

1. 
   georgek | Jul 31, 2005 04:25pm | #11

   Andy, adding a few inches is a good idea, but better yet, keep the full length, you'll eventually need it.GO CUBS!!!

1. 
   AndyE | Jul 31, 2005 11:59pm | #16

   I really want to keep the full length but I don't know if I can manage a full 8' of table in my narrow shop. Outside walls are 24' by 36' but the space is an ell only 11' wide. The corner I was thinking of putting it into is opposite the door also and 8' would mean the knob would hit me in the lower back when the kids came down to see what I was doing. I would post a pic if it weren't so messy down there. Between the tools, lumber geting ready for projects and leftovers from the house addition the only clear space right now is about two steps in any direction from the tablesaw.I enjoyed Chicago. Lived there for 6 months, all of it winter. Got scared the day we were walking to work and had to ask why they were stringing ropes between the lighposts along Michigan Ave. " To keep people from getting blown into traffic when it gets icy."Andy"It seemed like a good idea at the time"

2. 
   Walker1 | Jul 31, 2005 06:13pm | #13

      AndyE.    I've built a couple of WW benches now, and I find 30in's the perfect  width. 

         Cheers.                       Walker1

1. 
   Ricks503 | Jul 31, 2005 06:31pm | #14

   Ok I cheated a bit.  Built a nice solid base to take the 1 3/4" solid wood door I had lying around (no knob holes were drilled in it) I then added a 2" wide oak banding around the door and then cut a piece of 1/4" hardboard with a white melamine  side to fit the top and inside the banding ( so I have a 2" thick top that has a replaceable topcoat for when it gets messed up. )

   Installed the vises and drilled the dog holes and went to work.1 - measure the board twice, 2 - cut it once, 3 - measure the space where it is supposed to go        4 - get a new board and go back to step 1

2. 
   AndyE | Aug 01, 2005 12:07am | #18

   I agree going wider would be better. I have some 3 x 6 white oak i am going to attach to each edge.Andy"It seemed like a good idea at the time"

3. 
   BartOriginal | Aug 01, 2005 12:02am | #17

   I have a bench that is 36" x 57" & also used as an out-feed table.

   The top is 1" plywood with 3/4" high density underlayment (chip board) & 1/4" tempered Masonite. Banded with donated Poplar the base is made out of the same Poplar. The front & back legs are dadoed & a piece of 3/4" plywood is glued into the dado & a spacer strip on the outside of the plywood with a piece of pegboard over it.

   Basically it is similar to the Shop Notes Woodsmith Bench but adapted to my material & needs.

   No it doesn't have a fancy wood top. They are pretty & I like them but I am not willing to spend the time or money for a fancy wood top for a work bench. Maybe I'll purchase a top when I get into a bigger shop.

   
4. 
   BarryO | Aug 01, 2005 06:42am | #22

   The Lumber Liquidator tops seemed a little on the thin side to me.  Also, I was concerned about it being unfinished:  'seems like there would be alot of chances for the top to move from the time it was manufactured, to the time I get it and can finish it.  Also, the 24" width was a little narrow.

   I got the Grizzly 30"x96"x1.75" finished top.  The Grizzly tops are a good deal if you can pick them up at the warehouse and avoid the shipping.  I bought it, had it sitting around for 6 months, and was still dead flat when I unpacked it.

1. 
   AndyE | Aug 01, 2005 08:25pm | #23

   BarryI went with LL because they have an outlet nearby, and I could see the tops before $$. They look pretty good. A full 1.5" and it is more like a heavy duty OSB. Looking at the end grain it is made of 3 layers of 1/2" x 1" strips. The long edges are finished with a solid edge piece. So if you were to use it full size it could look fine. Not what I would put on a fine show piece, but for a bench top, even without a finish on it, I can't see it moving too much. I have one of the Grizzly tops I used as a 'breakfast bar' counter top. It has solid 1 3/4" sq laminations that look much better. Although that I had to have shipped, and was lucky to have been sent a 120" x 36" wide piece instead of the 30" I ordered. There were some gouges from transit I managed to cut off.Andy"It seemed like a good idea at the time"

6. 
   Yogi | Jul 30, 2005 04:17am | #6

   It sounds expensive-  Whatsamattayou? Build one!

7. 
   mudman | Jul 30, 2005 06:10am | #8

   Don't let them put you off buying one if you want. I hate building shop fixtures and jigs. I seen people spend more than a day and $60 to make a tennoning jig that isint half as good as Deltas' $80 jig. While others are building shop fixtures I am turning out nice furniture and cabinets. Not only that the real advantage of making a bench is that you can make a bench that is perfect for you. However if you've never had a real bench.... how do you know what you want?

   Mike

   please excuse my spelling.
1. 
   81treehouse | Jul 30, 2005 06:46am | #9

   Good point.

    A bad day woodworking is better than a good day working -- yes, I'm retired!

2. 
   Metod | Aug 02, 2005 01:42am | #24

   Mike,

   <<how do you know what you want?>>

   Just ask a salesperson - tell him (I would not trust a lady for such kind of a job...) first that you have wads of money. If he is any good, he should take care of both, your wallet and your mind. And that would be just before you know it. (grin)

   Best wishes,

   Metod

8. 
   HouseOfY | Jul 31, 2005 05:27pm | #12

   I was the same way on a wookbench, My current one is a nice long crappy bench with a 2" plywood top..  I always hated the idea of building a new (quality) bench.. Well, the top is going together (3" walnut with Hackberry accents) and it has been a blast.. Do the research, you will enjoy building your own..

9. 
   Metod | Jul 31, 2005 09:37pm | #15

   JIm,

   I built mine about 18 years ago (at that time I did not have a thickness planer yet..., onlt Makita 6" power plane). It was hard work - ripping 8/4 rock maple with a Craftsman circular saw, etc. The tool chest under the bench is from last spring.

   Every time I step into my workshop, I still feel great about it.

   Best wishes,

   Metod

   
1. 
   Walker1 | Aug 01, 2005 01:26am | #19

      Metod,    That is a truly gorgeous bench by anyones standards.  Well done!

             But that bench wouldn't have any place in my shop, because in a month you wouldn't recognize it, and that would be a shame.

              My benches are more along the lines of what Rick503 describes. I build them strong and true, with replaceable tops, and ready for any abuse I can throw at them.

            In fact I'm supposed to be working on something right now, but it's too hot.

                Cheers.                     WALKER1

2. 
   jericho | Aug 01, 2005 02:21am | #20

   metod, tell me more about the tool chest. my daughter wants a tack trunk and i'm just getting construction ideas.

   oh, i do like your set-up, it's nice!

   jericho

1. 
   Metod | Aug 01, 2005 02:54am | #21

   Jericho,

   The carcass is made of 3/4" baltic birch plywood. The rest are just a bunch of drawers. The fronts are maple, the back and the sides are poplar, and the bottoms are 1/4 baltic birch plywood. I covered the plywood edges with 1/4" thick strips of walnut.

   I had fun playing with the drawer proportions (within the under-the-bench space constraints. I also hand-cut the dovetails for the drawers. Gotten pretty good at it - but still with a good amount of space to improve.

   Let me know, if you need some other details.

   Best wishes,

   Metod

    

    

10. 
    hammer1 | Aug 02, 2005 02:24am | #25

    The Diefenbacher benches are top quality. They are not listed on their web site anymore. Garrett Wade had some nice benches in the catalog but not on the web site. Ulima and Anke are a couple other brands.

    Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

11. 
    pqken | Aug 02, 2005 03:32am | #26

    I will echo the same, make your own. Take your time, do some research, think about what kind of woodworking you'll be doing, your space, your working height, how much money you want to spend on it, and have at it. It's a learning experience in it's own. I made a joiners bench (Top dem. 2600mm X 900mm X 110mm) (8.5' X 2.9' X 4.3") bench from Douglas Fir with a front and end vise when I started out. Using Doug Fir it didn't cost that much so I was able to make it that large albeit not what most would call the best choice of wood...but it has served me well.

    Good luck.