Who can suggest the best workbench?

reible · Post by **reible** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 2:23 pm

Hi,

I guess I would have to ask "why a classic work bench"? The work bench I built as a prototype many many years ago is now a storage bench. Its prime years were when I did a lot of work using hand tools, you know hand saws, planes, chisels and brace and bits, for when you need the many ways of clamping to hold things solid while you remove wood. The heights of these benches is normally lower so that you can these tools and as such limits it usefulness for other uses.

If it were me I would take a step towards building a multi-use work area or two.

I'd opt for an assembly table, torsion top perhaps and on wheels with the ability to have the legs sitting on the floor for better stability. This would also serve as work bench so a replaceable top of maybe mdf or ??? would make sense. If you want to add a vice or two just do it. Add a place to mount a lazy susan perhaps for finishing smaller items... think of it as a very utilitarian shop item.

As a secondary "bench" I'd go with a taller bench that you don't have to bend over to do things at. This would be great for laying out patterns on wood and other things that need to be done like tool tune-ups and the like.

You might also look into the workmate line of portable benches and or the jaw horse type system to supplement your needs.

If however you are looking to make a more of a show bench then that is a whole other thing. BTW I have know people who have done this, they have literary made it to pretty to use.

Ed

curiousgeorge · Post by **curiousgeorge** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 4:31 pm

Although I do really like the Fine Woodworking Bench you might want to check this one out...

Popular Woodworking Bench Video

mickyd · Post by **mickyd** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 6:05 pm

curiousgeorge wrote:Although I do really like the Fine Woodworking Bench you might want to check this one out...

Popular Woodworking Bench Video

Excellent find George. That one is definitely in the runoff also.

They should have gotten a "big boy" to jump on the bench. She's probably only goes 130 lbs ringing wet. (Something nice about seeing women and woodworking!!)

mbcabinetmaker · Post by **mbcabinetmaker** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 7:43 pm

curiousgeorge wrote:Although I do really like the Fine Woodworking Bench you might want to check this one out...

Popular Woodworking Bench Video

She's ***** it’s my favorite so far! I like strawberry blondes. It combines two of my favorite things strawberry's and blondes!:D I hope those are steel toed sandals.

mickyd · Post by **mickyd** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 7:52 pm

mbcabinetmaker wrote:She's ***** it’s my favorite so far! I like strawberry blondes. It combines two of my favorite things strawberry's and blondes!:D I hope those are steel toed sandals.

Your supposed to be reviewing the bench Mark..the bench!!:D

cincinnati · Post by **cincinnati** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 9:52 pm

Before you build a bench you must read this book whiten by Christopher Schwarz. Once you read it the bench you thought you wanted will be at the bottom of your list. He will walk you through a thought process why and why not a bench will work for you.
I am lucky enough to live 20min from the Popular Woodworking shop and got to touch and feel the benches in the book. Chris is the expert on the subject.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/155870 ... N5NQYT1T8G

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:30 pm

Ed (reible) has a good point! My old workbench, complete with the two vises and lots of holes in the top, serves mostly as a storage table. I seldom hand plane the faces of boards and edges are most often machine jointed.

My multi-purpose bench with the expandable top serves the great majority of my bench use.

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Wed Oct 14, 2009 11:55 pm

My take on this subject is that each of us has different requirements, and if making a bench for yourself, you will have to decide how big and what amenities it will have. On a related subject, how many of you use work tables rather then benches? Sometimes, I like to have my project off of the floor, but not as high as a bench. A low table really comes in handy for me.

nomoman · Post by **nomoman** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 3:41 am

a1gutterman wrote: Sometimes, I like to have my project off of the floor, but not as high as a bench. A low table really comes in handy for me.

I liked that little lift in the pictures of the snack tray cabinet (sorry can't remember the o.p. name)

mickyd · Post by **mickyd** » Thu Oct 15, 2009 3:51 am

nomoman wrote:I liked that little lift in the pictures of the snack tray cabinet (sorry can't remember the o.p. name)

http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showpos ... stcount=30