Shopsmith Forums

Well, I finanlly got my first ever workshop finished and working. now I'm building my first ever, woodworking work bench........

got the frame work for the top done and after I get it together, I'll start on the top. I plan to make it out of four layers of 1/2 inch MDF, topped with a tempered hardboard surface.

man, that shopsmith stayed in tune through SIXTEEN dados!!!!! one blade width at a time!!!

New update......got a couple of projects finished and got back on the bench. My in-law found, beside the road, an old school maple table top like we all used to work on. I delaminated all the boards except two that are still tightly bonded. scraped the old glue, top surface and started gluing them back together. got the frame put together and will plane sets of glued up boards before gluing all tighter.

It looks like it will be good and sturdy. Nice, good so far.

The bench looks fantastic. I doubt that it will wobble on its legs at all (good and stable).

However, without cross braces immediately beneath the MDF top, I expect that you will have some sagging in the middle. MDF is quit stable but it will sag under its own weight if not supported.

I hope you will forgive me, but I have to chuckle a little, we are all the same.
Our workbenches are over engineered. Yours is fantastic but I would guess it would support at least 2 big block V8 engines and a small v6 thrown on top or to put in simply it would hold an Abrams tank!

Before anyone jumps on me yeah I know everyone says weight cuts down vibration and movement.

All that considered I still say we tend to over engineer our projects especially workbenchs and that brings a smile to my face.

AAAARRRRRGGGGHHH!!!!!
I was moving stuff out of the old shop yesterday and sat my old bench off to the side just outside of the door to haul later. By yesterday evening I was so tired from climbing stairs and carrying stuff that I could barely go and I forgot about the bench. I can't see that door from the house or I would have been reminded. We had a little over a half inch of rain last night and it got a good soaking... Luckily I had removed the big wooden vise jaw and left it indoors. The sun is shining brightly here now with a stiff breeze so I am going to let it sit out until later this afternoon. I just hope the top does not warp.
I have been making noises about making a new bench for several years but the bench building elves have been going pretty slow. I have another bench / work table already in the new shop so I was not in a big hurry to get the main bench moved.
In addition to all of the trips both ways to and from the basement we are also clearing a "lot" of old stuff out of the (over-filled) attic of this house. Right now I am trying to make temporary room for a pickup load of books that will not fit in the library. There is an attic space above the old center part of the house that will make an about 12'X16' room that I want to finish out as a combination library annex / guest room. It already has almost a pickup load of books stacked in it (naturally in the wrong place) so I don't want to put any more books in that room until I get walls / shelves built. The ones I am moving now will go in an attic space above the east wing until then.
Being a third generation pack-rat can get real pesky at times...
I could build a room above the west wing but only Hobbits could use it.
OK, time to quit rambling and back to moving "stuff".


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Keep us posted for the progress .

robinson46176 wrote:...but the bench building elves have been going pretty slow.

Isn't it about time for the decorating elves to start doing their thing?

beeg wrote:Isn't it about time for the decorating elves to start doing their thing?

The Christmas decorating elves are getting pretty impatient and I am starting to be reminded about that fact fairly regularly...


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We purchased a neat Haloween hanging for the front of the house. Given that someone swiped it, there won't be any outside decorations this year. That saved me some time and money. Jim

I sure do thank all of ya'll for the comments! and yes Ed, I've always made things in "overkill" mode so I didn't have to worry about them.

I'm still pondering the bracing mentioned under the main top area?? a couple of cross pieces firmly attached or connected to the upper side rails?? and the overhang with the vice is also something i'm worried about......I almost considered ripping the main four layer top and installing some stringers like we used to put in the foam for our surfboards?? but still thinking??

any thoughts?? anything would be welcome.....

take care, bill