Shopsmith Forums

Time for me to think about making up an "official" woodworking workbench. There's a billion design plans with as many prices so I want to get the opinions of those who have the experience.

I came across this video from the finewoodworking.com site that shows a very interesting design for a workbench and I'd like to know if you feel that it would meet a majority of woodworking needs. If you ask me what I plan on doing in my woodworking journey I have to give you an answer similar to Palin's magazine response...."I'll probably do all of it!". Take a look. Give me your review and if negative, explain why, and if you can, suggest an alternative design. I'd appreciate your help.

Hopefully the link works if your not a member of the finewoodworking.com website. If it doesn't, let me know and I'll try to figure out how I can get you to it.

The video is 3/4 of the way down the page.

http://shar.es/1wCii

It looks like a sensational bench!:D Wouldn't fit in my shop, but if it would, it would be very handy and used quite often. I would build it with that much used "wedge" on the right side rather than the left to make it easier to do work left handed. (My personal issue!)

Maybe my termonology is wrong as I viewed the video with no sound. (Momma's sleeping)

At first I was a bit concerned about how a board with down sloping grain would be planed as he was showing, but the last couple of minutes showed the "back clamp/wedge" that could be attached, and he could plane from left to right. Therefore, No issue!

Looks like your kind of bench! We are aware of the outstanding work you do, and I'm sure if you decide on this bench, it would also fit into the very beautiful category. Glad you are getting around to making sawdust.

Best wishes!

I saw a bench (can't remember if on the internet or tv). 2 guys were building it. They cut grooves in eight of 2x4's. These were used for the cross braces. Both top and bottom. Then they ran threaded rod through a hole drilled in the legs. Lined up the groove w/the rod and fastened it using washer and nut.
The guys used a dowel screwed in to the braces to line up the braces with the legs.

navycop wrote:I saw a bench (can't remember if on the internet or tv). 2 guys were building it. They cut grooves in eight of 2x4's. These were used for the cross braces. Both top and bottom. Then they ran threaded rod through a hole drilled in the legs. Lined up the groove w/the rod and fastened it using washer and nut.
The guys used a dowel screwed in to the braces to line up the braces with the legs.

Grooves (channels), rods, washer, nuts were used to sock up and sandwich ever thing tightly together??

charlese wrote:It looks like a sensational bench!:D Wouldn't fit in my shop, but if it would, it would be very handy and used quite often. I would build it with that much used "wedge" on the right side rather than the left to make it easier to do work left handed. (My personal issue!)
.............
Best wishes!

Thanks for the feedback chuck. The guy mentions that bench size is what you want to make it. He stressed that there are no critical dimension.....just build it to fit your needs. Like you, I need the left handed version, with wedge on the right. The features that it showed are exactly those that have presented problems for me with my limited woodworking projects. I really liked the fact that you don't need to purchase a bench vise.

I've already got a bench (simple though it is) that I will probably not sacrifice but this looks to be a very versatile bench. As stated, it is designed primarily to meet the needs of a wood worker (who is heavy into hand tools).

There are a couple features that I am going to think about. I have pipe clamps that I seldom use but have to store. I just might be able to incorporate these somehow.

I'll be waiting to see how you deal with this challenge. Your solutions all seem to be quite innovative. Please though, do not try to make it shine like polished chrome.

There's a project blog at Lumberjocks where a member documented their build of this workbench:

http://lumberjocks.com/Caliper/blog/1477


EDIT 1: And I don't know how much googling you've done on this bench, but you can find a PDF of the original 1999 article here:

http://content.jettools.com/content/jet ... chplan.pdf


EDIT 2: There's a sketchup model available for download from the Google 3D Warehouse here:

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/ ... 5cabc4fc7e

I have been considering building a bench that would adjust heights. So I wouldn't have to lean over as much, and I could use it to be an out feed or an in feed table to my SS. I have been talking with the designer and the plans should be done in a few weeks. Go to http://www.jack-bench.com and tell me what you think.

dusty wrote:I've already got a bench ....

Please though, do not try to make it shine like polished chrome.

Can't I just burnish it a little to bring out the woods natural beauty??

heathicus wrote:There's a project blog at Lumberjocks where a member documented their build of this workbench:
.........
EDIT 2: There's a sketchup model available for download from the Google 3D Warehouse here:

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=55137f30f55a6c8bb1987e5cabc4fc7e

Great find heathicus. Either I am sketchup rusty or there is no dimensional data in the file???? Seems like everything is designed on one layer....not like our master has trained us to design. Am I correct??

mickyd wrote:Great find heathicus. Either I am sketchup rusty or there is no dimensional data in the file???? Seems like everything is designed on one layer....not like our master has trained us to design. Am I correct??

Actually, I haven't downloaded it and looked at it. Sorry...