As I read it and study each opinion and how the different guys work I think that I will hang on to my old bench for a while and just make some modifications and additions to it. I have a number of ideas. I am fairly well pleased with it in general. I originally made it around 1978 from stuff I had on hand. The top is 3 wide planks of very old very hard 2" yellow pine and the rest of the frame was just common dimension lumber. I would post a picture of it but that would take a day or two just to get back to it and uncover it.
As I was looking at it (from a distance
) I decided that I will just make a few changes and give the frame a nice coat of paint to cover all of the splotches etc. for now. I will also clean down and refinish the top which only had a wash coat of shellac. That will make me feel like I have a new bench in the new shop. I'll get some before and after pictures of it, I promise. Feel free to post a picture of your bench in this thread and possibly a few lines about your thought process in deciding what you wanted in a bench...
In my case I work backward to most people. I like my main vise on the right end (most others put it on the wrong end
). I wanted a rail along the floor where I could put a foot up on it and shift my weight as I work. I drilled holes in the top and then put a strip under them so I can use short pieces of 3/4" oak dowel for bench dogs. I also have several through holes for using the standard old fashioned "hold-fasts" toward the left end is one of those little dogs that you raise by turning a little thumb-screw. At times I clamp one of those (dang, I can't remember the name now, starts with a Z?) vises at the left end..
