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View Full Version : Benchdreaming cure? Yep. Been doing that!



Jeff Dege
04-29-2009, 6:04 PM
In response to Dean Karavite's thread (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=111041):

I started working on my first bench back in the middle of February. Here it is the middle of April, and I'm nearly done.

I started with Asa Christiana's design from finewoodworking.com, then bought and read the Sam Allen book that inspired his design. The project started out simple, but somehow became more ambitious as I went along.

I've made plenty of mistakes, and have avoided others by asking questions here. There's no doubt that I've learned a lot, and had a lot of fun.

I've been documenting my progress on Make Magazine's instructables.com:

Building a real woodworker's workbench (http://www.instructables.com/id/EO16IF2FR1239XY)

As you can see, I've not yet mounted my vises -- I plan on cutting the wood for the faces and plate tonight -- but aside from that it's done.

(I've not yet published the instructable web page. Nobody can see it except those I pass the link to. I figured on cleaning it up after I finish the bench. Advice on how to improve it would be welcome).

Dean Karavite
04-30-2009, 6:19 PM
Great work Jeff! Feels good doesn't it! I swear, I don't know why I just sat around thinking and day dreaming for so long.

We have almost the same bench going. I have a 1.75" butcher block top, but otherwise pretty close. I was a little skeptical, but now impressed with how strong and stable the truss rods + butt joints can be. I'm curious to see how often I will have to tighten/loosen as the seasons change.

Good luck and enjoy!

Dean

Jeff Dege
05-11-2009, 9:38 AM
It's finally done, mostly. It's not the prettiest, but it seems to work.

The gloss is because I've just finished applying a coat of Danish oil, which hasn't dried, yet. I still plan to put a coat of paste wax on it, to keep glue from sticking. (Which will be less important, when I get around to building a proper assembly table, but it'll be a while before I start that.)

http://www.instructables.com/files/deriv/FW6/4S05/FUI0RUT9/FW64S05FUI0RUT9.MEDIUM.jpg

I've published the instructable. Permanent link is here:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Building-a-real-woodworkers-workbench/

Scott Vantine
05-11-2009, 10:25 AM
It's finally done, mostly. It's not the prettiest, but it seems to work.

http://www.instructables.com/files/deriv/FW6/4S05/FUI0RUT9/FW64S05FUI0RUT9.MEDIUM.jpg

What do you mean "It's not the prettiest, but it seems to work." I am green with envy! That is a work of art! It should serve you very well!

John Schreiber
05-11-2009, 11:27 AM
A great accomplishment. I'm basically done with (phase I) mine and I started it last August.