Show us your Bench

[Harlan Barnhart]

Hi Roger,
I like a bench that invites use. Those beautiful ones might scare me off. Sometimes I like to screw things down ect...
Nice to see another woodworker in Queens. It looks like you might have more of a shop than I, since I work in my kitchen. I have been working at a bench for almost a year. When it's done, I'll try to post some pictures. I keep debating the design so that is holding up progress now.
Peace,
Harlan

[Matt Evans]

Roger,

I see the most important tool in the shop on top of your bench! The ash tray!

I have a love affair going on with tobacco, and have for 19 years now. In my shop I have an ashtray on every working surface, and when I get any stationary tool that I am going to spend a lot of time on, such as the lathe, I find a way to house an ashtray or pipe rest very close.

The bench look very functional. I might have to try the laminated top idea once I build another bench.

[Bill Rusnak]

Great looking bench Raney. I love the sliding dovetail for the endcap. Can you give any details on you you cut it?

Thanks, Bill

[Chris Friesen]

Here's mine. The top is 24x84x2.5 hard maple salvaged from a bowling alley. Twin screw front vise, quick release iron end vise with wooden chop. Since these pictures were taken I added a shelf between the stretchers.

Additional (and larger) pictures are available at my photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/cbf123/...7618658665772/

[Jim Koepke]

The top is 24x84x2.5 hard maple salvaged from a bowling alley.

I still kick myself at times for having passed up an opportunity to acquire some old bowling alley salvage.

We learn and live on.

jim

[Rob Parsons]

Here's my bench. Used the FWW plan and changed the dimensions slighly.

[dan sherman]

Rob,

What type of wood did you use to make the wedges for the wedged tenons?

[Leigh Betsch]

Roubo bones with Benchcrafted vises. Douglas fir

So how is the fir holding up? What did you use for a finish? I have a bunch of reclaimed doug fir that I plan to use for the base and maybe the top. I'm not too worried about keeping the top pristine but I wouldn't want it to get destroyed either. Do you pick up may splinters from it? I have maple for the top but I really would rather use the the 5" thick fir beams and not have to laminate a bunch of maple.

[Tom Winship]

Not as nice as others, but it work realy well! The only thing I would change is the end vice! Made of DF and Red Oak for the leg vice! 60"x 24"x 33".

I like David's best because his shop has stuff leaning against the wall and shavings on the floor. Makes me feel right at home!

[Rob Parsons]

Dan,

The top and base are maple. I used cherry for the wedges, mainly for the color contrast.

[David Gendron]

Leigh, I used DF for my banch and to be honest, I think it's holding up realy good and splinters problems yet! Maybe one thing to consider, I use my hold fast a lot and find that it deforme the 3/4" dog holes!

[Raney Nelson]

I have zero regrets about the DF at this point. I haven't noticed any deformation, but I probably use a Veritas holdfast at least half the time, so I may not be taxing mine asa much as David. So far, it's holding its flatness very well, certainly more than sturdy enough, and I have no qualms whatsoever about actually using the heck out of it.

So far I find it preferable to the Ash and walnut I had on my last bench. We'll see if I still feel that way in a year.

[David Gendron]

Raney, why do you find it preferable to Ash and Walnut? I knowthat my next bench top will still be DF and it will be at least 8'. that said, I might laminat a strip of an harder wood such as Hard Maple or Beech for the round dog hole!

[Raney Nelson]

Well, there is the classic argument for softwood, which is that the bench will probably dent before a workpiece will. It's a reasonable notion, but for the life of me I can't think of the last time I dented a piece on my bench.

So there are really 3 reasons for me:
1) cost (I spent under $100 for all the wood in my top)
2) it's ridiculously fast and easy to flatten
3) (this is actually probably the biggest - though I don't think it would matter much to some people) -- I'm not at all 'attached' to my DF worktop, and I could care less if it gets marred, marked, or hacked in the process of making stuff. With a 'pretty' bench, I tend to be a little more concerned about keeping it pristine -- at least unitl it gets not-so-pretty anymore.

[David Gendron]

These seems good anought resons to me!!! Do the base of your bench is DF or you use something else?