Hoffman and Hammer workbenches.....anyone have one???

[Joe Close]

You can get a basic bench up and functional pretty cheap.

Buy a maple bench top from Grizzly, about $275 for a 72"x30"x2.25". (Other sizes are avalaible). Or another source of your choosing. Buy some doug fur from borg, along w/ some steel L-brackets, and screws. Buy you favorite vice. Build a base/legs w/ the doug fur L-brackets and screws. Mount the vice to the bottom of the maple slab, recessed and fitted to your needs. Flip right side up, align to base and attach base and slab w/ L-brackets and screws. Mark and drill 3/4" holes for bench dogs, configured as you see fit. wha-la!

[Jim Koepke]

Hi Nicholas and welcome to the Creek.

There is a Sawmill Creek Classifieds for listing items for sale. It is only available to contributors, imo a well spent $6.

It also gives email abilities for private messages so you can exchange information without sharing it with the whole world.

Not sure if you found this thread through a search. That is my story, searching many years ago for information on Boiled Linseed Oil.

Good luck,

jtk

[Richard Coers]

Asian woodworkers work on a beam and two sawhorses, or less. https://covingtonandsons.com/2020/08...mpbell-part-2/

[Jim Koepke]

Asian woodworkers work on a beam and two sawhorses, or less. https://covingtonandsons.com/2020/08...mpbell-part-2/

My woodworking used to be done on a Black & Decker Workmate. There are a lot of woodworkers around the world who work on the ground. The bench is just a way to hold the work. It doesn't have to have four legs and a vise.

jtk

[Gary Focht]

I built a Nicholson style bench out of southern yellow pine, mostly Schwarz style, but with a bit of Sellers thrown in (wedged leg attachment). Mostly working on saw horses and on the floor. It is rock solid and I can’t imagine needing a heavier bench. Inexpensive also.

[mike stenson]

What are we talking about?

[Ken Fitzgerald]

Nicholas, this thread is 15 years old. I suspect Travis has either found his workbench or given up hope and settled for something else.

Welcome to the Creek!

[Mark Leifer]

This was the bench I used when I took a class at the Woodwright’s School. Roy Underhill had 10 of them for the students plus one for himself. It was a nice bench to use.

[Jimmy Harris]

Asian woodworkers work on a beam and two sawhorses, or less. https://covingtonandsons.com/2020/08...mpbell-part-2/

I'm sure some still do. But I wouldn't be surprised if most, especially the younger generations, haven't gotten away from that. I know it was common to sit on the floor for most things, but since around WWII, they've largely migrated to western style tables and chairs. If you don't sit on your knees often, you probably lack the flexibility to work from them for long periods of time and still be able to get up afterwards. And I know there's some contention with the younger generations not being able to sit on their knees for long periods of time anymore, especially in more traditional and ceremonial settings.

[William Fretwell]

You need to think about the time and effort saved working on an efficient bench. The extra time put into the bench will be repaid with each project. Then there is the pleasure of working on something without shortcuts or compromise.

A shoulder vise is most useful, holding wood vertically for dovetails etc. Its construction is simple yet commercial benches just slap a front vise on. Commercial benches also seem to compromise on the legs and stretchers, adequate perhaps but deep stretchers really don’t move. A tool tray is a huge time saver as is a reachable shelf on top of the stretchers.

The Swedish made benches have front and tail vises with a tool tray but are short.

If you want a bench without compromise you end up building it. Building a bench without a bench requires some working surface and lots of makeshift stops and holding. It does teach you why you need a bench!

When you commit to making ‘your’ bench the extra cost of good wood does not seem wasted. Visiting saw mills they have lots of good wood that is not furniture grade at reasonable prices, you can work with the faults on a bench. My hardwood bench cost $400 Cdn. for the wood, $30 Cdn. for each vise, (Lee Valley sale). Yes lots of time, more than a very simple bench. You buy more clamps. When you eventually drop dead the bench is worth something, people will want to buy it.

[steven c newman]

Seen while out and out ...
Aisle/room #5 ( Blacksmith's Tools Stall)
Springfield Road Trip, Bench for sale.jpg
I was just thinking about how much good Irish Whiskey that barrel could hold...
Springfield Road Trip, Bench, other end.jpg
Face vise...
Springfield Road Trip, Bench, tool well.jpg
And a Proper Tool Tray...has square dog holes. by the way..
Got distracted...
Springfield Road Trip, Blacksmith's tools.jpg
When I happened to look to my right...

[Thomas Crawford]

zombie thread!

[Jimmy Harris]

I am amazed at the cost of benches. I have had mine a few years and it cost about $250. It is a Sjoberg that looks to be about $450 now.

It is nothing great, but it works. My next project is to add a tool tray to help rid it of clutter. Plan to build a bench of framing 2X4s in the not too distant future.

jim

$450 for a workbench in 2009 sounds like quite a bargain now!

[Jim Koepke]

zombie thread!

Yep.

$450 for a workbench in 2009 sounds like quite a bargain now!

It is a very basic and light weight bench.

Bench Bucket Cement Long Board.jpg

A bucket was modified and filled with concrete to keep the bench from tipping when edge planing longer boards. The bench is only five feet long.

It has held up well and has worked for me while procrastinating on building a bench. Too many other projects have gotten in the way.

jtk

[steven c newman]

Must have been a lack of Sharpening Threads going on?