New Bench Preview

[Michael Stafford]

I was curious if the bench could be easily height adjusted with a bench top lathe attached. Would eliminate some of the height disparity problems you encounter at woodturning classes. Maybe no need for boxes to stand on...

[Jim Becker]

Mike, it could be, but you would be lifting the weight of both the benchtop you use and the tool. If you can handle that...no problem. (I wouldn't do it with the big heavy slab I'm using, but a smaller benchtop would work fine) A mini isn't all that heavy, so for most folks it wouldn't be much of a burden. And this is a nice example of a practical use...everyone has different "ideal" heights for tools and benches. (And sometimes they change based on what you are doing)

[Mark Singer]

Jim,

The Veritas twin screw would work very well on this great bench and maybe a Record on the front...

[Jim Becker]

The Veritas twin screw would work very well on this great bench and maybe a Record on the front...

I agree, although Records are hard to come by these days...Lee Valley has some nice face vice choices that I'll probably end up picking from. I'm somewhat kicking myself for not picking up a Record when they were blowing them out awhile back!

[Mark Singer]

the Jorgensen and Wilton are both good and a patternmakers is nice...the copies are less$

[Jim Becker]

I took some time tonight to get the bench reassembled in the shop. While there is work to do with it relative to the vices, at least it's usable in the mean time as a nice, big work surface.

[Kelly C. Hanna]

Congrats on the new goodies Jim! The bench is a great idea. Vices huh? Nothing illegal I hope (sorry couldn't resist ).

[Jim Becker]

Congrats Vices huh? Nothing illegal I hope (sorry couldn't resist ).

Does being a dirty old man count as a vice?? Or is that just a personal quality?

[Kelly C. Hanna]

Personal quality of course!! The bench looks right at home in your shop.

[John Miliunas]

Careful Jim...Too many more new toys in there, and you ain't a' gonna' have room to move, much less assemble anything! Nice bench! Can't wait to see it with all the goodies on it.

[Mark J Bachler]

I picked up a real heavy-duty drafting table that I use for an assembly bench. For heavy casework I drop it all the way down where the loose side is supported by a 2 x 4 to keep everything flat & level. For anything else that I want to raise up, I just step on the foot release & let the big ol' springs lift the table. It's surprisingly stable when in the up position; I can stand on it. It's 40" x 72" and the best part: It was free!!!

[Jim Becker]

Just as an update to this thread, I ordered a side vice from Lee Valley to start as well as their dog system. I'm going to set the bench up that way for the time being and hold off on the end vise situation until I see what my needs really are in that respect. (Not to mention that I've reached my limit at the moment on this project...) I will post futher pictures once I start reconfiguring for vices, etc.

[Rich Konopka]

(Not to mention that I've reached my limit at the moment on this project...)

I starting to wonder if you were superman and made of money

[Jim Becker]

I starting to wonder if you were superman and made of money

Some of my fiscal year end compensation went to tools. The rest went to the new bay windows so Dr. SWMBO doesn't have to pay for all of it as well as savings! (She handles the line; I cover the mortgage)

[Keith Christopher]

so what was the damage on this beast ? Asking for retail price. I know you got a deal.