Workbench update

[Tim Cooper Louisiana]

Hello creekers. I stole haven't decided on a finish, but otherwise my bench is complete. My first project is going to be some cabinets for tool storage.

I learned a lot during the build, and had a fantastic time working on it.

[Oskar Sedell]

very nice. Looks great. Thanks for posting the build here!

[Izzy Camire]

Very nice. What kind of wood did you use?

[Phil Mueller]

Well done Tim! I'm jealous of the crisscross hardware...some day I'll upgrade. And it reminds me I need to put shelving at the bottom. Thanks for sharing the build...you'll enjoy it for years. Just remind yourself the first time you accidently run a drill bit through your workpiece into the bench, it's just a workbench. Don't ask me how I know!

[Robert Engel]

Very nice job. Looks quite solid.

[Brian Holcombe]

Nice work Tim! I'd skip the finish, just use it. The lumber may take some time to settle down and so you may end up reflattening the top a time or two.

[Rich Riddle]

Nice looking bench. Hope it doesn't stay that way and you get to use it like it can be used.

[Joe A Faulkner]

Very well done. Great looking bench. I went with a couple of coats of home brew wipe on. Nothing too heavy but a few coats to keep it clean.

[Thomas Schneider]

That's fantastic Tim! Use it in good health!

[Tim Cooper Louisiana]

Nice work Tim! I'd skip the finish, just use it. The lumber may take some time to settle down and so you may end up reflattening the top a time or two.

Thanks Brian. That sounds like an ok idea to me. I would like to keep the maple from yellowing, but it's hard to filter through all of the advice. Lots of contradictions when you ask about it on a forum hehe.

[Tim Cooper Louisiana]

Thanks for all the kind words!

[Tim Cooper Louisiana]

Cherry and soft maple. The leg vise chop and first board (front laminate) of the top is also hard maple.

this was supposed to be a reply with quote to Izzy. I'm tired, been traveling all day. My first time to visit San Francisco.

[Christopher Charles]

Looks great. Don't know what you were working on before, but I found moving to a full-blown bench to be a game changer

Enjoy and will look forward to seeing projects roll off the bench.

[Malcolm Schweizer]

Well done!!! As for keeping the maple from yellowing, even with a UV finish it will still yellow. Don't fight it. My favorite workbench finish is a beeswax, pure gum turpentine, and linseed oil finish. I use raw linseed but of course boiled will have a quicker curing time. Shave the beeswax into the turpentine and let it melt. (The turpentine will melt it- put it in the hot sun to speed it up.) Add in the linseed oil. Apply with a brush and then buff to a shine if you like. This finish is impervious to even epoxy glues.

[Prashun Patel]

That's a beautiful bench. Enjoy!

I agree with Brian; in fact, it was while using his bench that I decided to reflatten mine and leave it unfinished. I just like the way it looks and feels.