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Thread: The Workbench book: Anyone build a bench from it?

  1. #1

    The Workbench book: Anyone build a bench from it?

    Hi.

    Has anyone built a workbench from the designs in the Workbench Book? They got a huge Shaker style workbench , I think it was, that was HUGE!!!

  2. #2
    Join Date
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Weisner
    Hi.

    Has anyone built a workbench from the designs in the Workbench Book? They got a huge Shaker style workbench , I think it was, that was HUGE!!!
    Bob, are you serious? That book was "the" workbench book for many years. There must be bazillions of them around.

    Here: Peter Berglund built a pretty straightforward copy of that shaker bench, though bit smaller. Or perhaps Jim Shaver's bench at woodcentral -- he uses a leg vise.

    Keith Rucker has a tremendously detailed web page about his bench. Bob Key used to have a great web page on bench building, but it seems to have disappeared.

    Get busy with google and you'll probably find many many others.

    best,
    ...art

  3. #3
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    My bench is about a 95% copy of the Michael Fortune bench. It's now about 20 years old and going strong.
    Howie.........

  4. #4
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    Bob, I'm going to start the Frank Klausz workbench project in a month or so. Gotta save some $$ and order a few things like the bench screw, bench dogs and tail vise from Lie-Nielsen. I'm going to cheat and purchase a butcher block top for the main field to save time.

  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Weisner
    Has anyone built a workbench from the designs in the Workbench Book? They got a huge Shaker style workbench
    Wish I had space for a full size shaker workbench as was shown in the book. I think the Workbench book has been the inspiration for a ton of hand built benches. I am on year one of my workbench and I supect it will be complete in two years. Its tough to work on the bench when other projects are still incomplete. Of course, I like the Emmert vises so as most benches, it will reflect my sense of scale, materials and details.

  6. #6
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    When the book first came out in the late 80's, I built the Kirby bench to replace the 2x4/plytop table I was using.

    Although I have built a couple of other simple benches, I haven't found the need for anything fancier than the Kirby. Simple, straightforward and utilitarian.

  7. #7
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    Bob,
    I did not build any single bench from that book, but have borrowed heavily from several of the designs in building the several benches that I have built. I like the Klaus bench, but have never had room for the width created by the front vise arrangement. It is nice to be able clamp work vertically, which it affords in spades, but I use the tail vise for that purpose when it is needed, such as sawing the pins and tails of dovetails. My TV is made from commercial hardware with the metal plates; not the lead screw/wooden tracks method that he uses.
    Alan Turner
    Philadelphia Furniture Workshop

  8. #8
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    I loaned out my copy of the book so I can't tell you the name of the bench that I built, but it was one of the very simple ones. It is built out of 2x4 salvaged from some other project and was the second ww'ing project I did. It turned out to be a good bench only because the plan were perfect for a beginner. The bench used threaded rods through the base to tighten everything up and despite the light weight it is incredibly sturdy.

  9. #9
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    Hi Bob. Last year, someone pointed the Creek to a bench featured in Popular Mechanics. It is just the right size for me, and I plan on building it sometime this year.
    Best Regards, Ken

  10. #10
    Quote Originally Posted by Bob Weisner
    Has anyone built a workbench from the designs in the Workbench Book? They got a huge Shaker style workbench , I think it was, that was HUGE!!!
    Ooh, Ooh, I leafed through 'The Workbench Book' to come up with my interpretation of Norm Vandal's shaker bench... which was inspired by the Hancock bench, etc.

    This has been around for a while but I still like showing it off: http://www.oldtoolsshop.com/Galoots/.../workbench.htm

    Bill W.
    Attached Images Attached Images

  11. #11
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    North Platte, NE
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    I am designing my new bench and have been leaning towards a Nyquist style tail vise. I have a copy of the workbench book but am looking for more detailed plans for his vise, or similiar type vise. Has anyone built his style of vise?

  12. #12
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    Nov 2003
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    Mendham, New Jersey
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    I too hope to build Frank Klausz's bench someday. I saw it a week or so ago at a NJ woodworking show. It is absolutely gorgeous. Incredible, shiny finish on it and the tightest dovetails I've ever seen.

    I need about 10 years more experience before I'm ready....

    Jack

  13. #13

    The Workbench book: Anyone build a bench from it?

    I tried but still found one I liked better in "Wood" magazine. Actually, I had to make some changes to the one in the magazine so everything would work. Here's what I came up with.
    Mark
    Attached Images Attached Images

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