my new work bench..

[MD11]

I decided to go all out and make a very heavy and robust work bench...

I kept it basic as my wood working skill is limited... as are my wood working tools..

primary woods are clear cedar body/legs, and mahogany top, with cocobolo front and two spruce accents.. finish is tung oil 50% solution.. I have since swapped out the black screws with larger stainless steel lagbolts which hold it better together... I'm using the black screws to attach the top however..

your criticism or input is appreciated...

Next step, attaching my vice!

 

[930dreamer]

That looks very nice.

 

[BwBrown]

I do quite a little wood work, my shop is divided into wood work, machine tools, and auto work.

I would have to say that for all your "basic wood working skill" and your basic "wood working tools", that is pretty nice! Enjoy it.

 

[hungrymonkey]

Your "basic wood working skills" surpass mine, by at least a mile.
Very nice.

 

[472scout]

Very nice!! But what are you going to use if for? I would absolutely destroy that pretty finish in short order.

 

[wnyrider]

Sweet, but I would hate to mess it up.

 

[AussieDan]

Looks too nice for the garage! If I made something like that my wife would "borrow" it and put it in the kitchen as a butcher block.

 

[MD11]

yeah, the wife already is talking about taking it inside... the idea is to use it and then when it gets a bit too messed up, re-finsih it... solid wood is good that way.

Anyway, thanks for letting me share.

 

[AussieDan]

Thanks for sharing, sounds like you need to make a matching one for your wife!

 

[Johnsons Garage]

It appears your woodworking skills are not as limited as you might think. Very nice work. Having built and used several of these over the years I will offer this bit of advice, After this bench "seasons" over a summer/ winter cycle check it for "bone" which means square and "plane" or flatness. If you plan to use the bench for layout or assembly work it is essential that it be flat and square. If necessary flatten and/ or square as required. Either way You should "break" the existing finish after this cycle by lightly sanding and recoat entirely. The seasoning cycle will naturally open up the seal of the finish and will need to be resealed. Generally this is only required after the first season and every few years after depending upon wear. By the way let your wife get her own or better yet build her one. You will cherish both looking at and working on that bench.

Regards

 

[dittle fart around]

Too nice for my garage, in fact too nice for my house. Give it to the wife and make one with a plywood top and recycled fence posts.

 

[colt zantop]

very nice work! I agree it belongs in the house...

 

[Scout Driver]

Very classy! It would be at home in a dining room or kitchen just as easily.

Scott

 

[steel 35]

Way too nice to mount a vise on, but I guess if she is threatening to take it I would to.

 

[cowboy73]

Beautiful looking bench! I would destroy something that nice in a short period of time. I say give it to the wife. Never hurts to score a few extra bonus points!!!

 

[A**holes Garage]

Hey Colt Zantop, I would like a quote on a few of your license plate hanger things. Make some good Christmas presents.

PM me if you're interested.

 

[MD11]

thanks all for the compliments and tips... I do sincerely appreciate it.

To those who commented that my skill isn't as limited as I say... I do want to tell you why I said this. Originally I wanted to do a Mortis and Tenon type join for the legs, but I both didn't have the tools necessary, and more importantly, didn't have the confidence to pull it off! With $42 per 8' cedar 4x4, I wasn't about to take too many risks. My biggest problem was then just lining up the lagbolt holes using nothing more than a hand drill (Do I ever wish I had a drill press!!!)..

Anyway.. will take the advise of those who said to lightly sand and re-finsih .. that's going to happen tomorrow. I then might build a smaller kitchen sided island for the wife, now that I have the blueprint in my head!

 

[onemore]

I would say more of a piece of furniture! Well done

 

[ny1]

Basic wood working skills??? That thing rocks! Seriously very nice job.

 

[MD11]

Awesome looking bench. I only have two suggestions. A nice woodworking vise and some dog holes. Here is the vise my wife bought me last Xmas. http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=17246&filter=vise

Now that I have it I don't know how I did anything without it.

Otherwise you did a great job. And my honest opinion its ok for you to mess it up. Over the years thats what gives it character and makes it cool.

Bret

looks good, thanks for the suggestion... been looking for ideas.

 

[sscustom]

That thing is so nice ,great job

 

[Kevin54]

Mount a vise to it and pound the dogshit out of that bench. That's what you made it for. Once you get that well used patina to it, then you'll be satisfied that you built a bench worthy of being in the garage.


OK..seriously, It is worthy of being in the house. I hope that as far as being a workbench, you really don't plan on bashing it up or doing that type of work on it. Your skills are great. Some details to the bench would really help some others build one although I don't think most would use clear lumber for a garage. I know I'm not going to show it to my wife or she would want one for her building. Lol!!!

 

[MD11]

Mount a vise to it and pound the dogshit out of that bench. That's what you made it for. Once you get that well used patina to it, then you'll be satisfied that you built a bench worthy of being in the garage.


OK..seriously, It is worthy of being in the house. I hope that as far as being a workbench, you really don't plan on bashing it up or doing that type of work on it. Your skills are great. Some details to the bench would really help some others build one although I don't think most would use clear lumber for a garage. I know I'm not going to show it to my wife or she would want one for her building. Lol!!!

no, it's clearly overkill for a beat to **** type work bench... I have a much cheaper pine and doug fir one that I can do that with... This is more for layout work, and maybe detail work that requires a clean surface.

As for details, there really aren't too many.. sscustom right above me has more detail in his $70 bench video than I can provide... I just used simple joints... the key was very precise measures and very precise pre-drill holes to attach it all. Otherwise it's not fancy at all... wish it was!

The top required a few clamps, and some patience in making sure the boards were close to the right size, as sanding that much mahogany is a lot of work, and even with a plane it took some time to get it flat. Then I used my Festool saw to cut the ends even, and while the clamps were still on, I attached the top to the bottom with 3/16" screws that were long enough to go at least 1.5" into the top, being careful to avoid the seams. Pre-drilling the top was critical as mahogany is very hard and has almost no give.

A nice piece of Cocobolo was lastly glued and using a 23 gauge brad nailer, attached..

Sanded everything from 80, to 150, then 220..

The Tung oil was the final step and what brings out the beauty of the fine quality lumber.

This is where I am a bit unsure as to what to do next.. I will apply another two coats with 24 hours between to the top, but then I'm not sure if I want to coat it with wax or not... I'm not sure how the wax will do, since I hear pure tung oil can take weeks to fully cure.

 

[Daniel Dudley]

Whenever you feel like waxing, put another thin coat of tung oil on it.

 

[gsport]

that thing is too nice to actually work on..... good job

 

[John in OH]

Very nice!! I vote with your wife ... move it into the house! Then go make a workbench for the garage out of some old warped 2x4s and sheathing grade plywood!

 

[Steevo]

That is beautiful!

 

[c_mccann]

Just a bench? Mahogany and Cocobolo??? You have built more than a bench my friend. Great job- thanks for sharing..

 

[Buford T. Justice]

Wow, I love it! Very nice craftsmanship.

 

[NUTTSGT]

If I made something lilke that, I'd score major points and take it in the house for the wife. It's way too nice for the garage.

 

[MD11]

Well, I finally broke down and attached the vice! I needed it mounted somewhere other than than large railroad tie that's now sitting on the floor!

 

[Printer Mike]

I believe the niceness will still show through some wear and tear.

Great lookin' job!

 

[gabedad]

did you sandwich the top together or did you buy the top?

 

[MD11]

did you sandwich the top together or did you buy the top?

I made it with mahogany glued and clamped.. I used the #3 glue and let it set for a day... seems to be holding quite well.

 

[scarrylarry]

MD11
That's a sweet bench for sure!! Is the cedar you used from Oregon? I made a work bench out of spruce that was rejected for use as cross members for hydro poles.I would post pictures but it's covered in junk.
scarrylarry

 

[MD11]

MD11
That's a sweet bench for sure!! Is the cedar you used from Oregon? I made a work bench out of spruce that was rejected for use as cross members for hydro poles.I would post pictures but it's covered in junk.
scarrylarry

the place I got the cedar (clear type).. is called Par Lumber... they said it could be from anywhere between Oregon thru southern Canada... so I'm not sure.
but post a pic of yours, I'd love to see it even covered.

 

[kennyb52]

MD11, I don't like to correct people......but you really should look up "limited"in to big word book!Even with the vice mounted on it,that would look great in my kitchen!Great job!

 

[Toolfool]

Great looking bench. The "recycled fence post" is where you practice your mortise and tenon joints, then you'd have the confidence for the nice bench.

 

[MD11]

MD11, I don't like to correct people......but you really should look up "limited"in to big word book!Even with the vice mounted on it,that would look great in my kitchen!Great job!

that's good.. thanks for the backhanded compliment!

 

[kyles974]

excuss my french, but holy ****! Awsome!

.....but you ask "your criticism or input is appreciated..."

I would need you to ship me one like this to really give you an ansew, LOL

Nice!