Tradtional workbench with no screws - only wedges??

[6inarow]

OK I am going to throw it out there. I am to the point in my life I want to build my LAST workbench. But I want to be able to move it when I get to a real garage/shop. I have been looking all over the place and love Paul Sellers workbench he makes with regular hand tools and a little patience. The only thing I dont like is there are screws to hold parts together making it somewhat difficult to easily move. There are some through-bolts and Im OK with that.

So..... I know they are out there but I cant find them. Does anyone know of any plans for traditional wooden workbenches that use traditional joinery and wedges to assemble the thing?

 

[matt_i]

Wood top, steel tube legs welded to flat plate on one end, other end setup for leveling-mounts (swivel foot). Counterbore or countersink thru-bolts to tapped holes (or weld-nuts) in the flat plates.

Now you are setup for 1) any move-- top + 4 legs and 2) can accommodate any flooring without rock and adjust for a level benchtop.

I feel certain there is wedge joinery but imo the legs perpendicular to the top would have to be made akin to a hammer-handle joining its head...and that's a permanent joint...the above would make it portable-ish, but well within the range of 2 or 3 people and a truck.

 

[dr_clyde]

Christopher Schwarz of Fine Woodworking wrote an excellent book called "The Workbench Design Book". It has several great traditional woodworking bench designs and plans. It's a good read either way.

 

[LXCam]

There was a video posted here in the last year of some badass woody guy who made his work bench using tapered peg/wedge construction. Ungodly strong and easy to disassemble if needed. I'm sure one of these guys will remember who it was.

 

[Fcvapor05]

Samurai Carpenter.

 

[RivennHewn]

Roubo workbench:

https://www.google.com/search?clien...k2oXXAhVB5mMKHRdqBI8QBQglKAA&biw=1615&bih=846

Or go another direction with the Paulk workbench:

https://www.fastcap.com/estore/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=57263

 

[6inarow]

checked out Samurai carpenter wow. bought the Schwatz book and printed off a couple sets of plans for the modern Roubo bench Thanks for the replies

 

[jimreed2160]

My original Ulmia woodworking bench has a base and a top. The base has two end pieces, each of which is a morticed frame. They are connected by two stretchers that are morticed and held with a long rod and bolts. The 200lb top sits on top of the frame by gravity. There are three large domed dowels on the frame which correspond to domed holes in the top. The ends of the top are breadboarded and the 24" top breathes about 1/2" during seasons.

Most traditional ww benches are made to break down but also move with the seasons. Study that design and make some big tenons. Good luck.

 

[My Old Tools]

Not a workbench, but I built this one with no metal and no glue. Everything is sliding dovetails, mortise and tenon, and splined and pegged.

 

[6inarow]

@jimreed2160 post a pic!!

 

[tony48]

Search for "drawbore mortise and tenon workbench". I think that will give you a good start. You may also want to look at "torsion box workbench" depending on your goals and desired use.

Drawbored mortise and tenon joints cannot be disassembled but they will be extremely strong. A bench built with this type of joint will be the last one you ever need.