First bench - suggestions please.

[Monkey Mark]

Morning all,

I'm thinking of building my first work bench. So far i've just used whatever ive had at hand like kitchen worktops, workmates etc.

I'd like something thats not too difficult to make (without a workbench, its harder to make a work bench :mrgreen: ). And, due to space, something that can be mobile.

I saw this plan https://club.craftsman.com/projects...YouTube&utm_medium=video&utm_campaign=project

Any thoughts on this or suggestions for others? Any recommendations as to which wood is typically the best?

 

[Bigbud78]

I made Paul Sellers Bench, watched all the videos and read the blog. Really like it and its solid ! Picked up a couple of old parkinsons vices which I cleaned up and I love it

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/986 ... .09.38.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/986 ... .09.05.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/986 ... .54.43.jpg

 

[ED65]

Oh God, there are a thousand workbench types out there with infinite permutations. At the end of the day you basically have to pick what you like and think you need, build it and see how the reality stacks up. A good starting point is to make a list of the features you need and use that to filter out certain benches and hone in on designs that better fit the requirements, space and budget available.

Even after very careful consideration it isn't uncommon to find for example that the bench height which seemed perfect on paper is either a bit too low or a bit too high. This isn't the end of the world, easy enough to lower or raise a benchtop, but it shows how the plan and the reality can sometimes diverge.

As to that bench you linked to, I'm sure it would suit many people perfectly. But just on materials, building a bench entirely out of oak could be considered overkill since a bench of softwood and/or some manmade boards can do the job just as well, plus of course there's price to consider. How much would that much oak end up costing over here, a couple of hundred? From a given perspective that's hard to justify when a good solid bench can be built for less than £20 all-in, not including vice hardware.

And it seems to me that that bench is far too complex and involved to be a good first bench build if you have limited means to work the stock. And look at all the bar clamps at their disposal!

But at the end of the day it's about what you want. So, would something cheaper and simpler, e.g. with a plywood, MDF or chipboard top, suit you? Or do you want something that will be a challenge to build that'll push you?

 

[Fitzroy]

Morning Mark,

In a similar position planning to build a bench when the new shed is complete. Paul Sellers has a good series on bench building on you tube, he builds it out of plane old whitewood CLS type timber so about as cheap as you can go.

I also bought Chris Schwarz workbench design and construction book. There are some plans in it but actually I think it is more valuable in the thought process it leads you through regarding what do you want your bench for, handwork, assembly, large projects, small projects, etc etc. As a newbie to woodworking it also taught me lots and lots on terminology and techniques.

Cheers

Fitz.

PS. started this reply before lunch so just seen bibud78 has already pointed you at Paul's bench!

 

[Racers]

A bench is something you use to build your next bench on
A bench is something you use to build your next bench on
A bench is something you use to build your next bench on
A bench is something you use to build your next bench on
A bench is something you use to build your next bench on...

:wink:

Pete

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Yes ... your second bench will be better. I know my fourth one will be.

 

[Aggrajag]

Funnily enough I just this morning collected all the wood (I think) I need to make my first pair of small benches. I watched a few videos online and decided to take the plunge and just design my own. I'll be using 18x69mm wood glued & screwed at right angles for each leg held together with a 38x63mm frame.

I'm making an odd-sized pair (approx 56x70cm and 46x100cm) that I'll coachbolt together in an L shape in my small naughty-corner of a workspace in the garage (I have about 3m x 2m total.) the idea being I can take them apart if necessary but that they'll also support each other and minimise scrollsaw vibration.

I'm going to try and not be precious about it and actually bolt stuff to it.

[edit: FYI £51 worth of Wickes planed white timber.)

 

[John15]

Hi Mark,

The bench you have linked to is maybe a bit complicated for a first bench. You need a design that is very simple - the Paul Sellers one mentioned is a good example. If you are tight for space don't make it too long - mine is 1500 x 600. It's OK to use a good quality softwood with 100 x 100 legs, 150 x 50 rails top and bottom using mortice and tenon joints, and the top can be 100 x 50 pieces glued together vertically. Then add the deep aprons if needed.
As mentioned above you'll may want a better one later on, in which case this one becomes an auxilliary bench for other things.
Hope this helps.

John

 

[AndyT]

For sheer speed, you can't beat our own boy Graham Haydon - he shows you how to build a very practical traditional bench in just 12 minutes!

https://youtu.be/BG09rB1tdm8?list=PL8sbI8L0-l62h8niNJ4fcFjF8vertG0xA

 

[thetyreman]

I made Paul Sellers Bench, watched all the videos and read the blog. Really like it and its solid ! Picked up a couple of old parkinsons vices which I cleaned up and I love it

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/986 ... .09.38.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/986 ... .09.05.jpg

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/986 ... .54.43.jpg

nice job! I'm planning on making this soon, at the moment I'm making some sawhorses which I need to make the bench...how challenging was it? have you done mortice and tenon joints before? regards, Ben.

 

[Steve Maskery]

I think that Chris Schwarz' and Scott Landis' books are essential reading if you are planning a bench. There is a third tome whose name escapes me at the moment.
My first one was from the Alf Martennson's book (1970s). It's still in use in a mate's shed. My current one is from Landis' book and is good, except that it is now riddled with woodworm.

It's also a bit high for me now. If you are used to school benches, they are very low and hurt your back. I made mine higher than the original and it was fine - for a time. Recently I was measured and discovered, to my horror, that I am 1" shorter than I thought I was! When I protested, the nurse asked me when I was last measured...It explains why I now find my bench a bit uncomfortable and I tread on the back edges of all my trousers!

So I need to make a new bench, no woodworm and a slightly lower surface.

And buy shorter trousers.

 

[Jacob]

I think that Chris Schwarz' and Scott Landis' books are essential reading if you are planning a bench. .......(

Dunno AFAIR neither of them have anything about the best known and most widely used of all bench designs. I could be wrong.
This below is a typical universal basic bench. Can have many variations. Sellers's design is one of them and well worth copying:

4x4" legs, 6x2" rails, joist sized timber for the front "beam". Something like 10x2" for the front and back aprons. Any old board for the well.
Couldn't be simpler unless you go for the single japanese planing beam.
Can have two beams to make it double sided.

There's a cult/fashion for really fancy benches but if you just want to do woodwork I really wouldn't waste your time.

PS re Steve's comments about bench height. If too high cut a bit off each leg. If too low stand it on blocks. No need to make a new bench, or wear elevator heels!

 

[ED65]

I was going to post a pic of the classic British bench from one of Hayward's books, it is essentially the same as the one posted above by Jacob. This is about as simple as a full-size all-timber bench can get and has a long history of happy users, with small variations this basic type of bench worked well for hundreds of thousands of our predecessors.

If I were building the bench above one of the few details that I'd change is siting the vice outboard of the leg, that and maybe a plywood shelf across the bottom. These are the kind of minor tweaks that many of us make to a published bench.

 

[Steve Maskery]

Personally I'm not a fan of that design. Yes, yes, I know, it's been around for ever and has built an empire. I know.

It's big drawback, from my POV, is the apron at the front. It makes it difficult to clamp stuff down with normal clamps. If you have hold-downs, then yes, you can clamp down, and also clamp to the apron itself, but I don't and that's not the way I work.

I agree about having the vice outboard. Which makes my preference the Roubo style. Yes it's fashionable and trendy, but maybe it is fashionable and trendy for good reasons.

It's horses for courses and personal preference and dependent on the sort of work you want to do.

The main thing is that it is as rock solid as you can make it.

 

[deema]

I would alway recommend something like Jacobs recommendation for a bench. It's relatively cheap to build and easy. Use it for a while, hack it about and then make something that meets your needs precisely.

There are few people in the big scheme of woodworking who still only use hand tools, most of us use to some extent power tools. The old need for an absolute flat top which is essential for achieving a flat surface on the stuff when hand planing is very rare IMO. Most just need a surface for either assembly or clamping something to whilst attacking it with something electrically driven.

Don't be afraid of nailing bits to the top to make temporary stops, it's what was always done in the past, the bench was a tool not a work of art, if the surface got a little knocked about it was simply planed back up. The odd nail or screw hole doesn't matter. If it gets a bit like a piece of cheese replace the surface.

If you look at old benches they were made for a purpose as quickly and as cheaply as possible. If it didn't add value or there was a quicker method of achieving the same goal, that's what got done. The exceptions where usually the 'first bench which were part of the apprenticeship.

My father and grandfather, both cabinet makers would make a hold in the apron if they needed to add a clamp! They both used the style of bench shown above.

 

[deema]

I would alway recommend something like Jacobs recommendation for a bench. It's relatively cheap to build and easy. Use it for a while, hack it about and then make something that meets your needs precisely.

There are few people in the big scheme of woodworking who still only use hand tools, most of us use to some extent power tools. The old need for an absolute flat top which is essential for achieving a flat surface on the stuff when hand planing is very rare IMO. Most just need a surface for either assembly or clamping something to whilst attacking it with something electrically driven.

Don't be afraid of nailing bits to the top to make temporary stops, it's what was always done in the past, the bench was a tool not a work of art, if the surface got a little knocked about it was simply planed back up. The odd nail or screw hole doesn't matter. If it gets a bit like a piece of cheese replace the surface.

If you look at old benches they were made for a purpose as quickly and as cheaply as possible. If it didn't add value or there was a quicker method of achieving the same goal, that's what got done. The exceptions where usually the 'first bench which were part of the apprenticeship.

My father and grandfather, both cabinet makers would make a hold in the apron if they needed to add a clamp! They both used the style of bench shown above.

 

[marcros]

a solid fire door makes a flat and heavy top.
The Schwarz book is worth a read. I have a copy if you want to make me an offer. I am trying to have a clear out and sell some bits- havent got around to sorting the bits yet, however I know where that book is. I made the "English bench" from it- with the aprons front and back.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Workbenches-De ... 1558708405

 

[skipdiver]

All the timber for my bench came out of skips, which is how i got the moniker of skipdiver at a company i used to subby to. It's made from three different types of wood and weighs a ton. Only thing i paid for was a second hand record bench vice.

 

[Benchwayze]

Do what Chris Schwarz did. Go to Ikea, buy two, two-metre sections of laminated kitchen worktop. (Each 40mm thick) Glue/screw them together, place across two sawhorses. Voila! One bench on which to make a bench.

When the undercarriage is made fit the top, and flatten, and fit a vice. You will eventually want to make a proper bench. Although maybe you'll feel there's no need, when if necessary, you could just replace the top. I reckon that 'lash-up' would last you for ever.

HTH

Cheers

 

[Bm101]

Or 3 lidles trestles lol.
Luxury today. A whole day in the shed. New router and new to routers. Dead man standing. I might be converted.

Loads of other stuff done too. Roll on tomorrow.

Pull your finger out Mark! You're in danger of being beaten by the worlds longest bench build.