Benchbuilding

[9fingers]

Hi All,

I spent most of this weekend starting to build benches for my new workshop.
I'm basing them on one of Norm's designs from a few years back.

This bench is about 2.5 metres long and fill the gap between the Xcalibur table saw in the foreground and the Dewalt Radial arm saw.

Each section measures 600mm between the plywood dividers and will house a mix of drawers, cupboards and roll out shelves to be decided later.
I have spent time making the bench as flat an level as possible and the plan is that the top surface will be exactly level with the table saw and the working surface of the RAS to support long work pieces being used with either machine.

I've just laid a bench top just to show what it should be like when finished.
I have a stock of secondhand tops I bought in advance. These are 20mm thick, MDF with heavy linoleum top surface and lipped all round with beech.[/img]
I've got a few days holiday soon to tack onto Easter so hope to make some more benches soon.

Bob

 

[Escudo]

What ho Bob,

You have been a busy bee this weekend.

Wondered if you have seen this clip of a special bench?
http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ ... x?id=28530

Cheers, Esc.

 

[Shultzy]

Nice top. One item I've noticed is that there is no "kicker" board. It should be about 3" in from the front frame, quite literally to stop you kicking the bottom of the cupboards as you stand at the bench.

 

[9fingers]

Thanks for the link Escudo. I recall following it a little while back and it either crashes my usual browser or does not appear on IE so I reckon I'm best off without it.

Shultzy, Thanks for the comments. what my photos don't show at all well is that the front of the bench overhangs the frame. I am trying to combine the kickspace with the ability to clamp to the bench edge.
We will see how well it works.

Bob

 

[stewart]

Looking good, Bob
Your nice looking shop has inspired me to get on with putting a ceiling in my workshop.
Look forward to the next set of pictures.

 

[Evergreen]

Immaculate workshop. Beautiful ceiling. Bench 2.5m long. Pretty damn impressive, I'd say. Well done.

Regards.

 

[George_N]

What ho Bob,

You have been a busy bee this weekend.

Wondered if you have seen this clip of a special bench?
http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/ ... x?id=28530

Cheers, Esc.

Someone posted that last week and Houtslager said that he had built one about 6 years ago...says it works pretty well IIRC.

 

[9fingers]

The ceiling is only 6mm mdf (£5 per sheet) and painted white. Above this is a vapour barrier and 100mm fibreglass.

This has brought two benefits. Light reflection and very low heating needs.
Through the winter a single 750watt thermostatically controlled oil filled radiator has kept it around 12 degrees minimum.

The ceiling/insulation cost was about £100 and provided you have minimal draughts, is very good value for money in my book

Yet to be proven, is how cool it stays in summer. At the far end, just visible in my first photo, is a large extractor fan with variable speed control which can either pull in air from the eastern end or draw air through an open door at the western end through the shop and out to the east. Deliberately there are no windows to minimise solar heating as I really don't like to be hot when I'm working.

Bob

 

[Benchwayze]

Hi Escudo,

I saw the article you mentioned and thank you for the link. I ordered the back issue a few days ago.

Then this morning, I recalled I used to take F/W regularly. Could that have been in 1999, I wondered? Well, of course it was. There on the shelving in my loft was the slip-case with the relevant issue, Number 139, which contains the article. (December 1999 and not April '99, as White intimated.) Now I am hoping Taunton will tell me they have no more back issues!

Now I have to source cramp-heads to fit the standard, galvanised electrical conduit I have... (Metric diameter, if there are any sparkies reading this.) Here begins the search for the right size cramp-heads.

Nine Fingers,

I like your benches. What is the green surface material you are using please? It's obviously 'wipeable', because I think I see mug-rings in the corner. ( I see it's linoleum.... Hmmm, I must think on then!)

I am at the stage where ALL my benches need replacing too, and I like the clean look of that surface.

Cheers.
John (Brum)

 

[Benchwayze]

Thanks for the link Escudo. I recall following it a little while back and it either crashes my usual browser or does not appear on IE so I reckon I'm best off without it.

Bob

You're best off without IE in fact Bob! Use Mozilla, if you can.
John