First bench - suggestions please.

[Monkey Mark]

Thanks for all the responses. Still not totally sure what i want but i definitely need somewhere for assembly.

I always have the same problem. I like to research and investigate. I think it stems from never having much pocket change meaning, if i had only one shot, it had to be good to start with. That leads to me massively over thinking everything i do.
I've spent half the day watching videos on shop built leg vices. :roll:

Anyway, I'm sure I'll get something sorted and hopefully avoid the Guinness record for longest bench build!

 

[Biliphuster]

I recently built an English bench with a slightly beefier under carriage than most designs. In my opinion the most advantageous thing about the design is that the aprons make everything tremendously rigid. Trying to do any serious handwork on a bench that racks or shakes is horrendous, and the aprons make this design so rigid that even if built sloppily, even if built terribly, it will still be rock solid (trust me, I know about slapdash woodwork).

My build if you want to check it out

http://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/forums/bench-build-t96371.html

 

[Roughcut]

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?

It may help your workbench design process in knowing what type of work you will be doing on the bench (hand tool, power tool, assembly) or possibly a mixture of all?
I favour a heavy bench for hand tool work so that it doesn't move when planing and a work surface that doesn't deflect when chopping mortises etc.
However that leaves a bench that is usually left in situ due to it's weight, but you have stated that due to space you require something that can be mobile.
I suppose if you were to make a lighter construction bench you could keep some ballast for adding to the base which would be removed when the bench is to be moved or maybe some other way of temporarily fixing it to the floor or wall.
Obviously if hand tool work is not your thing then the bench could be lighter in construction, then you can move on to decide the dimensions of the timber to be used in the base and the work surface.
I don't see why you couldn't achieve building a useful bench for less than £100 and possibly a lot less if you could scavenge useful materials.

 

[Jacob]

The main thing to ask - is there any point in doing anything other than the universal style (Sellers' example for instance)?

Answer has to be no for nearly everybody.

Our OP's suggestion https://club.craftsman.com/projects/custom-workbench? is seriously OTT and is the the sort of over-designed bench a wealthy retired amateur woodworker might make , if he had no better projects in hand.
It wouldn't improve your woodwork one iota and a Record vice would be a big improvement.
It's also incredibly complicated and would be very expensive.

 

[ED65]

Still not totally sure what i want...

May I suggest "flat top" and "legs" should top the list? :-D

That leads to me massively over thinking everything i do.

It's very easy to get into over-analysing a workbench, especially the first one. I'm sure many here are just as guilty of this as you, I know I was.

Here's a simple, inexpensive and very rigid bench design that I happened across in a book yesterday so I napped a quick pic for you:

 

[mikefab]

I built a Schwarz 'Holzappfel' bench a few years ago, using softwood and a second hand Record vice. I'm pretty happy with it but think that if I built another one I'd go for a trad English joiners bench. The thinner top would be cheaper and quicker to make.

 

[Jacob]

Still not totally sure what i want...

May I suggest "flat top" and "legs" should top the list? :-D

That leads to me massively over thinking everything i do.

It's very easy to get into over-analysing a workbench, especially the first one. I'm sure many here are just as guilty of this as you, I know I was.

Here's a simple, inexpensive and very rigid bench design that I happened across in a book yesterday so I napped a quick pic for you:

Yebbut that's really just a "table" - which is better than no table at all!

The heavy front joist sized "beam" plus a wide bracing apron are what make a woodwork bench IMHO.

 

[Tetsuaiga]

If you want it to be portable then that generally means light weight, unless you mean you just want it to be disassembleable.

If its light weight you could make it butt up against a corner, if you can mechanically secure it then that's even better.

I built my first bench recently and it is just two leg sections that the top screws onto with big lag screws, I also rebated stretchers lengthwise near the base of the legs. My bench also stores timber planks underneath which adds to the weight. I used douglas fir laminated together for the top but would probably consider mdf sheets glued up if i were doing it again.

 

[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

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.

My first use of chisels and laminating wood, I was a total novice with hand tools. Only thing I used electric wise was a drill, planed it all by hand.

Took a lot of time but I learnt so much about chisels and planes, about to embark on a garden bench using similar techniques. End goal is a new bed for my daughter and some small tables

 

[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.

My first use of chisels and laminating wood, I was a total novice with hand tools. Only thing I used electric wise was a drill, planed it all by hand.

Took a lot of time but I learnt so much about chisels and planes, about to embark on a garden bench using similar techniques. End goal is a new bed for my daughter and some small tables

that makes me feel a lot better thanks, I have used chisels quite a lot, and hand planes, your build has inspired me to go ahead with it, the bench also looks great by the way.