What's On Your Workbench?

[Fat Freddy]

No, but I'm totally going to continue judging you.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

More workbench porn:
My mother-in-law is a damned good woodcarver, but she's getting up there, and needs to downsize. I offered to buy this workbench off her, no idea what it's worth in this condition, and she just straight up gave it to me! I've always wanted, but never owned, a decent joiners bench like this. Never heard of the this brand, anybody know who makes these? It's got some nice use patina on it, but otherwise in immaculate condition. Came with 2 bench dogs and camming hold-down. Gonna be the home of my next build!

It had a bottom shelf kind of crudely made of plywood, might replace that, but otherwise stoked!

 

[BenTheBassGuy]

I am a very jealous man looking at your new bench. No clue about the maker but it looks solid, functional and awesome. I'm guessing future picks will show many new drool stains.

 

[the baint]

You could always redo the legs and stretchers in a Roubo bench fashion. The advantage is that it would give you big, flush legs on the side face from the top, which would let you have more work-holding options than these inset legs give. Its an awesome gift though!

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Most of the Ulmia benches I'm seeing look like this one, 4 legs with extended "feet" running front to back. Mine has just the 4 legs, no feet. My brother and I share the shop in the photos, the big surface behind it is an outfeed table/workbench set to flush with the saw. The Ulmia is about 1/2" taller than that, would it be sacrelidge to cut 1/2" off the legs, maybe even add some solid maple "feet" like this image? My in-law may have removed the "feet to get it lower, I'll have to ask her.

 

[TerribleTim68]

Wow, that's a great table!

... would it be sacrelidge to cut 1/2" off the legs...

Not in my opinion. I think you should literally modify it to the way that works best for you. It's just wood, make it the way you need it.

 

[Beej]

Wow I'm super jealous @Gilmourisgod . Of the whole workshop actually.

You can really be a in a space like that. Don't even get me started on @Bruce Johnson 's.

 

[the baint]

@Gilmourisgod Actually, in workbench design (for joiners benches like this) it is best TO design them to the user's height. It depends on how you will use it, but if you were doing a lot of hand planing on it, having it be around hanging wrist level for the individual joiner is recommended (if I remember correctly).

Here is a link to free PDF of the stellar Anarchist's Workbench by Lost Art Press (Christopher Schwarz): Updated ‘Anarchist’s Workbench’ PDF

EDIT: My point being, nothing sacrilege about modifying it to be the comfortable height for you and however you foresee using it best.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

@Gilmourisgod Actually, in workbench design (for joiners benches like this) it is best TO design them to the user's height. It depends on how you will use it, but if you were doing a lot of hand planing on it, having it be around hanging wrist level for the individual joiner is recommended (if I remember correctly).

Here is a link to free PDF of the stellar Anarchist's Workbench by Lost Art Press (Christopher Schwarz): Updated ‘Anarchist’s Workbench’ PDF

EDIT: My point being, nothing sacrilege about modifying it to be the comfortable height for you and however you foresee using it best.

Thanks, I really don't know much about history or variants of workbench design, I'm thinking for a 1/2" height difference, I may be best off setting it level with the Outfeed table from the tablesaw. I don't cut 8' boards often, but when I do, it might be a PITA catching the end of it on the workbench every time. Maybe I should just get a set of adjustable leveling feet , or even locking casters? Is there a big advantage in stability to having the long "feet" I see on other benches? The shop is housed in the second floor of my Brother's barn, its only a ten year old building, so the floor is still dead level. Any advice on care for these bench types? It's a little grungy, but otherwise no real wear to the top. I could give it it a light sanding, but if it aint broke.....? Should I be waxing this top, or just let weather?

 

[the baint]

I might plane the bench, if it needs truing up (all wood moves as it dries or experiences seasonal movement), but personally WOULDN'T sand it. Seems that would be easy to do non-uniformly and cause low-spots? At least be careful.

The biggest 2 things about bench engineering I remember (as a casual hobbyist who was read a design book and watched people post their workbench project progress for a number of years in the WW community) is stability in structure, and weight to keep it from moving while working (hand planing and hand sawing can move things around quite a bit).

I would find "feet" as pictured in the catalog shot you posted, a tripping hazard. I would prefer legs that were flush with the side of the top, and had stability added by beefing up stretchers between all 4 legs. You could add leveling feet with grips to adjust the height and to keeping it in place.

 

[TerribleTim68]

The other big advantage of legs flush with the side of the top is that you can then put a leg vice on them.

 

[the baint]

The other big advantage of legs flush with the side of the top is that you can then put a leg vice on them.

AND you can put dog holes in them to use holdfasts horizontally, or just clamp stuff to them while planing, shaping, dovetailing, etc.

 

[mapleglo]

What's on my workbench? Glorious space. My husband has been helping me clean up the workshop over the past month, and we're close to being done. Perhaps I can finally finish up that Winter build-off build from 2018.

 

[Gilmourisgod]

I miss your builds @mapleglo, hope the Ric 5 string hasn’t killed your builders itch!

 

[Gilmourisgod]

Rather than mess with the legs, I suppose I could just add a vertical board to one leg and flush it to the edge of the top. I’ve never used a vertical dog setup like that, now I gotta figure out what I missed!

 

[Matt Liebenau]

More workbench porn:
My mother-in-law is a damned good woodcarver, but she's getting up there, and needs to downsize. I offered to buy this workbench off her, no idea what it's worth in this condition, and she just straight up gave it to me! I've always wanted, but never owned, a decent joiners bench like this. Never heard of the this brand, anybody know who makes these? It's got some nice use patina on it, but otherwise in immaculate condition. Came with 2 bench dogs and camming hold-down. Gonna be the home of my next build!
View attachment 4001011
View attachment 4001012
View attachment 4001013
It had a bottom shelf kind of crudely made of plywood, might replace that, but otherwise stoked!

I’m not familiar with the brand but I have bench envy now!

 

[/\/\3phist0]

Just put a deposit on a 10x10 backyard building!
8 FT walls 6'7" x 4' door. 4 x 3x 10 " loft for all the wood I'm stockpiling.
(I'm 6'3" so these things are mandatory! I can stand under the loft)
30 X 36 insulated window, 3ft skylight, 3/4" 2x6 reenforced flooring.
Electrical will be run by a contractor friend.
I am heat exchanger shopping right now.
Going to insulate the interior myself, clad them in MDF, and finish the walls in Turquoise (same as my music room)
Thinking to surface the floor with Garage Epoxy for easy cleaning and slip resistance.

Should be assembled 1st of November.

Woohoo! winter building!

now to design the workbench, get some vices. look for stone sink cutouts for a gluing table.
oh boy!

 

[ctmullins]

Congrats! So jealous of everybody's pimped-out shops....

get some vices.

That generally happens on its own, despite our best intentions along the way.....

 

[JIO]

More workbench porn:
My mother-in-law is a damned good woodcarver, but she's getting up there, and needs to downsize. I offered to buy this workbench off her, no idea what it's worth in this condition, and she just straight up gave it to me! I've always wanted, but never owned, a decent joiners bench like this. Never heard of the this brand, anybody know who makes these? It's got some nice use patina on it, but otherwise in immaculate condition. Came with 2 bench dogs and camming hold-down. Gonna be the home of my next build!
View attachment 4001011
View attachment 4001012
View attachment 4001013
It had a bottom shelf kind of crudely made of plywood, might replace that, but otherwise stoked!

That's a very generous gift but you will be inspired by it and do it justice I suspect.

 

[Five String]

I love this thread. Just looking at you guys' work spaces and tools is a really guilty pleasure.