Show us yer bench!

[Mike G]

......There's easily as much work that gets done on this bench as the main one, ....

I couldn't quite say that, but a fair percentage of my work gets done on saw horses.

 

[Craig Salisbury]

Excellent show, seems far more hand-toolery than i would have thought, not that that is a bad thing

 

[Trevanion]

You may have seen this from another post, but can I put forward this bench for Top Trumps? Feast your eyes on this beauty:



8' x 4' Workbench, very Spartan and practical, no vices, holdfasts, wells, or any other fancy accoutrements you Easterners may be used to.

Made with a stout 4" x 3" softwood frame which were lengths that were too badly split for any actual work.



12mm MDF 8' x 4' sheet as a work surface.



Textured finish, of course.



The top is loose on the top of the bench, so if needed it can be pushed so that one side is flush with the base for cramping stuff to the side of the table.



Loads of storage space underneath, I'd argue you'd get more under there than any other bench builds with all those fancy drawers and shelves.



How do you rate it?

I have other benches, that are far too chaotic to photograph and be proud of

 

[the bear]

Here’s mine. It doesn’t normally have a chest of drawers on it but I’m slowly moving my workshop into its new home. It’s an old school bench like a couple of others on here. Mines jacked up to a better height for me by adding blocks under the legs. I’ll redo those as the mdf got wet when I had a flood. And also the vice could do with a clean as it got concrete dust on it. But was a bargain. Bench complete with two record quick release vices was less than £50 when I bought it. It came from the place in Corby that was selling all those old science tables off over on ukw probably over 10 years ago now
Mark

 

[Mike G]

You may have seen this from another post, but can I put forward this bench for Top Trumps? Feast your eyes on this beauty:

.........

Awesome, Dan. That's a proper no-nonsense working bench.

 

[Craig Salisbury]

You may have seen this from another post, but can I put forward this bench for Top Trumps? Feast your eyes on this beauty:



8' x 4' Workbench, very Spartan and practical, no vices, holdfasts, wells, or any other fancy accoutrements you Easterners may be used to.

Made with a stout 4" x 3" softwood frame which were lengths that were too badly split for any actual work.



12mm MDF 8' x 4' sheet as a work surface.



Textured finish, of course.



The top is loose on the top of the bench, so if needed it can be pushed so that one side is flush with the base for cramping stuff to the side of the table.



Loads of storage space underneath, I'd argue you'd get more under there than any other bench builds with all those fancy drawers and shelves.



How do you rate it?

I have other benches, that are far too chaotic to photograph and be proud of

oof that kinda man-bench makes we want to rip off the skimpies and go make snow angels in sawdust.

 

[Rezi]

I have a very cheap and nasty Clarke Workbench that was virtually free and the top is made of 15mm Beech and I could just about pick it up with one hand. The vice is next to useless despite my attempts to beef it up a bit.I have the workbench bolted to the assembly table or it would float away.
As I wasn't really sure what my needs would be I cobbled together an asssembly table and added 'build a workbench' to the list of future projects. I still haven't got round to it and, to be honest, I seem to manage perfectly fine with what I've got. I think if I had the wood lying around I'd probably do it but I don't.
I haven't bothered tidying up as I have 3 or 4 projects going on.

 

[AndyP]

In order to clarify and prove I do not have an offcut addiction I thought I would elaborate on the state and number of benches in my workshop.

The one I built see post earlier in this thread. With off cut storage pile to the left.



the Sjoberg bench with off cut storage under. There is a cast iron surface plate under there somewhere that adds ballast.



And the combination router/lathe/bandsaw bench which is on locking castors bought from a deceased member on UKW years ago.

 

[Craig Salisbury]

In order to clarify and prove I do not have an offcut addiction I thought I would elaborate on the state and number of benches in my workshop.

The one I built see post earlier in this thread. With off cut storage pile to the left.

View attachment 2

the Sjoberg bench with off cut storage under. There is a cast iron surface plate under there somewhere that adds ballast.

View attachment 1

And the combination router/lathe/bandsaw bench which is on locking castors bought from a deceased member on UKW years ago.

you are doing a terrible job of disproving an offcut addiction Andy lol

 

[Peri]

I'll have a go - I do hope the op wasn't wanting to see the cream of British craftsmanship.

Made from B&Q's finest Autumn sale, buy 2 get one free lengths of decking (as is the router table and TS stand).

It's not flat, particularly sturdy or well designed, but as a place for putting things on, it's exceptional.

 

[Craig Salisbury]

I'll have a go - I do hope the op wasn't wanting to see the cream of British craftsmanship.

Made from B&Q's finest Autumn sale, buy 2 get one free lengths of decking (as is the router table and TS stand).

It's not flat, particularly sturdy or well designed, but as a place for putting things on, it's exceptional.

The OP, i.e. me is looking for inspiration and looking at what others use, i do enjoy a proper evolving man-bench that's been well used,and built from whats to hand, all you see these days on YT are basically props for screen time. I also enjoy being nosey as we all do

 

[AndyT]

In order to clarify and prove I do not have an offcut addiction I thought I would elaborate on the state and number of benches in my workshop.

Andy, you may not be proving anything, but you're making me feel better!

 

[Blackswanwood]

This is mine …

 

[kirkpoore1]

I built mine a year and a half ago as a way to keep busy during the first COVID wave:


The leg vise has turned out to be fantastic. The wagon vise has been pretty good too.

One feature that I came up with on my own was an adjustable back lip:

This keeps me from pushing stuff off the back of the bench since it's not up against the wall. If needed for something, I can loosen a few bolts and drop it flush with the main table.

Kirk

 

[Steve Maskery]

Kirk
What have you got at the bottom of your Leg Vice? Have you got a pinned spacer that you have to adjust, or a Croix de St Piere?
I considered a leg vice for mine, but I didn't like the idea of beding down every two minutes and the hardware for the Croix was a bit pricey. The nicest I've seen was on Mick Cheese's vice. I forget the brand, but you need a mortgage.

 

[Lons]

You may have seen this from another post, but can I put forward this bench for Top Trumps? Feast your eyes on this beauty:

You appear to have either a seriously large rodent infestation or a very large dog that's teething Trev.

 

[Lons]

Just to prove I don't have a hoarding problem...honestly guv.....here are some pics of my storage above wall cupboard height and the last pic is of an attached single garage with a few other bits in it. :lol:

The biggest problem with keeping stuff isn't knowing you actually have it or even where it is but rather it's getting to it as for some reason it's always at the back and often after being tidied up and stored there the week before, or having tidied up then not being able to remember it's new home.

 

[Cabinetman]

I do really like your lighting Peri, floods the bench without blinding you, never in your own shadow either.

 

[Peri]

Thank you - It's actually two 5' daylight tubes under the shelf. The apron could do with being raised an inch or so, just to give a light that illuminates the bench a little bit more. It's been on my to-do list for about the last 7 years

 

[kirkpoore1]

Kirk
What have you got at the bottom of your Leg Vice? Have you got a pinned spacer that you have to adjust, or a Croix de St Piere?
I considered a leg vice for mine, but I didn't like the idea of beding down every two minutes and the hardware for the Croix was a bit pricey. The nicest I've seen was on Mick Cheese's vice. I forget the brand, but you need a mortgage.

Steve:

I have a St Peter's Cross (in this case a Benchcrafted Crisscross https://www.benchcrafted.com/crisscross). It works great, and as far as I'm concerned it was worth the money, $120 plus tax & shipping. It was really the only thing I splurged for on the bench, since the vise screws were fairly inexpensive and I had all the wood and most of the fasteners on hand.

I really think you could build one out of wood if you wanted to using, say, 1" oak. It mostly floats under little or no side stress, with the main function to keep the vise jaw from rotating while supporting the jaw under compression.

Kirk

 

[Mike G]

I have to say Bob that that all looks terribly neat and organised. I have a small extra shed for DIY stuff which isn't woodworking related, and it makes an enormous difference to the quality of my workshop space. I do feel for those who are tripping over motorobikes or washing machines or bicycles or wine racks.......

 

[Lons]

I have to say Bob that that all looks terribly neat and organised. I have a small extra shed for DIY stuff which isn't woodworking related, and it makes an enormous difference to the quality of my workshop space. I do feel for those who are tripping over motorobikes or washing machines or bicycles or wine racks.......

I have a system which works well and I'm also normally disciplined enough to clean the worst mess at the end of a day or at least a few days work but I deliberately didn't post photos of my sheds which are embarrassing.

I agree Mike and and am fortunate now to have space though like most people I yearn for a massive workshop and I've told the missus that when or if we downsize I'll be looking for a huge workshop with some sort of accommodation even if the latter is just a caravan. I remember having no space to work having been iin that situation many years ago, it does get a lot easier once the sprogs have moved out though it took me 15 years to evict the stuff they left behind. :lol:

 

[RogerS]

The day I can say 'Siri, where did I put XYZ' is truly the day I look forward to.

 

[Malc2098]

The day I can say 'Siri, where did I put XYZ' is truly the day I look forward to.

Off piste but related to Roger's comment above, my recent machine post requires me to refer to three axes. Is the vertical one pronounced 'zed' or 'zee'? And which would Siri respond to?!

 

[RogerS]

The day I can say 'Siri, where did I put XYZ' is truly the day I look forward to.

Off piste but related to Roger's comment above, my recent machine post requires me to refer to three axes. Is the vertical one pronounced 'zed' or 'zee'? And which would Siri respond to?!

I think the way to find out is to ask your Mac

 

[novocaine]

X y zee. But often youll here "move it in the zed axis". Has been for as long as i remember but cant say that ive ever thought about till you mentioned it.

 

[novocaine]

X y zee. But often youll here "move it in the zed axis". Has been for as long as i remember but cant say that ive ever thought about till you mentioned it.

 

[Dr.Al]

X Y Zed. Unless you're in America, in which case X Y Zee. "Zee" is one of those words like "Aluminum [sic]" that gets me unnecessarily riled.

 

[Lurker]

X Y Zed. Unless you're in America, in which case X Y Zee. "Zee" is one of those words like "Aluminum [sic]" that gets me unnecessarily riled.

:text-+1:

 

[Lurker]

Here’s my sacrificial bench, this lives outside.

Egg box internal doors are just perfect.
When it gets tatty beyond use, I just get another… there are always a few foc on Facebook market place.

 

[Craig Salisbury]

Well a bunch of 2x4's later i finally came up with something that solves my needs. now the MFT is solid and a mmuch bigger workspace.

Now to decide to put a front vice on or router plate in the middle. Decisions decisions

 

[Cabinetman]

Well it’s a bench Jim, but not as we know it! Sorry couldn’t resist, we all have our different ways of working.
Looks very tidy and efficient. And yes you do need a vice! Ian

 

[Craig Salisbury]

Well it’s a bench Jim, but not as we know it! Sorry couldn’t resist, we all have our different ways of working.
Looks very tidy and efficient. And yes you do need a vice! Ian

absolutely, its there now but that doesnt mean its not going to get franken-morphed or event remade if it doesn't work out

 

[RogerS]

Well it’s a bench Jim, but not as we know it! Sorry couldn’t resist, we all have our different ways of working.
Looks very tidy and efficient. And yes you do need a vice! Ian

But what type of vice ? I think it depends on the sort of work you are doing. Doesn't necessarily have to be your traditional front mounted vice. I'm using this at the moment and it meets my needs. Looking forward in time, with everything I've got to do, I can't see me using my traditional bench/vice at all.

 

[Craig Salisbury]

Well it’s a bench Jim, but not as we know it! Sorry couldn’t resist, we all have our different ways of working.
Looks very tidy and efficient. And yes you do need a vice! Ian

But what type of vice ? I think it depends on the sort of work you are doing. Doesn't necessarily have to be your traditional front mounted vice. I'm using this at the moment and it meets my needs. Looking forward in time, with everything I've got to do, I can't see me using my traditional bench/vice at all.

goddammit Roger! i need to be less decisive, not more

im putting a router lift in the the part next to the mft so im not sure a front vice is also going to fit in that space. One reason i wanted to keep the mft was the workholding/clamping options but it was just a bit wobbly and now thats been resolved.

I suppose i could put the lift more to the other side to make space for a vice on the other, but that means having some of those bench lifting casters and i cant really find room for them.

will get some vice dimensions and make a decision.

cheers

 

[RogerS]

What do you think is underneath the board on which the vice is mounted

 

[Craig Salisbury]

rounding the end of that t-track to save squaring the groove is a nice touch!

i think i got about 350mm in front of the plate so maybe enough for a front vice, but all options will be looked into

 

[RogerS]

rounding the end of that t-track to save squaring the groove is a nice touch!

...

Thank you but wasn't me ! Came 'out of the box' from Axminster like that !

 

[droogs]

That's a rather nifty vise there roger, what's the make/model?
not seen one of them before

 

[AndyP]

Not sure if these are still made but for a very versatile but not permanent vice look no further.





This one is a Zyliss gripmaster bought from an Ally Pally woodshow yonks ago.