Comments on: Karen’s Workbench – Week of Workbenches

By: Emmrys

Emmrys — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 11:44:07 +0000

Hi Eric. I got suggestion for a vise on the old TWW forum and in the chat room. The one I chose is the Economy Quick Release Front Vise from Woodcraft http://www.woodcraft.com/Produ.....-Vise.aspx. The front edge of the bench is 5 1/2″ vertically. It is made of two boards each 3/4″ thick for a total thickness of 1 1/2′.

By: Eric

Eric — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 19:17:47 +0000

Hi, great job on the workbench! I am planning to build one and yours is exactly what I was planning to do with mine.. What kind of vise is that and where did you get it if you don’t mind? Also what size board did you use for the front edge of the top?

By: Emmrys

Emmrys — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 11:46:10 +0000

Steve, I tried to use my circ saw to cut the 4×4 legs. Unfortunately I hit a knot that loosened the blade. I didn’t realize what had happened until I had already made the cuts with a hand saw.

The holes for the rods are close together but can’t be crossing to work. Getting them straight is critical to assembly. I used a hand drill with a Drill Guide (like this: http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/.....ogId=10053). I clamped the base of the guide to my board and it worked fine.

Be sure to post pics.

By: Steve Carroll

Steve Carroll — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 19:54:41 +0000

Hi,
This looks fantastic. I got a twelve foot 4×4 at the store instead of the two eight foot lengths. And learned a trick to cutting with my circ saw. Cut it to the full depth, then rotate the board 90 degrees towards you and use the kerf to guide the saw to a straight cut.

But I’m having trouble with the legs. The holes I drill for the truss rods are intersecting. How do you drill a straight hole without a drill press ( I only have a hand drill).
Thanks,
Steve

By: emmrys

emmrys — Sat, 03 Apr 2010 12:49:14 +0000

Sorry I didn’t see your comment until now. I got all the wood from my local big box store except the cedar posts for the legs. I found the cedar 4x4s a the lumbar yard. They were 8 feet long and they cut them in the middle for me.

By: Peter

Peter — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 05:21:19 +0000

Great work! I’m hoping to build a similar table soon. I’ve been a bit of a price junkie lately – can I ask where you got the wood, and how much it cost you?

By: Sam Clark

Sam Clark — Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:52:57 +0000

Karen,

I too am fairly new to woodworking, and I am building the same bench from the same plans! Yours looks great! I still have a little work to complete it, but yours gives me some ideas! Interesting you went with cedar for your legs. I ended up laminating mine from two 2x4s and a 1/2″ ripped piece from another 2×4.

Looks great!
Sam

By: emmrys

emmrys — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:22:33 +0000

I thought about doing a replaceable top skin but decided against it. I already had several new things I was trying out. Maybe someday if I wear out this top I will do one like that. One good thing about this bench is that the top and legs can be easily separated to replace either one without having to rebuild the other.

By: emmrys

emmrys — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:18:50 +0000

Matt, thanks for your kind comments and your wonderful video series. I was so excited when I saw this workbench. It was just the right combination of function (with a vise), sturdy, and simple to build. There is no telling how many times I went back to watch those videos over and over to get the details as I went along.

I added the wood edge so that I wouldn’t tear up the MDF over time. The front piece sits in front of the front apron so there is a space that allows for clamping to it.

Thanks again and for taking time to comment.

By: emmrys

emmrys — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 23:07:46 +0000

Thanks, it does just what I need it to do.