8
votes
Accepted
Is there a workbench "type" reference?
If you read the woodworking forums there are two classic books on the subject of workbench design in English and I think both compare features and usefulness a you're hoping. The first is by Scott ...
- 67.3k
8
votes
Accepted
Making wobbly 6x4’ table stable
One word: diagonals. More lightly built workbenches are often a bit wobbly, but adding diagonal bracing to any such design instantly yields a big improvement in stability. The reason is that there's a ...
- 67.3k
7
votes
Garage work bench compound miter saw position
Why do people position the saw in the middle why not at one end with a small overlap on the short side?
Part of the reason people put the saw in the middle is so that they can cut miters from both ...
- 12.3k
7
votes
Accepted
Laminating 2x4s - brush on the glue?
I have several suggestions for gluing this type of slab.
The glue does not spread itself. Always distribute it evenly before making contact between pieces. You can do this using a brush or a roller....
- 8,484
6
votes
Accepted
Garage work bench compound miter saw position
Putting the saw in the middle maximizes the size of the pieces you can create from your offcut. Say you put the saw 1m from the end of your shop. Now you've got a 4m board and you need to create 2m ...
- 5,530
6
votes
Accepted
Securing long boards for edge jointing
Unfortunately, it doesn't look like your bench has any provision for a deadman. This would allow you to clamp one end of the board in the face vise and support the other end with the deadman.
I ...
- 5,530
6
votes
What are the pros and cons of MDF as a workbench top?
What are the pros and cons of MDF as a workbench top?
Pros:
Relatively cheap.
Is already a flat sheet ready to use as a work surface, saving much time and effort.
Fairly flat to dead flat right from ...
- 67.3k
5
votes
Garage work bench compound miter saw position
I'm in a similar situation with a 14' (4,25m) wall. I don't recommend setting up your miter saw in the middle.
I believe it depends on your usual stock length. For me, it's 8' (2,5m), so I have it ...
- 2,430
5
votes
Accepted
Using 1x4 instead of 2x4 for laminated workbench top?
Yes you can absolutely do this. It's just more glue joints to do but it's not really that much more work than if you were using 2x4s.
Because of the number of glue joints you might want to subdivide ...
- 67.3k
5
votes
What are the defining features of a Holtzapffel workbench?
The defining feature of this bench is the mixture of elements from three traditions. Mostly French and German + a few English additions.
Top thick only where needed to support vises.
"Tree-trunk ...
- 2,119
5
votes
Accepted
Joining cross supports to workbench legs
Honestly I'd use a cross lap joint like
You can do it from both direction, and yes it looks like you are cutting away all the beam but I've used this for my construction of wood racks, that hold a ...
- 16.1k
5
votes
Soft-close drawer guides won't retract without continuous pressure
The problem was that the back of the cabinet was slightly wider than the front, and exceeded the maximum tolerance of the guides for the two drawers. The Tobinice installation video basically says ...
- 199
5
votes
Making wobbly 6x4’ table stable
This isn't doing you much good:
The braces can just turn around the screw. You really need two screws for them to do anything.
Like this:
You could also switch to diagonal braces.
Sides:
Back:
...
- 151
4
votes
Accepted
Need help understanding workbench design and build process
I made a bench similar in construction to what you describe only a bit bigger ( 8' long with two 1' wide top slabs separated by 1 1/2" gap - roubo style split top). I made mine with 2x6 instead of ...
- 8,484
4
votes
Accepted
Mortise before or after glue up (laminated legs)?
All things equal I would leave the gap it is usually easer than cutting out the mortise even with a mortising machine, you may have to adjust the tenon to fit.
- 633
4
votes
What are the pros and cons of MDF as a workbench top?
Sounds like it would work fine to me. My first bench was two sheets of 3/4 MDF laminated together and I had no major issues with it. I used it for years and made quite a few projects that I was proud ...
- 5,530
4
votes
Workbench Leg Spacing
Your design should work as designed. Extending the bench beyond the legs is fine at 14.5". The overall weight and length of top should be adequate to prevent any tipping forces at the ends of ...
- 8,484
4
votes
How to solid-edge plywood and hardboard for top of workbench?
It's probably worth highlighting that, as mentioned in the linked Answer, solid-wood edging provides a solid bump in the looks department as well as protecting the relatively fragile edges of the MDF ...
- 67.3k
3
votes
How to clamp very thin wood for planing
If you are going to be doing a lot of this kind of thin surfacing work, you might want to invest in a vacuum clamp. When combined with a small vacuum pump, these clamps can hold onto the flat bottom ...
- 298
3
votes
Accepted
How to clamp very thin wood for planing
In some respects end stops (as seen on most planing boards and as built into many good benches) are the ideal for planing thinner stock. You can use dogs as these stops of course, they just need to be ...
- 67.3k
3
votes
Strength of oak versus maple
Strength should not be your concern.
A butcher-block slab with a large unsupported span is likely to to fail - the vertically-oriented wood fibers will separate (which happens normally with moisture ...
- 828
3
votes
Accepted
What supports do legs need on a very short workbench
This is intended to be my main workbench, and will be used for all of my hand tool work
A rock solid desk that doesn't shake or wobble would seem to be a requirement for hand tool work of any kind. ...
- 1,003
3
votes
Best way to mount bench vise for my particular bench?
Where you have your vice placed for the photos is pretty much exactly where I'd mount it, in addition to the front-back placement being ideal it appears to be nearly directly over a leg which gives ...
- 67.3k
3
votes
Accepted
Two piece workbench top
Your bench design is related to a style called "Roubo" named after a French woodworker who originated the design style. Many workbenches, including mine are based upon the Roubo split top. This ...
- 8,484
3
votes
Accepted
Support for solid wood tabletop with galvanized tube frame
It's right to be cautious, but this is oak and over an inch in thickness which is really quite thick as far as tabletops go. The Ikea countertop material is also made from glued staves1, which isn't ...
- 67.3k
3
votes
Why is 48" too deep for a workbench?
How many things are you building that are more than 24" deep? Too deep of a workbench prevents you from reaching the back of whatever you are working on. I can only think of a few things I have ...
- 8,054
3
votes
Accepted
Let pine dry or use it right away for building a work bench?
For fine woodworking, I understand you should let wood dry and get accustomed to your shop (or ideally wherever the finished product will live). Okay so of course that make sense for a huge slab of ...
- 67.3k
3
votes
Accepted
How to face joint board longer than bench by hand
Joint the board in sections and iterate through Left, middle, right side until reasonable jointed
Yes.
but there is a risk that each section is not parallel.
Check often, adjust as necessary.
This ...
- 67.3k
3
votes
Accepted
How to secure bench top equipment to a mobile surface
I have 2 ideas.
I have my compound miter saw semi-permanently attached to a work bench I build on wheels. but I do some times need to take it with me to other locations. So I drilled holes though ...
- 16.1k
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible