Work Bench Build #6: Taking Stock and planning

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This is part 6 in a 16 part series: Work Bench Build

I have just finished drilling the pilot dog holes into the top boards that I have vises for. This will allow me to have a nice straight batch of dog holes started once the top is glued up by using the drill press when the top is still just a bunch of boards.

Well I have come to the point where I have to make a list of what needs to be done and when. Having only my own wits to go by as I am not following anyone else’s build plan, I put my engineering and project manager skills to use. If anyone notices a flaw in the plan please let me know.

Sand legs
Sand wagon vise chop and adjust for free movement
Chamfer leg bottoms
Purchase Stretchers
Measure & cut stretchers
Mortise & tenon stretchers & legs
Rabbit stretchers for shelf thickness
Mock up stretchers & legs
Router top deadman mortise groove into bottom of left benchtop
Router bottom deadman v groove into bottom of left stretcher
Router top deadman mortise groove into bottom of right benchtop
Router bottom deadman v groove into bottom of right stretcher
Build leg vise chop
Purchase crisscross
Build/router veg vise crisscross mortise
Glue up legs and stretchers
Glue up left side benchtop boards
Glue up right side benchtop boards
Plane left side benchtop top using planer
Plane right side benchtop top using planer
Plane left side benchtop bottom using planer
Plane right side benchtop bottom using planer
Glue benchtop halves together maintain as much level as possible
Install Purple Heart accents in square plane block holes
Purchase carpenters vise
Build carpenters vise chop
Drill pilot dog holes for carpenters Vise in benchtop
Install carpenters vise from bottom
Build face vise chop & install dog holes in chop
Install face vise from bottom
Install and glue legs & stretchers together
Install and glue bottom assembly to benchtop in final shop location (major assembly)
Plane benchtop side face boards flush with leg faces
Install tail vise chop retainer under benchtop
Install leg vise chop and crisscross
Purchase plywood to match stretchers
Build bottom shelf laminating plywood
Trim & install bottom shelf onto stretchers
Dovetail tail vise board ends
Dovetail face vise board ends
Dovetail wide end of benchtop board ends
Purchase brass bench 2 dogs for tail vise
Purchase 2 holdfasts for bench dog holes
Drill all bench dog holes the rest of the way thru the top
Router or inlay any decorative accents
Router top surface flat and level using sled and rail system
Install dowel bench dogs
Build deadman seat
Build deadman
Install deadman
Install seat
Build batten for bench dog holes
Apply finish
Enjoy years of woodworking
As always thank you for following along. Any suggestions or questions are welcome.

CHRIS, Charlottetown PEI Canada. Anytime you can repurpose, reuse, or recycle, everyone wins!

The reason the dog holes are only 2 1/2" deep is that I only have a small table top drill press. Once constructed I will thru drill the holes the rest of the way. I tried to find a way of getting the holes all the way by flipping the boards over but this might lead to misaligned holes. Also, I will be adding holes to the legs on the sides to allow for waste to fall out and to remove the dogs where they are at the leg joint locations.

CHRIS, Charlottetown PEI Canada. Anytime you can repurpose, reuse, or recycle, everyone wins!

Too late now but I do dog holes (and longer holes in other pieces) by routing half holes in two boards clamped together, then gluing them up with a dowel or two in place to keep alignment.

As for the list, looks good but I really like the last step. :-)

The early bird gets the worm but its the second mouse that gets the cheese.

That’s a long list. I would have a shorter one so it goes much quicker…..-:)

I have no experience in bench building but I am sure you know what you are doing. A fine job in my opinion. I am getting a lot of ideas.

Abbas, Castro Valley, CA

Your bench looks fantastic so far. It always helps to be well organized as you seem to be.

Mike, an American living in Norway

I have updated my list to include completed tasks. I am about half way done, on paper at least.

^ ^ equals completed work. ^ ^

^ ^ Clean and dust workshop. ^ ^
^ ^ Research styles and types of workbenches. ^ ^
^ ^ Research building and installing hardware. ^ ^
^ ^ Draw up plans. ^ ^
^ ^ Decide on types of wood. ^ ^
^ ^ Decide on types and number of Vises. ^ ^
^ ^ Purchase wood for bench top. ^ ^
^ ^ Purchase wood for legs. ^ ^
^ ^ Purchase wood dowel for bench dogs. ^ ^
^ ^ Purchase “C” clamps. ^ ^
^ ^ Purchase bar clamps. ^ ^
^ ^ Purchase plane. ^ ^
^ ^ Purchase long shank chisel set. ^ ^
^ ^ Purchase sharpening stone. ^ ^
^ ^ Purchase table top Thickness Planer. ^ ^
^ ^ Purchase hand saws. ^ ^
^ ^ Purchase and install additional lighting. ^ ^
^ ^ Purchase brill bits, brad point. ^ ^
^ ^ Purchase drill bits, table top holes. ^ ^
^ ^ Purchase 1 1/2" router bit for final flattening. ^ ^
^ ^ Purchase tail Vies assembly. ^ ^
^ ^ Purchase Face Vise assembly. ^ ^
^ ^ Purchase Leg Vise Assembly. ^ ^
^ ^ Purchase wood for temporary workbench. ^ ^
^ ^ Purchase respirator for breathing sawdust safety. ^ ^
^ ^ Build bench to build a bench. ^ ^
^ ^ Start a blog on a woodworkers forum for advise on the build. ^ ^
^ ^ Build bench dogs for temp bench. ^ ^
^ ^ Repair and install old leg Vise on temp bench. ^ ^
^ ^ Build crisscross for temp bench leg vise. ^ ^
^ ^ Arrange workshop to allow space for new benches. ^ ^
^ ^ Rack wood for 4 weeks to acclimate. ^ ^
^ ^ Set up mitre saw fence. ^ ^
^ ^ Adjust miter saw. ^ ^
^ ^ Build tool rests for miter saw. ^ ^
^ ^ Build wood stop for miter saw. ^ ^
^ ^ Set up table saw Fence. ^ ^
^ ^ Adjust table saw. ^ ^
^ ^ Build centre marking gauge. ^ ^
^ ^ Repair #7 jointer plane. ^ ^
^ ^ Sharpen all tools. ^ ^
^ ^ Lay out bench top. ^ ^
^ ^ Trim bench top to length. ^ ^
^ ^ Arrange boards crowns and crooks and twists. ^ ^
^ ^ Cut back right bench to allow for face Vise. ^ ^
^ ^ Lay out tail Vise parts and design wagon system. ^ ^
^ ^ Build tail Vise wagon and channel. ^ ^
^ ^ Trim tail Vise in decorative wood. ^ ^
^ ^ Install tail Vise and adjust sizes for smooth operation. ^ ^
^ ^ Trim to size bench top end boards. ^ ^
^ ^ Cut centre boards to create plane stop block holes, split down the centre. ^ ^
^ ^ Mark all boards numbered and orientation. ^ ^
^ ^ Cut boards to create mortises for legs. ^ ^
^ ^ Cut legs mortises. ^ ^
^ ^ Mock up legs and bench top. ^ ^
^ ^ Glue up legs. ^ ^
^ ^ Sand legs. ^ ^
^ ^ Shape and Sand wagon vise chop and adjust for free movement. ^ ^
^ ^ Evaluate progress and adjust timetable. ^ ^
^ ^ Chamfer leg bottoms ^ ^
^ ^ Measure and trim plane stop block holes. ^ ^
^ ^ Locate & Purchase Stretcher wood. ^ ^
Plane stretcher surfaces to size.
Measure & cut stretchers to length.
Mortise & tenon stretchers & legs.
Rabbit edge of stretchers for shelf thickness.
Glue up stretchers.
Mock up stretchers & legs.
^ ^ Router top deadman mortise groove into bottom of left benchtop. ^ ^
Router bottom deadman convex “v” groove into bottom of left stretcher.
^ ^ Router top deadman mortise groove into bottom of right benchtop. ^ ^
Router bottom deadman convex “v” groove into bottom of right stretcher.
Build leg Vise chop including decoration.
Purchase crisscross.
Build/router veg Vise crisscross mortise.
Glue up legs and stretchers together.
Glue up left side first 4 bench top boards.
Glue up right side first 4 bench top boards.
Glue mortise grove stops on left side bottom of bench top.
Glue mortise grove stops on right side bottom of bench top.
Glue up left side next 3 bench top boards.
Glue up right side next 3 bench top boards.
Plane left side benchtop top using planer.
Plane right side benchtop top using planer.
Plane left side benchtop bottom using planer.
Plane right side benchtop bottom using planer.
Glue benchtop halves together maintain as much level as possible.
Install Purple Heart accents in square plane block holes.
^ ^ Purchase carpenters Vise. ^ ^
^ ^ Build carpenters Vise chop. ^ ^
^ ^ Drill pilot dog holes for carpenters Vise in benchtop. ^ ^
Install carpenters Vise from bottom.
Build face Vise chop & install dog holes in chop.
Install face Vise from bottom.
Install and glue legs & stretchers together.
Install and glue bottom assembly to benchtop in final shop location (major assembly).
Plane benchtop side face boards flush with leg faces.
Install tail Vise chop retainer under benchtop.
Drill leg Vise hardware hole and mortise in the hardware.
Install leg Vise chop and crisscross.
Purchase plywood to match stretchers.
Build bottom shelf by laminating plywood.
Trim & install bottom shelf onto stretchers.
Dovetail tail Vise board ends.
Dovetail face Vise board ends.
Dovetail wide end of bench top board ends.
Purchase brass bench 2 dogs for tail Vise.
Purchase 2 holdfasts for bench dog holes.
Drill all bench dog holes the rest of the way thru the top.
^ ^ Build crochet crook. ^ ^
Install crochet crook front left face.
Router top surface flat and level using sled and rail system.
Router or inlay any decorative Purple Heart accents.
File plane stop block hole inside edges.
^ ^ Build plane stop block. ^ ^
Install plane stop block.
Install dowel bench dogs.
Build deadman.
Build deadman seat.
Install deadman.
Install seat.
^ ^Build batten for bench dog holes. ^ ^
Final sanding.
Apply finish.
Enjoy years of woodworking.

CHRIS, Charlottetown PEI Canada. Anytime you can repurpose, reuse, or recycle, everyone wins!