Finally a Real Workbench!

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I carried around an old issue of FW with a workbench design for 45 years, promising myself to build it one day. In the meantime I used the 60 lb 2x6 bench in the picture (also from FW). My sawyer had several hundred BF of wormy maple that had been rained on and water stained, so I got it for the price of pine. So it was off to the races to make my heirloom bench, based on a more recent design by Chris Gochnour. The under bench cabinet was inspired by Christian Becksvoort. The end result is about 400 lb and it doesn't move much at all when I'm pushing a plane. 
Two things I like about it: the giant dovetails for the end vise and the booked cabinet and door panels.
If I were to build another one I would use a wagon vise instead of the big end vise - more versatile for my needs. I would also increase the left side overhang to put the shoulder vise outside the leg to get full cabinet access from the front. Otherwise, I'm pleased

14 Comments

yes that is a real work bench ! she's a beauty. that will last for a few generations to come. nice work on the dovetails and matching the wood.

hey when you get time maybe post your work shop. we love to see shops. weve done them as a project then we put them into a collection so if someone wants to see all the shops there in one place easy to find. i have one under shop tour and steve has one under workshops.

working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.

Ditto on the woods and DT vise!
Beefy!
Great job, looks like it’s built like a tank.
Nice more than sturdy.   Good design.   Well built.    Be great to use!

Ron

Wow - worth the 45 year wait!
Form and function - that's one nice bench.
it's just sad we have to wait so long to enjoy something weve always wanted. the irony of life i guess ? when we can afford it were too damn old to fully enjoy it !!!

working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.

Beautific bench, though the one you had will have been much better than no bench at all. But this new one brings with it bragging rights, well done.
Great looking workbench.
Real nice work bench!

Cheers, Jim ........................ Variety is the spice of life...............Learn something new every day

Excellent bench! I'm still in the "Someday I'll make one" stage😀
the car comes first steve ! 😁

working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.

Very nice work bench.  Looks stable.

daveg, SW Washington & AZ

See now you are just making us look bad!  LOL....Super good job!

Mike