Workbench project: completed!!!

[D L Ames]

Re: Trestle Mania!!! (part deux)

I glued the mortises, tenons, and the dowels. Same thing for the wedges. My thinking was to have as much glue surface as possible - I don't think the 3/8" dowels by themselves would be strong enough to stand up to the stresses of use and prevent joint failure down the road.

I need to finish cleaning up the other wedged tenons, and then I can use this nice flat surface to do the glueup for the top. I'll probably start on that this week.

Thanks Monty, I figured that is what you had done but I wanted to make sure after reading the part about "the M&T joinery is substantial and dead-blow mallet tight". I am still toying with Turbo CAD and understand it pretty well so far with the exception of fine tuning the renderings. Your WB plans you sent me have been a great teaching tool for me....thanks.

D L

 

[McRabbet]

Re: Trestle Mania!!! (part deux)

I could swear I see penguin guano oozing out below those wedged tenons in your last picture -- you didn't come up with some new, fast, cold setting glue formula I hope....

Nice job, dude....

Rob

 

[cpowell]

Re: Trestle Mania!!! (part deux)

Those bases are looking strong and clean, Monty, obviously the result of the meticulous pursuit of perfection on your part.

It was really nice of WG to let you practice on his first so you could use that experience to improve on the home field design!! :lol: :lol:

The wedge tenons look awesome!

Chuck

 

[Monty]

Re: Trestle Mania!!! (part deux)

Hehehe.... penguin quano makes lousy glue, but excellent wood filler!!! :mrgreen:

I think Woodguy was very thoughtful letting me practice making workbench bases with his wood... luckily, I was able to make all my mistakes before I started working on mine!!! :lol:

DL: CAD is a steep learning curve, but it's definitely worth the effort! I was able to play around and come up with a design that I think I'll be happy with... I think this is what mine will ultimately end up looking like:

 

[D L Ames]

Re: Trestle Mania!!! (part deux)

Monty, here is what I have been able to create and assemble with Turbo CAD so far based on the plans you sent me.

D L

 

[Travis Porter]

Re: Insomniac's Workbench saga!

I have that same vise and love it. I also have a non-quick release but prefer the quick release hands down.

 

[Monty]

Re: Trestle Mania!!! (part deux)

Lookin' good, DL! :icon_thum Although..... it looks kind of familiar! :eusa_thin


Some updated pics:

I've got it all finished now with several coats of Seal-A-Cell, so now I'll just cover it up with plastic for protection while I use this nice flat surface to glue up the top.

 

[woodguy1975]

Re: Trestle Mania!!! (part deux)

You're making good progress now dude. Hmmmmm maybe it is because of all the practice.

 

[Monty]

Re: "Dog Day" Afternoon....

Well, it's time to get started on the top for my workbench. Before I can do the glueup, I had to cut out the square dog holes. I'm using Veritas square bench dogs.

I made a 3° angle wedge to go in my old crosscut sled, and set up the dado blade to match the dimensions of the bench dog. I cut a notch in the wedge, which holds a "key" to maintain proper spacing between the dog holes (6½" O.C). Once this was setup just like I wanted it, I just screwed the wedge to the sled from below, to keep it from moving.



I chose a 3° angle instead of the 2° specified in the Veritas instructions, so the faces of the dogs would lean just a bit further toward each other instead of being straight perpendicular to the bench surface.


Once I had all the dadoes cut, I had to cut out a notch in each one to clear the face of the dog. I made this router jig out of a piece of ¼" plywood and a scrap wood fence to cut these notches.



These dog holes turned out just like I wanted them to - the bench dogs drop down below the surface when not in use, are fairly easy to move but very snug so they stay put when in use. These bench dogs have a spring which keeps them from falling through, and I can position them as low as 1/16"-1/8" if I want to:

So... here's where we stand thus far:

Next I will start with the glueup and flattening process. I will not cut the round dog holes until after it's all put together and the front vise is mounted.

 

[D L Ames]

Re: "Dog Day" Afternoon....

Looking good Monty. You are making some excellent progress now. Now I see how the use of the dado blade and router bit together as you described worked to form the dog holes. Good luck with your glue up.

D L

 

[Steve D]

Re: "Dog Day" Afternoon....

Looking great Monty. That is going to be a fantastic bench. :icon_thum

 

[NCPete]

Re: "Dog Day" Afternoon....

going over to the local Re-Store (? HH's retail outfit) today looking for old countertops for just that sort of project. I know its not the same, but cheap is cheap! And a whole lot of improvement over the status quo! (does anyone else have young children that have caused an over exposure to that song from Disney Chanel's Highschool Musical?:3dblob5

 

[woodguy1975]

Re: "Dog Day" Afternoon....

Dude, I leave on the 12th and will be back in the shop 19-21. Just to let you know when the WM will be available.

 

[Kyle]

Re: "Dog Day" Afternoon....

Let me know if you are interested in HM or not and I'll get you a quote from my sources. The larger volume the better the price.

 

[Monty]

Re: "Dog Day" Afternoon....

.... when the WM will be "available"?!?!? Hmmmm.... all I need is a good set of lock-picking tools!!! :jealous: :lol:

 

[Kyle]

Re: "Dog Day" Afternoon....

My attack blacksnake has been trained to "invenomate" I have PLENTY of 8/4 ash available now if needed. Its "purty".

 

[Monty]

Re: "Dog Day" Afternoon....

I have PLENTY of 8/4 ash available now if needed. Its "purty".

8-O Ash!!! Funny you should mention that! (long story... don't ask!) :-?

 

[McRabbet]

Re: "Dog Day" Afternoon....

8-O Ash!!! Funny you should mention that! (long story... don't ask!) :-?

Doh.....:eusa_doh:

 

[NCPete]

Re: "Dog Day" Afternoon....

Kyle, how much for the Hard Maple?

 

[woodguy1975]

Re: "Dog Day" Afternoon....

.... when the WM will be "available"?!?!? Hmmmm.... all I need is a good set of lock-picking tools!!! :jealous: :lol:

Hmmmmmmmm, better beef up the security a bit. :lol::lol::lol: