Woodcarving bench suggestions

[mwilleson]

Hi all,

I'm finally tired of my card table bench (see thread for photo: Time for some cleaning )

I've decided it's time to pull out the card table and construct a bench in the corner of the basement.

Any suggestions on bench construction / options? Looks like I'll have about 7 feet to work with.

One idea I already have is a higher section I can add or remove if I'm doing relief and want to stand up (never done relief, but I might want to). I have a heavy countertop panel about 3 feet wide I'll use for that.

I'm open to ideas cause I only want to build it once!

[Ron Davidson]

Your work bench should be something you design to fit your individual needs. I will post some pictures of what I use if it will help with some ideas.

[mwilleson]

Thanks Ron, I'm open to ideas!

[mik1947]

Mike -

If you do a search on Google, you can find a number of free workbench plans. Maybe they will provide some ideas that will fit your needs.

Mike

[squbrigg]

We "had" a thread here on work benches, and shots of what everyone was using. Good idea planning your bench, so much to consider.

Will you carve standing or sitting?
Will it include storage for tools, and material?
Will it require a vice or two?
Will it have a place for tools in use?
Will the work surface be fixed or will it tilt?
Will you require drawers under it?
Will you need room for your legs and feet under it?
Can part of it swing out to straddle like a carving horse? Or down like a lap tray?
Can it be bought or will I have to make it? Out of what material?

No end to the ideas....but anything will be better than a card table!

Bob

[wade clark]

Good thoughts, Bob. here's another:
Make it heavy enough to add a great vice system or systems to it.
I ended up "needing" more than one bench. I have one of the great ones that Woodcraft Supply sells, with 2 vices and lots of hold-downs. My other is an oak drafting table. I bought the first because I didn't want to take the time to build one myself...time is what I have the least of and value the most! The old drafting tables are relics to the drafting trade. They're still very collectible but alot of drafting shops have one around that they'd like to see go away. It's a great table, tall enough to stand at or sit on a tall stool, tilting if needed, I do my sharpening at mine, as well as planning, and some carving, but it could easily be my full time carving bench for "under 100 lb." carvings.
Look at some of the commercial carving benches at least for direction and inspiration. Woodcraft has several models to view. Actually, when I bought mine, I bought the top and bottom seperate and it was lots less money than buying one complete...go figure!
Wade