[lorax]

I have been looking into getting a new work bench to upgrade from the $39 kit bench. I have always wanted the benches with the bench dog holes for long clamping etc. So anyway, I was looking into the sjoberg workbenches, and I found out that I have expensive taste. The big bench with the 4" thick top, is $1700-wow! While the price is high, I'm sure the quality is too. I was also looking at all the books about making you own, and figure you could buy the materials and hardware at a fraction of the store bought bench. The question is do I take the chance of building it, and possibly not getting the quality I need in exchange for a smaller price tag. Does anyone have any success or horror stories that would help me out. One of the things I am concearned about is how to create a level work surface. Even jointing and belt sanding the boards/ top seems like room for uneveness. I suppose the sjoberg people have a giant planer, which would make life easy, but if I could afford that, I wouldn't have started this thread

[hruukki]

That one is fairly easy: make the rest by yourself and buy a planed surface somewhere. You're still short of 1700 is my guess.

[AlArchie]

Here's a link to another mag's reprint on plans for a "Rock Solid Workbench" they claim can be built in a weekend.
Best-Ever Woodworking Jigs, Homemade Tools & Shop Organizers 2007

Workbenches

Al

[RussL.]

Grizzly.com has several decent wood working benches in different sizes and prices (including two Sjoberg-type for around $1K delivered).

I just picked up a really cheap ($129 +$11 shipping) 48" workbench from Harbor Freight for carving at our summer camp. I had to raise it up by about 6" to a suitable height, but I would have to do that with any bench.

For the money it is a decent little bench, complete with (smallish) bench dogs & holes along with a modest little wood vise included.

At home I have an extensivley modified K-mart kit bench that my late father-in-law gave me years ago that I am just too attched to to replace with anything.
If not for sentimental reasons I would have one of those Grizzly benches.

RussL.

[Claude]

Lorax:
Here's a place that might help you: Workbenches Page

Claude

[Dan S]

I'm in the process of building one now. I wanted a rock solid bench that I felt would last several lifetimes and that would fit me. You can save some money by purchasing a pre-built bench. This is especially true when you factor in waste and quality hardware. I didn't go this route because I had no place locally to try one out and also because it gave me an excuse to buy more tools. (8" jointer) I think that to build your own bench you must either have a real passion for woodwork or a screw loose somewhere.
As far as leveling the top there are a number of methods for doing this but the easiest is probably to use a large belt sander in a large cabinet shop. Some of these companies will rent you time on one. I think they go up to 36" or so.
Before you try to tackle your own bench I would try out as many benches as possible. Be sure you know what you need and like before you cut up a stack of nice lumber. An advantage to a pre-built bench is that you can return it if you don't like it. I know that my present bench is almost exactly one inch too short and has no place for my toes to go when I stand next to the bench. This gives me a back ache.
If you haven't already bought a copy, read the workbench book I think the author is Landis, If it's not, let me know and I'll look it up. He has some great ideas to ponder before you start sawing lumber.

Good luck and have fun!
Dan

[mdallensr]

I bought the Sjorberg/Jet, 5' work bench a few years ago. It was a closeout and I got it for less than $300. It has two vices and the bench dog holes in both directions. It's very solid for a small bench, even though it doesn't have a 4" thick top. Mike

[squbrigg]

I opted for a home made bench after looking at all the designs and sizes and prices ....... $$$$$. I incorporated the features of those that I likes and sized it to my need (height, carving position and for a number of carvers at once). While hardwoods may have been preferable for most situations, I went with softwoods, and have not regretted it, yet. I found the construction easier than I expected and I rate my skill at traditional carpentry as minimal. I used the resources of a number of magazines as models, their articles gave me the confidance I needed to try.

My cost was certainly a lot less than the commercial designs, at just over $350 for lumber and hardware. The bench measures 74" x 41" x 2" thick and stands 31 1/4" from floor to work surface. I included a 6" x 48" tool recess in the center, 1/2" deep, and four rows of holes for bench dogs, two rows on each side of the tool tray. I have had up to ten carving at the bench together, but I use it more for just myself now, for larger projects.

Bob

[Jim-Iowa]

My solution was very finance driven. I went down to the building center and picked up a solid core exterior door mine was luan veneered(you can sometimes find scratched & dents for almost nothing). I had a new Jet Vice and an old tail vice that had belonged to my wife's great grandfather.
It was not hard at all to layout double rows of 3/4" holes in line with the vices and drill the holes to use dowels for bench pegs. I put Masonite(hardboard) over the door with carpet tape, that gave me an easily replaceable hard top.
This has been a very useful bench that has been used hard for 5 yrs now and I see it going many years before needing replaced.
I think vices and all I have less than $150 in this bench.

[TreeWizard]

If you can find it, an old bowling alley makes a great work bench. My dad used to work part time for a guy who built and refinished bolwing alleys, he brought home an old one and made a workbench the full length of the basement and a 4x4 roll around one out of the left over. They are hard maple and will look great and last forever.