woodworking Workbench.

[samueldongard]

Can i build it myself or i should only buy it.

[Claude]

Here's a lot of info to help you decide:
Workbenches Page

Claude

[sitesby]

Build or buy. I think it depends on your wanting to take on the building project. I happened across my bench in an auto mechanics garage. It was covered in oil and grease and they were going to burn it. I cleaned and scrubbed it for weeks, but it was worth it.
Let us know what you decide, there are some great plans and benches out there.

[carver33]

I've always built my own, but they have been fairly simple and attached to a wall for rigidity. Basically built with a 2x4 frame and 3/4 inch ply top with wood vice attached at one corner. They have served me very well for a variety of projects.

I think it depends on 3 things - How fancy of a bench you want, how much you want to spend and how much time you want to spend on the build. A simple bench doesn't take much time and materials are fairly cheap. The fancier benches would take quite a bit of time to build, a good selection of woodworking tools and materials would be fairly expensive. In that case it might be better to buy pre-built.

My $.02 worth

[RUssL.]

I went through the same question about two years ago.
I drooled over fancy benches in all the catalogs and then bought a few books on building woodworking benches and drooled over all the ideas about building a bench.

When it came right down to it, I realized that I am just not that handy.
Sad but true.
The essence of it is that I never manage to measure accurately.
Don't ask me how that can be, but it is.
Building my own robust and functional bench was just a fantasy.

I ended up biting the monetary bullet and bought a Sjoberg cabinet makers bench from Lee Valley and never looked back. It came with several Veritas bench dogs and a pair of Sjoberg hold fast, as well as two wood working vises that can be mounted in four different places on the bench.

I did build a tool tray to mount to the back of the bench...and it is horribly poorly built. :-( but it works

I did learn a lot about wood working benches in the books I read on the subject. But when it came right down to it I wanted to be carving more than I wanted to be wood working on a bench.

You?
Which would you prefer to be doing and which can you afford?
Either way, have fun.

All the best,

Russ

[Gulf Coast Handyman]

I made mine like carver33, 2 x 4 and 3/4 " MDF. I put a shelf half way down the legs ( used 2 x 4 as support ). My back legs are 6 foot tall (bench is mounted to inside of legs ), I mounted peg board to the back legs. Whole bench cost under $50.00

Dave

[sitesby]

Hey, how about posting some pictures of your benches. Here is a picture of my beauty and the best part is that except for some elbow grease it was free.

[Doug Ridley]

I am not a big Harbor Freight fan but they have a very nice heavy Oak bench with drawers for $200.00. You can't build it for much less. Google up Harbor Freight for a pic.
60" Solid Oak Workbench
Four felt-lined storage drawers

• Solid oak, hardwood top with lacquer finish
• Wood block vise with adjustable machined guides
• Four felt-lined storage drawers
• Convenient storage shelf

Tools sold separately.Includes 16 bench dog holes, 4 metal pegs, 4 oak pegs and four felt lined drawers. Weight capacity: 250 lbs. (top), 25 lb. (each drawer). Vise capacity: 7''; Table top dimensions: 60'' L x 20-1/8'' W; Shelf dimensions: 47-1/4'' L x 14-3/4'' W x 2-1/2'' H; Drawer dimensions (x4): 21'' W x 12-3/4'' D x 3'' H; Overall dimensions: 60'' L x 20-1/8'' W x 33-1/4'' H
Weight: 111 lbs.



ITEM 93454-3vga


$199.99

[Doug Ridley]

Here's a pic--

I just now noticed, the drawers are extra. Still a good buy.

[Donsexton]

I use a sculptors stand for any carving that is under 3' tall and under 200 pounds. I have built all my stands 30"X30" two layers 3/4" plywood cross braced 4"X4" legs 26" tall. I dont like drawers or shelves. Because I use a 32oz mallet with a 2" #7 gouge to rough in. I have holes in the top to accommodate my bench dog and screw for smaller carvings. I have a tool stand on wheels no tools on my bench or stand. But if you dont intend to drive big gouges this may not work for you. I have a separate stand with a huge Yost vice 26" top of jaws for carving human busts and smaller nudes again no drawers or shelves. I dont use my stands for anything but hand or power carving no chainsaw work. For me I like to stand and walk around most benches I see are too high of the ground they are made to use a bar stool or somthing. I dont like my work stand to be against the wall I want to walk around the work.