[squbrigg]

As I had mentioned earlier, I am building a carving bench for the carving group that comes to the house and carves on Monday evenings. As it is a relatively small group, I thought a bench would be helpful, where several carvers could sit around and carve together, rather than on their knee or on portable construction type devices.

I took the design from a number of sources and combined ideas to make my own design, some traditional European woodworking bench ideas, and a few others thrown in for good measure.

I have constructed it mostly from just construction 2 X 4, trimmed on the band saw, and am using some traditional joints for construction and some innovations. Like the stretcher connections, lag screws into end wood using a dowel as a nut. Solid as a rock! Legs are 2 X 4 trimmed and glued to form 3 X 3 legs.

The top is 2 X 8 and 2 X 4 glued up , and has a trough in the center for tools to lay. Holes for bench dogs have been drilled and hardwood dogs made up. We will be making a few bench hooks and other bench top holding devices for carving, but this will be the main support.

Once the top is on and smoothed, I'll take more pics. But I thought you might enjoy the construction process. To glue up the top, which is 41 " wide by 72" long, I used an old shipwrights trick. As I didn't have clamps wide enough, I laid boards under the top, fixed blocks on the ends on both sides and used wedges to force the glued edges together. Worked like a charm. A clamped top board on each end keeps the whole to relatively level, and once the glue is dry, I'll plane or sand it smooth.

If I'm not satisfyed with the top, I have a sheet of 3/4" plywood I can laminate on, but I don't think that will be necessary.

Bob

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Wow! That's some workbench! I did basically the same thing for my shop when I set it up. Made it all out of 2X4's. One thing to worry about though is the broad expanse of boards laid at their widest width on the top. Even though they might be glued they will still tend to warp. What you might consider is adding a sheet of 3/4" particial board held with some construction cement to the bottom. Just a suggestion.

[stickman]

Very nice wish I had one .maybe I try to make one.

[squbrigg]

Good idea Lynn, I was going to bolt each board from underneith to the cross members and install a couple of cross members at a couple of more points along the underside to prevent that very thing, but particle board migh serve the same purpose. Thanks for the input.

Bob

[Lynn O. Doughty]

Bob. I would still do what you were planning even though you might add the partical board. You've got some pretty open space between that frame work.

[squbrigg]

Finished the construction of the bench today. Took your suggestion Lynn and filled in the open space, a couple of cross members and installed additional legs and the mid point on each side. Attached the top and bolted the top from undernieth through the cross members. Each board that makes up the top is bolted from under through the cross members, so there should be no cupping. Now, all that's left is to sand the top smooth and oil it up. Should be ready for our group's use tomorrow evening, I'll do the finishing later in the week. I'll get some better pics when it's all finished too.

Bob