Comments on: Should You Make a Cheap Bench First?

By: Dave C.

Dave C. — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:02:25 +0000

Apologies, sir. Apparently I’d selected something other than what I thought. Rechecking the eDrawing gives me 70 and 110 degrees for the included angles with the bottom of the apron as it should.

Next question – would making a series of stopped grooves through the top of the apron to provide for clamp jaws materially weaken the edge?

Thanks,

By: Christopher Schwarz

Christopher Schwarz — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:13:46 +0000

Dave,

1. Where are you seeing 37°? I just checked the illustrations in the book. Everything is drawn at 20°.

2. I think either construction is fine. I’ve seen both in the wild. I did it the way shown in the book because the “cutaway” was easier to make when laminating the legs. Big angled grooves are an invitation to error.

Hope this helps.

By: Dave C.

Dave C. — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 18:23:26 +0000

Mr. Schwarz,

I’ve got some questions about the Nicholson Bench.

1. Your book states the legs are set at a 20 degree angle. As drawn, the legs are closer to 37 degrees of rake. Which is correct?

2. As set forth by Hayward, the apron serves two functions, first to stiffen the top front edge, and second to prevent "racketing" ( wracking ). In support of this Hayward’s drawings show the apron grooved to fit around the full depth legs. Your bench has the legs cut away to fit behind the aprons. Which construction offers the best support and best prevents wracking?

Dave

By: Adam

Adam — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 15:13:10 +0000

I just posted about how I’m approaching some of the same problems that he has.

http://lumberjocks.com/brklnguy/blog/13733

Bob, I love your bench, if I only had the room…

By: Al R.

Al R. — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 15:33:06 +0000

I built Bob’s bench about 7 years ago using whatever I could find at Home Depot. Built it using a workmate for a bench with 90 pounnds of cast iron strapped to the bottom to hold it down while I worked on the bench’s joinery.

The bench lives in my damp basement and has only needed to be flattened once. I use it almost daily.
Works great! The only thing I may do later on is build one the same way with nicer wood and no tool tray.

FYI – instead of the little record style vice bob put on the front of his, I went even cheaper and just bought a screw from Lee Valley hardware and built a leg vice. I put a little record style vice on as the end vise a while later, but it rarely sees any use.

Just be sure that you design yours so that the front of the legs are flush with the front of the bench top.

Good Luck.

Al R.

By: Casey Gooding

Casey Gooding — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 02:55:19 +0000

FWIW, Bob Key got out of woodworking several years ago. I happened to pick up some of his tools and his smaller Klausz inspired workbench. It’s well made and it has been a pleasure to work on. I had no idea it was a "famous" bench.

By: David Gendron

David Gendron — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 04:59:37 +0000

Here we can find 3×12 in 16 feet DF rought. It is sold for trailer bed on big trucks if you go thrue the pile, you can find some that are prety clear… and that make for only one glue joint!

By: Keith Mealy

Keith Mealy — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 02:23:13 +0000

In most circles, this is known as "bootstrapping." You need a bench to do good working, including building a good bench.

In addition, you are bootstrapping your skills.

By: Bob Easton

Bob Easton — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 18:45:43 +0000

Like Mark, we folks over here in New York can’t easily find SYP. So, I used Doug Fir from the home center. It’s not pretty … unless you harken back to the days when knotty stuff was in vogue for the paneling in the den (now called family room). The Doug Fir here is plenty knotty, but fortunately not too splintery.

As for older woodworker, I’m one of those too. I will likely live long enough to build a more expensive bench, but I really don’t think I’ll need one. I’m having way too much fun with the one I have now. Go for the cheap one Mark. Of course, taking guidance from Chris’ Workbench book is highly recommended.

See my "cheap" bench here: http://www.bob-easton.com/blog/?p=223