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My puny 8′-long English workbench is starting to feel like an apartment-sized dinette set. Why? Check out this 12′-long version of that same bench design that boatbuilder Bob Easton constructed using Douglas fir.
Easton’s design is interesting because he incorporated a third leg into the middle section of the bench because he was concerned that the whole thing might flex under heavy planing. He built the third leg just a little short to ensure that the whole thing wouldn’t become a teeter-totter.
After using the bench, Bob reports that the third leg probably isn’t necessary. The bench doesn’t seem to flex at all in the middle. However, it looks cool and is good insurance in case Bob ever decided to rebuild a V-8 engine on there.
The other interesting alteration from the original plan published in my “Workbenches” book is that Bob used a traditional face vise in the end vise position. I built a wagon vise there on my version of the bench. I’m Chris Schwarz and I approve of this alteration.
Using a vise like this in the end-vise position saves you lots of construction time. The wagon vise took as long for me to build as the rest of the English workbench (no lie).
Bob has been blogging about his bench and you can follow his progress using this link. Or you can skip to the final and glorious result here.
– Christopher Schwarz
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