such refreshing honesty from a real world woodworker, thank you

@AussieWoodshed

3 ай бұрын

Glad you liked it

Take heart in what you've done there because when I look back over my time (over 40 years), I've made so many mistakes that it could be an entire series on its own. Only one thing I would add to your bench would be cross braces between the tops of the leg frames at each end to support the whole width of the worktop, if that makes sense. They don't need to be tenoned into the legs, just screwed onto them, inside or out. Your bench works, so that's a good bench! I'm all for the 'Workshop chat' thing, just poking around and informal.

@AussieWoodshed

3 ай бұрын

Thanks Pete, i will look at some additional bracing. Thanks for the feedback on the workshop chat idea

I love this video. It seems so intimate and honest. We all begin somewhere, and you are farther along than me in this lifestyle. Thank you.

@AussieWoodshed

3 ай бұрын

Thanks

Thanks for posting the enjoyable and honest video. I'm using an 3 layered mdf top glued and screwed together the way you described your first top. Have often thought of building a "proper" bench, but like yours it works well enough. Maybe one day...

@AussieWoodshed

3 ай бұрын

My pleasure glad to hear you enjoyed it. I'm still surprised how solid the laminated MDF top is. I think at the end of the day if the workbench allows you to hold work pieces and build things it's classed as 'proper'. That being said i would really like an over-engineered perfect work bench one day.

Don't beat yourself for having go. You learnt valuable lessons from it. My first bench was based on the Steve Ramsay design using river red gum. Wasn't square enough so eventually collapsed. I flattened the legs properly and rebuilt it. Still as good as the day I rebuilt it.

@AussieWoodshed

3 ай бұрын

Yes, i definitely learnt valuable lessons. I don't beat myself up for having a go It's the best way to learn, however i thought sharing my mistakes would help others avoid them.

Thanks for your comments at the end of day if you are happy with your work bench, that is all that matters. I built the same style bench 1 year ago, and all the timber came from Bunnings, and it is pine I'm glad I came across your channel and kept up the good work From Queensland

@AussieWoodshed

3 ай бұрын

First I just wanted to welcome you to the channel. I agree with you I'm happy with my workbench but lessons can always be learnt and shared.

I enjoyed this confessional style video. All I could think was "I done that too". My bench real Frankenstein's monster. A Moravian base with a Paulk style box-section top made with plywood and an 18mm MDF top with MFT grid of holes made using the Parf system. It was originally built around a MFT style track saw hinge, which worked well. But it's my main bench so the hinge lives under the bench with the track saw. The MDF style dogs, clamps and gizmo's are really useful for hand tool work. I use a mini-bench with a vise and a Moxon vise for workholding. Regrets? The lack of mass means it moves about when rough planing or heavy hand sawing. The size. it's only 800 x 1200 because of my small workspace means I have to do large projects outside on my portable bench. The grid of holes can annoying when screws and small parts fall through them.

@AussieWoodshed

3 ай бұрын

Sounds like a one of a kind bench, as it functions as one it sounds like a win to me. With regards to the bench moving if you can get a shelf under your bench to load up that helped my bench to stop moving around, or maybe some sand bags? I know all too well having to do larger builds outside, but i do tend to find a way to do them in the shed but i mainly do smaller builds.

This was a great video. I appreciate you pointing out what you would do differently next time.

@AussieWoodshed

3 ай бұрын

Thanks

Thank you sir, you are a gentleman. Greatly appreciate the video, i can relate to most issues as i made the same and more with my bench.

@AussieWoodshed

3 ай бұрын

Thanks

They are not mistakes, they are the learning process. 😉

@AussieWoodshed

2 ай бұрын

Definitely

My bench is 3 slabs of scaffold boards edge glued and sorta breadboarded on a pair of metal sawhorses. And 6 chunks of 100mm fence posts edge glued and rabbeted to fit the cross supports the other top sits across. Under a tarp under the overhang of our mid terraced house. So your bench in a shop is miles above what I have. Lessons were learned and passed on so not a total loss. Thanks for posting. My next iteration will take into account your lessons. Take care and stay safe M8.

@AussieWoodshed

3 ай бұрын

As long as it gets you started in woodworking i don't think it matters what a bench like. After all you don't know what you want until you start, thanks for sharing.

An option for folks: Rex kreuger's Nicholson style and knockdown minimal timber benches sre both pretty approachable with home store timber. I've built both and anused them a fair bit. Not bad at all for an early bench while you are learning what you want in your next bench as you build your skills. He had a whole video course on the minimal timber bench for a decent price too.

@AussieWoodshed

3 ай бұрын

Thanks for the suggestion for everyone

I think its good to review any mistakes youve made. Ive made tons especially on my workbench. Its all part of learning process

@AussieWoodshed

3 ай бұрын

I completely agree, i think making a mistake is the best way to learn sometimes.

Thanks for this. I learned a lot about benches from your experience. I'm also rebuilding a top and am going to take to heart both leg construction (mortise and tenon) and attachment to the top. Would be interested in learning more about your vise installation process, if you are looking for more content to create.

@AussieWoodshed

3 ай бұрын

Glad you're able to benefit from my mistakes. I was considering making a video on the vise, so glad to hear there is some interest.

Moravian style is the best for knockdown. Built one with a Tasmanian oak top laminated 100mm thick 450mm wide and 2400mm long. Best bench I have ever had hands down.

@AussieWoodshed

3 ай бұрын

With hindsight i agree with you, but when i built my bench i didn't even know what Moravian bench was. Your bench sounds amazing.

I worried about racking so my lower stretchers are each made of two 2x8s face glued. That allows a timber-framed size of through tenon into the legs, glued and wedged. I moved the front to back stretchers up so those mortises didn't intersect with the left-right stretchers and weaken the legs. The front to back stretchers are also through-tenoned and wedged. I have a full tool cabinet under there. I used southern yellow pine construction timber, douglas fir (you'd call it oregon I think) would be similar. It's been shipped back and forth from the mainland US to Hawaii full of tools with no joint movement. Probably overkill but a lot of fun to build. I recommend not being afraid of using the biggest strongest joinery you can think of, even if you've never done it before. Those were my first wedged tenons and they gave me a lot of confidence for the future. Today's lumber prices would make me consider the Moravian style.

@AussieWoodshed

3 ай бұрын

Sounds like a monster bench, never a problem over engineering a bench only under engineering one like mine (luckily it still works well for me) One day I'll build a new bench which is over engineered or a Moravian bench, not sure when though.

You hit 5k subs mate 👍👌 keep it up, love the content

@AussieWoodshed

3 ай бұрын

Thanks

If it works, it works. Most modern benches are over engineered. Nice bench 👍🏻

@AussieWoodshed

3 ай бұрын

Yes it works, but it is far from perfect

Pretty good for the first crack, and on a limited budget. My first effort was wven worse!

@AussieWoodshed

2 ай бұрын

Thanks, at least we can learn from our mistakes and do better next time.

Chris Schwarz put dog holes only 1 and 3/4 inch from the sides. What do you think? Too close? Good idea?

@AussieWoodshed

2 ай бұрын

If it was for use with a tail vice it could work, its a personal preference really and Chris has lots of experience so for him I'd say it works. Personally I think it's a little close i would probably add them at around 2 1/2 inches. However it does depend on the tail vice being used in that situation and where it lines up. On my bench i use my dog hole primarily for holdfasts so i have them spaced further apart and in from the edge the reach of the holdfast. I also don't have the space for a tail vice, but if i did i would have a row along the edge about the 2 1/2 inch mark assuming it all lined up.

Nice video. I'm planning on making an English style joiners bench out of pine or similar soft wood with a planked top. Ironically hard wood in decent size is easier for me to get where I live , in northern NSW . I want to use softwood but it seems difficult to get wide thick planks here in Aus . Any clues where you might get wood like that ? Also where did you get those great wheels for the bench. Just what I would like to fit to mine.

@AussieWoodshed

3 ай бұрын

In terms of pine the only suggestion i can think of is checking salvage yards, i have one near me in Perth that sometimes has new decent sized pine. The castors i have are HAFCO CW-63 - Caster Wheels - Side Mount 4 pack found here : www.machineryhouse.com.au/w935 Carbatec has another option that is a bit more expensive but a better know brand found here : www.carbatec.com.au/bora-workbench-castor-set-of-4-bora-pm-950?SearchID=14278425&SearchPos=40 I have had no issues with my HAFCO castors however i cant compare them to any others as they are the only ones I've used. Hope this helps

@alasdairreed4370

3 ай бұрын

@@AussieWoodshed thanks for the info . Perth, that figures, only WA would have old Jarrah veranda posts available to use as workbench legs .

Made my first workbench by following Paul Sellers, though I originally was drawn to the Roubo, being in Australia, also finding a slab or anything remotely applicable was never going to happen. If I would make a Roubo bench I would want to use wood that would follow tradition and that would a very expensive and probably a stupid idea for a first attempt. Making it was tough, I used reclaimed sleepers for the legs and stretchers (using a few crappy craftright clamps attached to an outdoor table) and forked out for the laminated pine top. Got lucky and found a listing for a heaps of old hand tools for $200 on gumtree to get me started. I like the design, but wish i had factored in a tail vice. Can't stand walking into bunnings lol, but its all we've got really. Anyway keep it up, your vids are always informative and enjoyable, and its nice to see I'm not the only one sweltering in a shed, I have my bench in a garage with no insulation and can relate, how hot does it get in there? All the best pal.

@AussieWoodshed

3 ай бұрын

I can't stand walking into Bunnings either timber is too expensive, but as you said there is little choice. I'm actually not sure how hot it gets in the shed, but at times it's too hot to be in there. I should get a thermometer.