..Kev Posted August 23, 2014 Report Share Posted August 23, 2014 Yep, looking awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
friscomike Posted August 23, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 23, 2014 Howdy, The legs were planed, jointed, and glued this afternoon. I had one heck of a time keeping them in alignment during the clamping. I tried the pin cut off trick, but it didn't seem to help. Maybe I should have driven them deeper into the wood. Anyway, I finally managed to get them into alignment...mostly. There has to be a trick to this that I haven't heard about. Back to making sawdust, mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted August 23, 2014 Report Share Posted August 23, 2014 I put a clamp across each end to keep the parts aligned then clamp the glued parts together along the joint. Packing tape and cauls can help depending on the clamps you use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
friscomike Posted August 24, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 24, 2014 Howdy, Not the easiest nor the cleanest glue-up I've ever done, but it will work. The three piece legs are now glued, planed, and jointed. They should work well being three times as large as the old legs. The old legs were re-purposed to double the spreader thickness. You can see the spreaders with the new legs laid out on the assembly table in the attached photos. Next up will be finishing the spreaders including doubling their thickness and adding a ledge to the bottom pieces for a tray. Have fun, mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted August 24, 2014 Report Share Posted August 24, 2014 That looks like a nasty split, hop it doesn't cause you any issues. Other than that, looks like good progress! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
friscomike Posted August 25, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 Howdy, I thought the same thing about the check, but it has lasted over 30 years. Alas, I plan to replace it when I redo the end spreaders. Have fun, mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted August 25, 2014 Report Share Posted August 25, 2014 You could put epoxy in it and it will probably last another 30 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
friscomike Posted August 26, 2014 Author Report Share Posted August 26, 2014 Howdy, There is nothing more boring that watching glue dry, so I thought I'd share some of the glue ups for those of you who have too much excitement and stress in your lives. Here are the ends, top and bottom and upper side rails being beefed up with the addition of parallel boards glued to them. I decided to go back to the side top rails near the top instead of lowered six inches or so. The rails are five inches wide, so any clamps I have will grip without problems when clamping to the bench top (thank you very much for that curse, I mean idea Mr. Schwarz...). Have fun, mike Two bottom end rail overlays Two top end rails with overlays Top side rail tripled in width. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
friscomike Posted September 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 1, 2014 Howdy, Status update: All four side rails and four end rails are glued up. Tomorrow I hope to trim the ends, then do the layout for the bolts. After that, assembly. I am ready to do some work on the bench, and I am getting exited. I think I'll plane and finish the base before I assemble it. Haven't decided what to use yet, but it will probably be simple shellac. Have fun, mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
friscomike Posted September 5, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 Howdy, Today I did a dry fit of the base components and laid out the bolt holes. Tomorrow I hope to drill the holes and bolt it together. I will be happy to finish this bench redo, so I can get on with a few projects. Here are shots of a base end and the stretchers. Have fun, mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 Really looking great Mike! Looks like it's going to be one sturdy bench! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
weithman5 Posted September 5, 2014 Report Share Posted September 5, 2014 so you basically gussied up the pig and turned her in to a cyborg at the same time. nicely done. as they say, that and the cockroaches will be the only thing that survives.... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted September 7, 2014 Report Share Posted September 7, 2014 Looks pretty stout ! Should hold up a long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
friscomike Posted September 8, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 8, 2014 Howdy, The base is mostly finished. I bolted it together for a test fit. A few joints need to be fine tuned; otherwise, it is finished. The new base is much sturdier than the old bench, even without the top attached. The biggest challenge has been working without a wood vise. So far I have made due with a steel benchtop vise with cauls between the work and steel jaws. Ugh! Now to disassemble, fine tune, sand, and finish the parts before assembly. Having fun on the Brazos, mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted September 8, 2014 Report Share Posted September 8, 2014 Really looking good! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted September 8, 2014 Report Share Posted September 8, 2014 Looks stout and heavy ! Ready for years of use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
friscomike Posted October 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 Howdy, Its been a while since I posted progress, but nothing exciting has gone on. I finished three coats of Arm R Seal on the base, fine tuned the squareness and connections, then bolted it all together. Now I am working on the top. Has anyone put a storage shelf on their workbench? I'm trying to decide if I should. Here are a few pics that don't look much different than the trial assemble, but hey, it is progress. Have fun, mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted October 1, 2014 Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 Mike, You mentioned earlier that you were having fun on the Brazos, where are you located? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
friscomike Posted October 1, 2014 Author Report Share Posted October 1, 2014 Mike, You mentioned earlier that you were having fun on the Brazos, where are you located? I am near Granbury. ~mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted October 2, 2014 Report Share Posted October 2, 2014 Looking like a sturdy pig! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
friscomike Posted December 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 Howdy folks, The workbench is almost finished. The top edges are jointed and ready to receive a hardwood edge. I am trying to decide whether to use a dove tail or miter for the corners. Have fun, Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted December 12, 2014 Report Share Posted December 12, 2014 What ever is easiest or it will be next year till your bench is done ! < grin> 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted December 15, 2014 Report Share Posted December 15, 2014 Mike, I agree with Steve. I used box joints and not the first person that has seen them has said " neat box joints". Whatever heats your water Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted December 15, 2014 Report Share Posted December 15, 2014 Oh don't get me wrong, once every few years someone might say " look at the size of those dovetails " but in the mean time you could have been using your bench for many months ! A large simple box joint might be a good compromise. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
friscomike Posted December 17, 2014 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2014 Howdy, Good point, Steve; simple it is. I just finished trimming the ends flush. Wow, I had no idea cutting the top with a hand saw was going to be so challenging. Task is done; now I'll smooth it with a plane and attach the ends. Slowly I turned, step by step, mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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