Tony Wilkins Posted January 27, 2016 Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 There is an organization that might help me buy a workbench since my injuries make that one of the most difficult things for me to make myself. Of the workbenches that are available commercially and worth having I can only think of two - Plate 11 and Lie Nielsen. Are there others? Input on these two? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimB1 Posted January 27, 2016 Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 I am using a bench I built myself but I like the Lie-Nielsen a lot. I have used it at their tool events several times now. Very stable and I love their twin vise. On the down side, it is pricey. There are a few others that are worth the look. Sjolberg gets generally good reviews and they make a range of sizes and price ranges. Lower end are like stuff you can get at harbor freight but their higher end stuff seems very nice. http://www.sjobergs.se/en/advantages/ We have an adjust-a-bench at my woodworking club that is nice and depending on what your particular injuries are may make more sense then some others. http://www.adjustabench.com I am looking at theses Hofmann and Hammer ones at Highland. They are on sale right now and look pretty good to me. No first hand experience with them though. http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/workbenchsale.aspx Just a few options... Good luck with the search. -Jim 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-MattK- Posted January 27, 2016 Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 I have the lie nielsen. I would have preferred to build one but just wasn't equipped when I needed a bench. you can get it customized to your needs... Bench height, left/ right handed, vise size. It's beefy and the vises are perfect - so smooth. only downside is that the bottoms pretty useless. I think it would be nice with a shelf down there but there's nothing. I currently have a bunch of lumber under it across the short stretchers. Adds a good amount of weight. Ultimately I'll add a shelf underneath, just need to route a bit out in the long stretchers. wait time is pretty bad, especially if you're having it shipped... That tacks on a lot of time. I'm in CT so I drove up to warren, ME and picked it up. The guys there are super nice, great to see how they make the benches. (Different site from the main LN factory and store) 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Wilkins Posted January 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 I like the look of the Lie Nielsen. The only thing I don't like about it is the face vise as opposed to a leg vise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted January 27, 2016 Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 5 hours ago, Tony Wilkins said: I like the look of the Lie Nielsen. The only thing I don't like about it is the face vise as opposed to a leg vise. I'm interested in why the look has any value? Isn't it's capabilities a bit more important? And with any expertise at all, those vises can be changed to suit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Wilkins Posted January 27, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 1 hour ago, RichardA said: I'm interested in why the look has any value? Isn't it's capabilities a bit more important? And with any expertise at all, those vises can be changed to suit! When I said look I was referring to how I could see myself using it as opposed to any asthetic value. The face vise is growing on me. I don't see getting the bench to change out something. If it came without the vise at a cheaper price I'd consider it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichardA Posted January 27, 2016 Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 Understood...... It was an off the cuff remark, so many are concerned with appearance, well, I just thought! Hell, I don't know what I thought, that was before my first cup! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted January 27, 2016 Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 The face vise is really useful if you have boards that go all the way to the floor. For instance if you do a lot of drawer parts, sawing dovetails, planing end grain, holding full size doors etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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