wintersedge Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 I am starting the holy quest of bench wood decision. After looking at scores of pictures one thing I have noticed is that every bench I have seen uses a light colored wood. Has anyone made a bench out of walnut or any other dark colored wood? Is there a good reason why workbenches have stuck to light colored woods? I could see the choice for light colored woods on an assembly bench but you are likely not working with small parts on your workbench. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 I think it's because the vast majority of benches are made out of maple, ash or pine, which just happen to be light colored woods. Around here, 8/4 walnut is 8-9 bucks/bf, so it's cost prohibitive. A walnut bench would be wicked looking though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trip Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 ==> dark colored wood? Frank's [Klausz] Cabinet Shop is about 10 miles down the road... His Scandinavian bench is made from Padauk and Hard Maple... It looks great... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JustinScottDeVico Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 How about an ebony and holly bench. Bet that would look striking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Slack Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 I read somewhere that the reason for light colored benches is so you can see what is on it. Also ... the hardness of your bench top is related to the hardness of the material you work with. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trip Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 ==> ebony and holly bench. Bet that would look striking Yea, but at $180/bf, it would cost more than my first car... 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 I read somewhere that the reason for light colored benches is so you can see what is on it. Not sure I get why that would make a difference? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trip Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 ==> so you can see what is on it I was told the top is traditionally light so you can use it as a background to assist adjusting your plane irons... But I think the reality is that folks just used whatever hard wood was available locally and inexpensively... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Slack Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 I think The Schwarrrzzzz mentioned it ... not 100% sure. Would not bet the farm on it. in regards of the type of wood ... or hardness ... I heard that if the material is too hard, or is a lot harder than your work, that could mar your pieces if they slip of your hands. Not sure I get why that would make a difference? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwacker Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 Steel and formica 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 I think The Schwarrrzzzz mentioned it ... not 100% sure. Would not bet the farm on it. in regards of the type of wood ... or hardness ... I heard that if the material is too hard, or is a lot harder than your work, that could mar your pieces if they slip of your hands. Yeah I get the hardness factor. But I don't see why it would make a difference what color it is for any practical purpose...unless it was like pencil and tape measure camo...I wouldn't like that. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beechwood Chip Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 My workshop isn't bright enough for me to add a large, dark colored object. I like dark wood in general, but in my work shop I need all the light I can get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G S Haydon Posted December 16, 2013 Report Share Posted December 16, 2013 Within reason anything will do. All that is important is you like it, scrap book some images of your faves. For polished and perfect Frank Klaus and Rob Cosman have beautiful benches http://youtu.be/U-3c5UNgDBo (a tour of cosmans) Forum members Vic and ~ERIC~ have a pair of stunning workbenchs that strike a wondeful balance of furniture making skills and utility ~ERIC~ Or like me you go for humble In my short time on WTO I have seen evidence of nearly all types of benches expertly made (the others that is, not me) so whatever direction you go there is plenty of knowledge here. We all like a sweet WIP too. Best of luck with you timber choice and your build. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 Humble, indeed...at least your attitude. Your bench was built by an expert...a humble one...and it's double secret probation cool because it's different. Plus the killer journal you kept. I think you get big ups just for not building a Roubo. A lesser man jumps on the bandwagon. Guilty. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 +1 on this. The older I get, the more light I need to see what I'm doing. Light objects on a light background seem easier to see than dark on dark.My workshop isn't bright enough for me to add a large, dark colored object. I like dark wood in general, but in my work shop I need all the light I can get. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doomwolf Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 My $0.02, was just reading through Schwartz's blog, and he has a post on workbench wood. It can be summarized as 'use whatever you want that gets the job done'. Traditional benches were light coloured because they were made of beech, as it was cheap at the time. Also, if you find the post, he has the chart up from his workbench book that gives you the hardness of various wood species. Having built and painted 28mm scale models in the past, I would advocate for a light-coloured surface so you can find small objects when you drop them. Otherwise you will be using a flashlight to try and get said object to cast a shadow because you can't see it otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Byrdie Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 In general, dark colored woods are considered exotic or desirable as accent woods. Demand creates a higher price and makes it less likely to be used for something like a bench. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chopnhack Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 Well, since you are in my neck of the woods, I will tell you to go buy yourself some SYP - yep, Home Depot or Lowes, southern yellow pine 2x12x16' Long and straight, cut off the last few inches on either end, cut them in 1/2 and sticker them for as long as you can. Or as long as it takes you to get around to building the bench ;-) That way they will be nice and seasoned. I have a hoard of mine sitting in my lumber rack for a few years now... Fairly hard wood for a softwood, dense and it has some weight to it, so if you do build a roubo, it wont scoot around the room on you. Good luck with your build. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krtwood Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 I've been thinking about doing an epic scrap wood consumption bench. I'm a confessed scrap wood pack rat and I go through a lot of walnut and almost as much cherry. So I've been thinking about laminating up scraps of walnut for a bench top and cherry for legs or perhaps solid blocks at the ends. Just thinking about the top, making it 32"ish wide which is what my current bench is from 4/4 scraps would take about 42-43 separate glue-ups of scraps. Might take quite a few years but it would satisfy my compulsions without the scraps just consuming space all over the place. I could glue them up into 4-5" slabs and set those aside until it was all ready to go. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Don Z. Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 Actually, I built my bench out of purpleheart. Hard, heavy. It's a small bench, and I thought when I built it I might have to bolt it down, but mass keeps me from chasing it across the floor. That's the up side. The fact that I found 8/4 stock at $5/bf, because they were "shorts" (6 feet long, but long enough for what I was doing) was also a huge plus. On the down side, it is a light sink, and I am getting older. But I don't mind that so much, because I think the advantages outweigh the disadvantages. What I do mind, and what I did not count on at the time was how difficult purple heart is to work with hand tools. Most significantly, one does not flatten the top with a hand plane, not even a LN #8. The belt sander is much more efficient. Dog holes are now only done with router bits or Forstner bits. The purple heart destroyed the screw on a hand brace bit. And don't mind those sloppy dovetails on the sides. There's only so precise you can be when one whack on a chisel destroys the edge on a Marples blue handled chisel, or three chips out A2 tool steel on an LN chisel. But I like my bench. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G S Haydon Posted December 17, 2013 Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 and it's double secret probation cool because it's different Boom! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post ChetlovesMer Posted December 17, 2013 Popular Post Report Share Posted December 17, 2013 My Roubo is made of Walnut, Cherry and Ebony. I choose those materials based to some degree on economics. Nearly all of the wood used on my Roubo was either given to me, recycled, left over, or some other way acquired free of cost. None of it was clear, but that wasn’t a problem as I liked the look I ended up with. I mostly hid all knots, except the one right in the front of course. I also didn’t mind all the work to joint and plane the stuff into usable form. I did fill up several garbage cans full of chips milling the materials. I did enjoy adding the ebony accents in each of the four dovetails because I wanted to practice and experiment with different techniques. I also like the look of the four dovetails, and 4 breadboard ends…even though, I put two of them against the wall. I understand the idea that a light colored wood would bounce the light back up to you and in theory make it easier to see parts, but having used my bench now for a while, I wouldn’t change it. The hardest thing was up until I got the first scratch in it. … I’m way past that now, however. The Roubo is now one of the hardest working and probably the most beautiful tool in my shop. What I like best about my bench is that I never have to point it out to anyone who walks into my shop. 9 times out of 10 the person says “Wow!” and walks right over to it. I think the light colored wood thing is over-blown. Similarly, I wouldn’t want my bench any harder than it is. In fact, I wouldn’t trade my Roubo for any workbench I’ve ever seen. So, I’d say make your bench out of whatever you like, and you can afford. It will be a wonderful project and you will build a tool that will in all likelihood out-live you. So, you may as well like it when you are done. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tadopemu@gmail.com Posted December 20, 2013 Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B9hPjWecXPkOdDZ1VlRIQWtGWTA&usp=sharing heres mine walnut/maple 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted December 20, 2013 Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 Welcome to the forums Tad! Stunning bench! What finish is on it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChetlovesMer Posted December 20, 2013 Report Share Posted December 20, 2013 Tad, Great looking bench. I'm impressed with the photos too. I wish I had a talent for taking photos like that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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