Popular Post Chet Posted January 4, 2016 Popular Post Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 I thought i would try my hand at a project journal. We will see how it goes, is there such a thing as "Forum Stage Fright"? Any way I chose the Nicholson bench because it looked like it would fill the bill for most of my needs and also it isn't a high priced endeavor, so if I find that down the road I want to go with something different I won't have a lot invested in this one. I am using a design that was in Popular Woodworking that is meant to be a design that can be knocked down although that is not my intention. In fact after some use and if I don't run in to any thing major that I would like to change, I will take it apart and glue a lot of the parts permanently that will just be bolted together at this point. I think we have all seen plenty of pictures of the milling process so I will spare you the details. Although I did have to use a planer sled to mill most of the wood because it is rough dimensioned at between 10 1/2 and 11 inches. It worked really well although it is a very slow process and took a fair amount of time considering the amount there was. I posted a couple of photos from about ten days ago when I did the milling. I figured they would serve as a starting point. The first one was just getting started the second was after completion and there is another small stack out of the pictures. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Just Bob Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 That sounds like a cool project. What are the bench dimensions and what wood are you using? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted January 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 I am using Poplar most of the benches like this that I have read about have been made out of Southern Yellow Pine, which I can't get or Doug Fir and most of what I see of that around here was going to be more work then money saved. The bench will be 21 inches wide and 6 ft long. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Capwn Posted January 4, 2016 Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 Nice, looking forward to seeing this. I have been doing a lot of research lately on benches. Are you planning on doing a laminated top like the Roubo style? That was one of the upgrades I read in Chris Schwarz' book. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted January 4, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 4, 2016 2 hours ago, Al Capwn said: Are you planning on doing a laminated top like the Roubo style? I am doing more of the slab style top that you normally see on the Nicholsons. I am using stock that milled down to 1 1/2 inches, but the whole area between the outside of the legs will be twice as thick or 3 inches. I am also doing this to the aprons. It will give the bench more mass and the dogs and holdfast will work better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Chet Posted January 5, 2016 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted January 5, 2016 All I got done today was gluing up part of the top. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted January 5, 2016 Report Share Posted January 5, 2016 23 minutes ago, Chet K. said: All I got done today was gluing up part of the top. Better than no progress! Nice job! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted January 5, 2016 Report Share Posted January 5, 2016 Trade youmy bench for your clamps! Looking good Chet! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted January 5, 2016 Report Share Posted January 5, 2016 This is awesome Chet! I look forward to following this. Refreshing to see a bench build other than the roubo. Dont get me wrong, I like the roubo and the great journals but im stoked to see a different design. How come you didnt use your new laj to flatten one side and then pass through the planer? Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted January 5, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 5, 2016 30 minutes ago, shaneymack said: How come you didnt use your new laj to flatten one side and then pass through the planer? It's in the mail, I think it is supposed to be here Thursday. But I wanted to get started on this, its been a while since I have been in the shop. I was also wondering if trying to learn on something of this size was wise. I am going to have to do some flattening on the top. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted January 5, 2016 Report Share Posted January 5, 2016 How come you didnt use your new laj to flatten one side and then pass through the planer? It's in the mail, I think it is supposed to be here Thursday. But I wanted to get started on this, its been a while since I have been in the shop. I was also wondering if trying to learn on something of this size was wise. I am going to have to do some flaring on the top. I see. I thought you had already received it, my bad. Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Chet Posted January 6, 2016 Author Popular Post Report Share Posted January 6, 2016 Took the top out of the clamps first thing this morning and I was really happy with the way it came out. Flat with no twist or cupping. It will need a little work with the hand plane around the glue seam and what not. Next thing I did was glue up the legs. While they set up I went in the house to do some things I didn't want to do and weren't nearly as fun. Came out later in the day and added the second section to the inside of the aprons, This is also 1 1/2 thick and will provide, along with the legs a joint of sorts between the legs and aprons on front and back of the bench. After that I took the legs out of the clamps and milled them to final size. That is it for the day but I couldn't resist doing a dry fit, of the pieces so far even if it is upside down. I have the stretchers and some other pieces to make before I can start the actual assembly. 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
..Kev Posted January 6, 2016 Report Share Posted January 6, 2016 Wow! Looking awesome Chet! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Capwn Posted January 6, 2016 Report Share Posted January 6, 2016 Gotta love the expediency that you can put that Nicholson bench together. Compared to the several weeks/months long affair with the Roubo builds, this seems like a walk in the park. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted January 6, 2016 Report Share Posted January 6, 2016 Probably not a walk, as there's lots going on there, but he is making great progress. Framing a house is the most obvious progress, finishing it out is labor intensive! Looking great Chet! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shaneymack Posted January 6, 2016 Report Share Posted January 6, 2016 Looking awesome Chet. You are moving quickly! Should be done in no time. Sent from my SGH-I337M using Tapatalk 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted January 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2016 Thanks Guys. Were as there are no condor tails or Benchcrafted hardware involved, it has some small challenges. Working with 8/4 stock 11 inches wide to start with and milling it with out a 12 inch jointer you can work up a bit of a sweat. But it is going well and I am enjoying it. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Immortan D Posted January 6, 2016 Report Share Posted January 6, 2016 It is going to be a great workbench. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SawDustB Posted January 6, 2016 Report Share Posted January 6, 2016 That looks great! The grain on the poplar should give you a pretty nice looking bench. How much lumber do you figure you'll have into it when all is said and done? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted January 6, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 6, 2016 When I measured up the cut list it was right a 90 board feet with everything milled to final size. I had purchased 125 BD FT and just for the fun of it I was going to calculate what is left just to see how it all works out. I have emptied the DC once with it being half full again already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted January 7, 2016 Report Share Posted January 7, 2016 Chet, down here, our poplar is a greenish color. I saw some in Louisiana that had some neat looking brown streaks in it. I guess it's different per area? Do you have pics of yours? Hell, what am I asking, you already have. That looks like the stuff from LA. Great looking. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chet Posted January 7, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2016 There is actually some green and brown in the batch that i picked up. Unfortunately the best two pieces to make up the top was one of each. I wasn't really happy about how it worked out buuuut it is a work bench not a dining room table. Lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coop Posted January 7, 2016 Report Share Posted January 7, 2016 4 minutes ago, Chet K. said: There is actually some green and brown in the batch that i picked up. Unfortunately the best two pieces to make up the top was one of each. I wasn't really happy about how it worked out buuuut it is a work bench not a dining room table. Lol. Totally agree! I have a work bench and not a show bench but yours looks like it will be both! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted January 7, 2016 Report Share Posted January 7, 2016 Don't worry, Chet. Eventually it will all be brown. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Capwn Posted January 7, 2016 Report Share Posted January 7, 2016 ...and actually it darkens for a fairly dark chocolate brown. I have some poplar that hard some big green stripes that have turned cocoa. Wasn't expecting that, but it isn't an unpleasant color. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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