It’s show #478 For August 12th, 2020, and today we are talking about workbenches.
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If you’re looking for mobility in your shop, maneuver your heavy workbench with ease using Rockler’s Workbench Caster Set. Engage the casters to lift your bench 3/4″ off the floor for mobility and disengage them for stability. Each caster is constructed of durable steel and rated for 100 lbs.
If you don’t want to build a workbench from scratch, Rockler sells Beech workbenches. Made from laminated beech wood, these robust benches offer a solid, heavy duty work surface, two full-featured wood/iron vises and craftsman-quality construction.
What’s On the Bench
- Marc is building a weak, substandard desk all in the name of design
- Matt is cutting dovetails and boring Marc with his real estate ventures
- Shannon is learning to run a sawmill
Workbenches
The guys each describe their workbench journey from first to current. They then discuss what makes a good power tool workbench and how the traditional designs work well for hand tools. Then they tackle the idea of tool storage on and around your workbench.
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Social Media Homework
Send us a picture of your very first workbench. Use the hashtag: #woodtalk480.
2 replies on “WT480 – Matt Cavernous Waste of Space”
I’m in the process of building a “Roubo-ish” workbench based on Christopher Schwarz’s “Anarchist’s Workbench”. You were pointing folks towards the “blue book”, but might be worth mentioning that he made the just-published “Anarchist’s Workbench” available as a legitimate, author-authorized free download. From the Lost Arts blog:
https://blog.lostartpress.com/2020/07/06/now-available-for-free-the-anarchists-workbench/
“Oh, one more important fact about the book: You can download it for free. All you have to do is click this link. You don’t have to register for anything or give up your email. Just click the link and the entire book will download to your device in pdf format. The file has no DRM (digital rights management). And it’s covered by a creative commons license that allows you to use the material however you like for non-commercial purposes.”
https://blog.lostartpress.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/AWB_Consumer_June-2020_v5.1-1.pdf
I had just finished reading the “blue” workbench book when this was published, and I’m going to attempt to build the new version based on the somewhat simplified plans in the last section of the new book.
I suppose I’m being a little selfish posting this – maybe if some other folks who work faster than I do start the build, I’ll see some good tips-and-tricks or even some instructional videos before I get too deep into my own build. 🙂
Hi… just joined your podcast universe and this is the first episode I’ve heard. Great stuff. I’m still using the bench I pulled out of a neighbors trash 50 years ago when I was a kid. I’m sure my dad was a bit embarrassed hauling this down the street for me. Have added some drawers and particle board overlay top, but otherwise it’s the same mish-mash of 2x boards and plywood. It does what I need it to do.