Finally dragged in about 8 p.m. this evening. The choice: shoot a video of how the bench knocks apart or complete the shelf.
The photo above is the answer.
After I spend all the money I’ve made this year on wood (at Midwest Woodworking) tomorrow morning, I’ll shoot a video. Promise.
— Christopher Schwarz
The top has one board bark up and the other bark down. Is that on purpose or doesn’t it matter?
The top looked better that way. In the long run, it doesn’t matter much in my experience with benches.
Nice bench Chris! I can’t help thinking of how this one is to late. To late for John that is, I can not help getting an older post in my mind after seeing a know-down bench
https://blog.lostartpress.com/2013/05/13/divorce-is-hard-on-benches-2/
Indeed. This bench is for the modern, sometimes broken, home.
very nice bench, could use for the items that do not work well on my Diefenbach.
Long boards, large clamp ups and glue work .
Cannot wait to see the video.
Very nice bench and great video. Everything just makes sense as Mike goes through the construction of the bench but the only thing I can’t get my head wrapped around is how he measures out the height of the bench/length of the legs. He adds that 1/2″ space between the top and legs when he measures for the length of the legs. wouldn’t that, in the end, make his bench height 1/2″ shorter than his intended length? I’m slow so I’m sure there’s something I’m just missing. Any help for this guy would be appreciated.
Thanks again for another great release!
Here’s the type of bench I will probably really build, I have built other bolt together benches and they give me good service. I like the malleable iron nut plates though, a bit simpler than my normal nuts and big washer approach.
What is the downside of this style top compared to the “standard” ripped-and-laminated southern yellow pine? This one is exponentially less less work, is the thickness the only difference?
I would say that the downside is primarily simply that it’s not as massive (in the literal sense of the word) as a laminated 4-inch top. That’s about it. Doesn’t weigh your bench down as much as a laminated top does. This is a fault for some people, who might want a bench that’s nigh-impossible to move no matter how determined your planing or sawing or whatever is. That can be a pretty useful thing to have.
It does cost more given that you have to rip and laminate a bunch of wood, though…