Hey folks!
After an encouraging conversation with Sir Timber, I've decided to post a thread about my first-ever work in progress. This project was conceived out of the need for a sturdy workstation that could take a beating, for the sake of sparing the other household furniture from such abuse. Needless to say, it's been a learning experience thus far.
I used a plan from YouTube. Since I can't post links yet, look for "How to Build a Workbench" by texanocalderon if you want to know what I'm talking about. I had to derive a hard-copy plan from what is shown in the video, since after several days of fruitless searching, I gave up looking for the actual plans online.
Please remember that I'm still a total rookie and bear in mind that esoteric woodworking jargon including but not limited to "tenon," "mortise," "joinery," and "dovetail" were not in my vocabulary when I started this project. Thus, the legs are held together by glue and wood screws. Now that I've done some more homework (and picked up some more tools 😉 ), I plan to use tenon and mortise joinery to connect the crossbeams to the legs.
All of the dirty work is done in the parking garage of my live-in girlfriend's condo, or out on the floor in the open-air walkway just outside our front door.
For the tabletop, I was faced with a dilemma: I don't have a circular saw, and my hand-sawing skills were limited at the time of gathering the wood, so I decided to use 2x4s for the tabletop instead of plywood. Think "butcher block" meets "plank top" meets "picnic table".
Some of the 2x4s are pretty badly curved and/or have slight bowing and it took a while to arrange (i.e. flip/rotate/substitute) the 2x4s in the best possible way to minimize the gaps between them. I've only got two 32-inch F-clamps (P700 each from Fineline, Las Piñas) at my disposal, at least for now.
Now for some questions:
I've read that some folks recommend using steam or actually slightly wetting lumber to straighten warped or curved boards. Have any of you tried this? How did it work out? And what else would you suggest I do to prevent/minimize gaps between the boards?
Looking back, one of the ironies I've learned is that you kinda need a workbench to make a workbench; maybe I should have at least made a couple sawhorses and slapped a door on top of them to make this easier on my back. Looking ahead, there's gonna be a lot of sawing, sanding, planing, and heavy lifting in the near future!
It just occurred to me, now, at the time of this writing, that this workbench is going to be entirely made of 2x4s. So far.
Time for me to practice making joints on wood scraps. Pics to come (as soon as I figure this out!)
8)
Re: Work In Progress
nice Randy, we look forward to your works in progress (WIPs), 2x4's does pose a lot of work especially what we have here. getting a good source of wood is something I cherish a lot, they give me free access to all their wood to choose from and gives me less time squaring and cleaning them. choosing the wood carefully takes a bit more time but will make our work much easier.
welcome to pinoyhandyman...
cheers
click my signature and it will take you there........
Re: Work In Progress
Having a hard time posting pictures, so just check my photo album to see pics of this project. ;D
Re: Work In Progress
hope you have a photobucket account... upload your pictures there and get the link to post here... hope this helps
click my signature and it will take you there........
Re: Work In Progress
hehehe, edited your post, things to consider in posting pictures.
1. try to limit the size to 640x480 pixels.
2. use the lowest link in your photobucket, the one with the "IMG" link.
click my signature and it will take you there........
Re: Work In Progress
Ahh okay...I'm new to photobucket as well. Thanks timber! Advice duly noted.
Re: Work In Progress
you can actually resize the pictures from photobucket...
btw, will edit your title as well for others to search better...
click my signature and it will take you there........
Re: Work In Progress
Awesome. I kinda envy the 'just do it' mentality of other people sometimes. How many days/hours into the project are you?
(Here in my workshop, fixing the jointer is my first step to the greater goal of making a 5 foot workbench.) I can't remember who it was, but someone gave me the link to scott landis's workbench book before...
Re: Work In Progress (workbench build)
Hi Sir Owyn!
I'm only a couple actual work hours into the project, spread out over this past week, gathering tools and materials along the way that I've discovered I needed to complete the task, and also running into problems inherent to inexperienced rookies like me. Under ideal conditions, this project would take less than a day.
One thing I don't have (and would find handy) is a jointer. The only power tools I've got are a compound mitre saw (Ozito) and a drill (Talon). This project is mostly an exercise in using my hands. So gathering proper power tools is another thing I'm looking forward to.
Speaking of books, I've been looking around for workbench and general woodworking books, and there aren't very many I've come across. The other day I was at Fully Booked at Bonifacio High Street, and I only saw a couple books in the Hobbies and Scrapbooking section. The whole time I was checking the Art/Architecture and Design sections, where there's a wide array of books on working with plastic, iron, rubber, steel, etc. I've also tried National, Best Sellers, Powerbooks, Book Sale, and have come up empty so far.
Re: Work In Progress (workbench build)
On workbenches, been meaning to get Workbenches by Christopher Schwarz. The first chapter is online (and more if you search for and follow the books.google.com link).
Also, a previous (to the book; 2001) article is online, $175 Workbench.
Re: Work In Progress (workbench build)
Hey Guad! I actually read the first chapter of the Schwarz book and the article on the $175 Workbench.
I had to swap out one of the tabletop boards (the fourth or center board) since upon close examination of the pictures I took, I measured it and found it to be tapered by 1/8". I've since swapped out the tapered board with another, and now it clamps more squarely.
Now it's back on the road to fetch the materials for the assembly of a front vise!
Re: Work In Progress (workbench build)
randy , ive got a book on workbenches. i will bring it during the hafele seminar if you are coming 🙂
Re: Work In Progress (workbench build)
randy maglalagay ka ba ng tail and face vise?san ka mag purchase ng said tools?i'm planning of working on a new workbench,gawang marino lang kasi yung sakin,very rough.thanks
Re: Work In Progress (workbench build)
Hi beebeenator, what book are you referring to? Looks like I'll be going to the Hafele seminar.
Hi Jonathanscruz68, I'm just adding a face vise for now. I got it at Panda hardware in Binondo, and it's HEAVY!! Budget constraints are delaying the addition of a tail vise at the moment. I might have to retrofit one later.
Timber, thanks again for educating me. I still have the dowels you showed me. I'll get them back to you the next time I run into you, sorry about that.
