7 ft bench build

[brad jansen]

This is a project I started on thanksgiving week. I have been thinking about this bench for years but a new friend of mine supplied some outstanding red elm lumber that allowed me to make it happen. I did not stick to a specific style or type of bench, but rather incorporated all the options I wanted in a bench. Split top for ease of building (and planing), Jorgenson front vise (its one of the best vises I have used), wagon end vise, square dogs, 1 holdfast hole. The top is 2 5/8” red elm with 4” aprons. The base is rough cut pine landscape timbers from Menards which I planed down to some nice 5.25” square material.

Here is what we started with












One day this will be yours son

[brad jansen]

Stretchers




1 1/8” aluminum for the take down connections


Mortised in steel plate and a ½” bolt going through to the tapped aluminum




This creates an incredibly strong joint.
I used some pine boards for a shelf.

[brad jansen]

Router template for the dogs

[brad jansen]

Notice my shim to correct a sloppy dovetail….There are a few mistakes on the bench…but not too may!








That wagon vise works great.

[brad jansen]

I only glued the spacer strip to the left side.

Looking like a bench.


One coat of red, then a coat of white milk paint. Wax top coat.


Carved in the year


Call that project complete

[10by14]

Looks great. Thanks for sharing

[DaveParkis]

Very, very nice. That beast will be a joy to use.

[Alan S]

Looks good! I think those joints are strong enough. Have you made the elm top already, or is that planned?

One holdfast hole is a start, but they are easy to add if you decide you want more. You may also want some holdfast/peg holes in the apron.

I also made a similar bench with square dog holes and some extra round ones for holdfasts. I did that because I don't like to drop little things through the holes, and it's easy to make enough square dogs to fill all the holes. Holdfasts work OK in the square holes.

Edit: I apparently caught you part way through your posting. Top looks great.

[Ricky]

Wow! Love that elm top.. Thanks for posting. I'm thinking on using landscape timbers, but they're very warped and bowed locally. Are those pressure treated?

[AgGEM]

End result is stunning.
Thanks for sharing!!
Ag