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Plans, Reader's Benches, Free Workbench Plans and New Ready Made Benches
A Remarkable New Vise
It's not often that someone comes up with a new engineering approach to vises, but Len Hovarter has done just that.
Len is an engineer and woodworker who's created a twin screw vise that uses a clutch mechanism rather then screws and a rack to keep both handles aligned. The result is quick release vise that works very well. He's just launched his website and taking pre-orders. His site has more information and a video of the vise in action. Check it out, here.
Richard Maguire's Latest Bench
Englands's great workbench maker has made available a video of his latest workbench, The Artisan put through all its paces. Also, he wrote to tell me that he's now turning his own woodscrews for his benches. Check his site out here.
A Roubo for 2010
Yes, it's possible that some people have a problem with workbenches. What outsiders call "an obsession" with workbenches. Frankly, I just don't understand what these people are talking about. But, if there is one of us who actually should join a 12 step program, it's Chris Schwartz of Woodworking Magazine. (At the meetings we just call him ChrisN.) He's created a seriously beefed up Roubo for the August issue and he's covered some of its construction in his blog: Check it out, here. For those of you that might want to take on building one just like Chris' he's got a DVD with videos and all the info coming out soon. It's a really great bench.
New Workbench Design Sponsor
As you look around the site, you'll notice that we have a new site sponsor: Benchcrafted. Jameel is the maker of terrific vise hardware and workbench plans. Serious tools for serious workbench builders. He's got a great blog, too. Do check them out.
A Walk Around Workbench
David Randall had a workbench design problem that a lot of woodworkers have: Very little workspace. He needed a short bench but wanted the ability to work all around his bench. In process he not only built a solid bench out 2-by material but also created a very unique vise arrangement that combines a tail vise and a shoulder vise on one end. Very clever! Check it out, here.
A Particularly Nice Bench
Darnell Hagen has built a particularly nice bench. As they say..."it's all in the details. His Cabinet Maker's style bench has a nice cabinet below, an imbedded Tucker Vise and even an adjustable cup holder. Check his design and plans at his website.
Roy Underhill's French Bench
The complete episode of Roy's construction of his French, Roubo-style bench is available in full from The Woodright's Shop. Cool! Here's the link: Bench Part One
A New Adjustable Height Workbench Plan
Getting a workbench height right for a woodworker is part of a building a good workbench. The problem is different woodworking tasks are best done at different heights. If you don't have room for multiple benches the solution is to build an adjustable height workbench. I know of only three available designs, one involves using a dedicated and expensive metal base. Charlie Kocourek has come up with a remarkable new design that incorporates some very clever ideas and torsion box construction. Check his design and plans at his website: www.jack-bench.com
Web Hosting Offer for Workbenchdesign.net Fans
We've had over 5.8 million visitors to the site over the last 10 years. Amazing! One of the reasons why we've been able to handle all that traffic is that WBD uses a really excellent website hosting service with a most unusual name: BuzzBuzzNet.Net. They've been reliable to the point of perfection, very supportive along the way and have put together a special offer for WBD fans. Using the promition code "roubo" you'll get $10 off the annual fee for their mid-level Busy Bee hosting plan. This deal is in place until June 15th. Perfect for woodworkers that want their own website. Check out buzzbuzznet.net
Great New Workbench Plan
Jameel at Benchcrafted has done it again. Not only does he make some of the finest bench vises made anywhere, he has now added a workbench plan to his collection. Based upon a modern split Roubo style bench it features his terrific leg and tail vises plus several other unique features. It's a massive bench at 4" thick and 87" long. I've had the pleasure of seeing one of these benches being built by Jim Tolpin. The plans are most impressive at 28 pages and are incredibly detailed and a complete hardware package is available. Most impressive. Check them out here.
5 Million Pages Served
Something of a milestone for workbenchdesign.net. We've hit five million pages served.
Garrett Hack's Ultimate Workbench
Garrett is one of the best woodworkers in the country. He's created a new workbench that will especially appeal to hand tool focused woodworkers. Here's a link to the article and a video tour.
Woodscrews
It's always hard to find good woodscrews of the size and quality needed for building a traditional style workbench like a Roubo or Holtzappfel twin screw bench. Most of the available screws aren't seriously large. Now, Nick at Lake Erie Toolworks is offering 2 1/2" diameter wood vise screws. That should do it!
James Krenov 1920-2009
September 11th, 2009. James Krenov, a legendary woodworker, author, and founder of the College of the Redwoods Fine Furniture Program, died at 89.
Workbenchdesign.net interviewed in Woodworker's Journal
August 11th, 2009. Michael Dresdner, eZine Editor interiewed workbenchdesign.net for the magazine's latest issue. Find out about the history behind this website.
Follow us on Twitter
August 10th, 2009. With so much going on maybe you'd like to keep up to date with new workbenches being created. Follow the bench design and building process on our workbenchdesign Twitter feed.
Dominy Workbenches
June 21 , 2009. Richard Maguire has added to his line of very robust workbenches with a Dominy/Roubo modern design. Great looking bench. He's working on making these easier to ship to the US. Very nicely done!
Traditional Workbenches
May 3, 2009. I don't think I've ever seen more robust workbenches then Richard Maguire's. Made out of super dense steamed English Beech, featuring massive legs and 4" thick tops and traditional construction, these benches are incredible. He offers both Roubo and Dominy styles in various sizes, all built to order. Note that shipping from England could be a consideration.
New Vise From Benchcrafted
April 24th, 2009. Considering that the well-tested designs we're using for contemporary benches are 3-400 years old, it's not often something comes up that's really new in the world of serious workbenches. Leg vises are one of the most ancient of workbench vises. Jameel at Benchcrafted who already offers wonderful wagon tail vise hardware has now created new leg vise that's really exceptional. Check it out here.
Lots of changes coming
April 16th, 2009. I'm in the process of creating an entirely new version of workbenchdesign.net. First complete top to bottom redesign in 7 years coming in the next month or so.
Workbenchdesign.net's 3D Model Collection
March 24th, 2009. I'm always on the look out for really good free workbench plans. So, I've been working for a while to create a collection of the best 3D CAD ready SkechUp free workbench models I can find. I've culled through them to create a collection that I think would be of great interest to our viewers. I'll continue to refine this collection and keep it to the best workbench designs. Click here to see more.
New Workbench Plans
March 26, 2009. I've been doing a massive update of the site before the redesign and have added many, many excellent new plans both for sale and for free. Be sure to check them out.
A Great Bench
March 16th , 2009. For those woodworkers that really like to work with hand tools, Mike Flaim's new bench is a real treat. He combines details from Roubo benches from Christoper Schwarz and Roy Underhill with several interesting ideas of his own. I thought mounting the Emmert vise on the end was a great idea. A great bench for handwork and it's built with readily available materials so it's not expensive to make. Mike has thoroughly documented the process on his blog at Fine Woodworking. Click here to see the full story.
February 4th , 2009. A big loss to serious workbench builders. The Tucker Vise, made and sold by Lee Valley is no longer being made.If you're up to it send them an email and let them know that you'd like to see them continue to make it. Even if you don't want one right now, someday you just might. Email to: customerservice@leevalley.com
January 19th , 2009. Another interesting new portable workbench: The Skil X-Bench Workstation. This one has many optional features that might be of interest to woodworkers. There's various accessories and inserts for routers, jig saws, sanders, tail vises, storage, etc.
December
12 , 2008. And now for something completely different. I've created the first of many new designs for shirts, mugs, bags and the like. Check out the first of the designs here.
September 11th , 2008. A very interesting new portable workbench: The VIKA. In many ways you can think of this as a very well designed new take on the Black & Decker Workmate. Though it doesn't have a built in vise, it makes up for it with lots of new features. I saw these at Costco a few months back and just had to pick one up. It folds flat and adjusts in all kinds of ways. Very useful. You can get more information and order one on the VIKA website or if there's a Costco nearby you can pick one up at a considerable discount.
July
16 , 2007. An adjustable height bench designed by Tom Caspar
is featured in the September issue of American
Woodworker. There's some very clever ideas included with
this new design. Tom, btw has designed many excellent benches
in the past including my own Bench 1.0
As a furniture maker that builds all kinds of different
height pieces from benches to chairs to tables, I'm a big
fan of this kind of workbench...Tim
June
14 , 2007. A very interesting new portable workbench by Blum
Tools utilizes a torsion box design and pipe clamps for
it's vises. Very clever!
February
27 , 2007. A new traditional
workbench plan is available via the editors of Wood Magazine.
It features two front vises.
November
20, 2006. It's not often that something innovative shows up
in the small world of workbenches, but it looks like BenchDog
makers of a very nice router system has come out with a line
of very interesting workbenches with lots of options. Click
here for more info.
October
2 , 2006. The wonderful Record vises
are alive and well. Hurray! Apparently, Record sold its' vise
patterns to Anant and they are now being produced in India
and the quality is reportedly good. They are sold by Amazon.com
and Highland Hardware. Thanks to Steve for the tip. For example,
the Record 53ED sells for $119.95
plus shipping. Click here to go
to the vise page for more info.
January
28, 2006. Woodsmith and Shopnotes Magazines now offers a free
easy-to-build workbench plan. The free
workbench plans section has this and several other free
workbench plans including a great new one from Popular Mechanics
to check out.
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